Evening star., 1924-10-11

No greater sermon mas ever oeen
delivered than the masterful message,
that Augustine called The Sermon
On The Mount" 1t was probably de-
livered as an ordination sermon in
connection with the calling Of the
~ to be Apostles. Gibson has
suggested that so small has the word
Sermon" become in modern speech.
that another title is needed for this
great discourse, which contains sub
jects material for a dozen sermons
in single sentence. 1t is a sermon
according to the definitions given us
in every treatise upon homiletics. 1t
is unique in it's class. No other sur
passes it in Its reach and sweep and
power"
1t will not be possible to consider
in this lesson the sermon. as whole.
so we will focus our attention upon
portion of 1t that refers to prayer.
We shall fail to understand the
Masters conception OF the greatest
privilege and power ever entrusted TO
US. If VIC did not remember that the
section concerning prayer is part
OF the marvellous sermon that Jesus
preached concerning THE Gospel OF
the Kingdom" In ii He outlined the
| spiritual character. which should De
| revealed by His followers in their
! daily living, in contrast with the ior-
| NAL righteousness inculcated by the
| traditional teachings of the nations )
| religious instructors 1t was an ex-
position Of the whole duty Of man
according to love, while His enemies
were insisting that a formal, out
| ward obedience to the law was de-
manded.
In the Beatitudes. which formed
| the introduction of Christs message
| the Great Preacher summed up, as
Grist says, His thesis. the blessed
life of the citizen of the Kingdom OF
| Heaven. There follows from this
| felicitious introduction d clear enun-
ciation of the disciples function in
the world; and a clear definition OF
the relation of the New Reign to the
| Old Covenant treating the external
commands OF the Decalogue in an
| tithesiS to the inner motives and ufe
| Of the disciple. The next sayings re-
| late to almsgiving or practical right
eousness. to the true nature Of pray
er. to fasting, and to trust in God.
all of which are to be regulated by
the principle Of making the supreme
! aim to be the realization of Gods
| Reign. Rash judgment OF ones fel-
| low-men is forbidden: and Gods pa
ternal relation to US is made not
| only motive of prayer but also a
basis for loving reciprocity between
| men" He closes His discourse with
| a matchleSs peroration with its sol
emn exhortations and warnings
| Drawn from the two house builders.
| whose work was tested by the mood.
| Almost an the center OF His sermon,
Jesus pointed out the spirit and sub
stance Of prayer.
Spirit OF Prayer.
Christ recognized that it was
natural for all men to pray. 1t Is the
| soul of religion. In His instructions
to His disciples concerning the
'Christian's vital breath" the Loro
warned them against some OF the per-
ills that every Christian faced in Hi:
hypocrisy. Travelling in the NeAl
East one sees the Mohammedans
praying publicly on the streets. ship:
and shops. The Master condemned
this method of praying because it wa.
apt to become formal posing for the
sake Of seeking praise from men. Sin
cerity is required in acceptable pray
ing. Without 1t communion with Goo
is impossible. Men may go through
the form OF praying but there Is nj
prayer unless spirit with Spirit ma,
meet" Jesus advised secret prayer a.
a preventive Of formality in public
devotions, that are apt to become
hypocritical actions. The soul who
communes with God in secret will no.
forget Him in his public prayers. Th'
greatest peril that confronts thu
Church of Jesus Christ today is the
tendency to neglect secret spiritua
communion with the Father. 1t lead:
to farawayedncss OF life and causes
the failure Of many profound Christ
ians.
He warned them against the use o.
vain repetitions, which characterized
the heather worship of that time. Th'
Buddhists have carried this theory o
praying to a logical conclusion b!
the introduction of labor-saving ma
| chinery. Missionaries report hov
they have found waterwheels turning
cylinder containing short, writtei
prayers and every time it revolve
upoa its axis Buddhists have believed
that their prayers were being offered
There is a danger that We may fat
into ruts. when we -extemporize oui
prayers, using vain repetitions. Thes'
set forms and ritualistic prayers hav'
a place in devotional services, but W
! must preserve the spirit OF WORSHIP
| in their use. God knows our need
before our petitions are presented t
Him. This removes the need Of use
less words. Unless our prayers Ar'
the sincere expression Of the heart
desire. they will be valueless.
Substance Of Prayer.
Jesus was a constructive critic H
never pulled down unless He coul'
give something better in its place
Here and again in Luke's gospel II
answer to the disciples request t
be taught how to pray. the Maste
gave them a model prayer. 1t was no
a form that we are to use In stereo
type and mechanical manner. 1t is
pattern that contains in its brevity
breadth and beauty of thought tn
essentials of prayer in simplicity Q
speech and sublimity Of thought. II
condensed His teachings into 81:
short petitions that should aid US II
our habitual communion with Goo
Its first portion relates to God'
honor dominion and service. The sec
ond has reference to mans preser
walton, pardon and protection.
Its invocation is = personal recoe
; milton of 1.-The parentage-Father; IN
brotherhood-our Father: and tn
home-heaven." 1t is a declaration o
| faith and the foundation OF our rlgn
to approach Jehovah in prayer. l
/ emphasizes by its thoroughly Jewis'