Newspaper Page Text
October 6, 1909. THE
CHRIST AS OUR EXAMPLE IN
PRAYER.
By Miss Minnie Ola King.
Did Christ pray? A very strange
question to ask, isn't it? Yet, if Christ
is to be our example in prayer, this is
the first question that arises, and it may
be answered by a few references.
We find by reading the sixth chapter
of Luke that Christ, after being sorely
abused and murmured at because of
certain things he had done on the Sabbath,
went out alone and continued to
"pray all night.
If one who had such wonderful power
and so holy as he, had trials, such as
would cause him to pray so long, need
we murmur if sometimes the way grows
.i nine uarner or seems a Dlt Harder
than some one else's? The remedy is
prayer; and pray all night, if need be,
pray until peace comes to the troubled
soul, and the way shines brighter than
before.
Notice again after having finished
the Lord's Supper, there in the silence of
the night, with his disciples gathered
closely around him to hear the last
sweet words that he should utter to
them, though they knew it nor understood
it not, and after a long discourse
with them he uttered the sweetest prayer
ever neard uy Human ears. And in this
blessed prayer, found in the 17th chapter
of the Gospel by John, he says:
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also which shall believe on me
through their word." Isn't it a pleasing,
peaceful thought that we as Christ's followers
have his prayers? Just think of
one so holy and righteous as he, praying
for us! Ah, how we should plead and
entreat for ourselves.
After this wonderful prayer is finished,
watch this little band as they leave the
upper room and cross over the little
brook.4 Cedron. into th? nt n?Ui.
semane, where, as John tells us, he
often went with his disciples. Here, no
doubt, he had often prayed with and
for his disciples, also instructing them
in the way of the Lord.
But this night he prays not with them
now, but behold his sad and troubled
countenance, as he tells his disciples that
his heart is very heavy, and asks them to
watch as he goes a little apart from
?ubui unu prays idhi nis cup mignt pass
away, if it were his Father's will.
Surely the angels in heaven have not
witnessed such another scene. Can we
picture in our minds anything so heartrending?
Behold him as he falls prostrate
on the earth and prays, while
sweat, as great drops of blood, bursts
forth upon his forehead!
Now, we see that Christ, by example,
not only teaches us that we must pray,
but "he teaches us when to pray.
Christ did not put off till the last his
Father's business. When he was only
twelve, he said, "Wist ye not that I must
be about my Father's business?"
Later, he said to his disciples, "Watch
and pray lest ye enter into temptation."
When do our temptations come to us?
Is it while we sleep at night? or is it as
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT!
we go about our daily duties? We all
know that it is during our daily tasks.
Then why is it that so many of us leave
off the reading of our Bibles and our
prayers until the last ray of daylight
is gone and our daily toils are over?
Yes, God's Word says, "Pray without
ceasing," and I do not intend to say
that true Christians do not Bend up pe
titions to God during the day; but if we,
immediately after arising in the morning,
would read God's Word .while our
minds and hearts are fresh and free, and
then fall upon our knees and ask God to
guide us through the day, and help us to
overcome all temptations that might
come to us, we would be better and truer
Christians and would even feel the presence
of the Holy Spirit.
Christ also teaches us how to pray.
we una tnat wnen Christ did a thing
he did it whole-heartedly and with great
earnestness and sincerity. Have you
ever knelt beside your bed to say your
prayer at night and have gone to sleep
while kneeling there? Have you sometimes
thought it was just as well to
wait until you had lain your head upon
your pillow and then uttered your petition
to God?
Or sometimes when you were asked to
pray for some one, did you really pray
or did you merely utter words? Ah! if
you nave done these things, listen to
the Werd of God, "Cursed be he that
doeth the work of the Lord negligently."
Jer. 48:10.
Christ never did his praying in a negligent
manner. When we, as Christians,
take Christ as our example in prayer,
as well as a Saviour and pray, really
pray, and pray without ceasing; pray
earnestly, putting our very souls into
it, and live in a manner to bring our
prayers to pass; pray with faith, believing
that we shall receive an answer to
our prayer that will be for our good and
the forward movement of God's kingdom,
then we shall see many sinners turning
iiuiu evunaBiing destruction unto the
way of eternal life and joy. Then we shall
hear, ringing in our very souls and lives,
these blessed words of God, "Let him
know that he which converteth a sinner
from the error of his way shall save a
soul from death, and shall hide a multitude
of sins." And, oh, how sweet and
what a glorious thought to know th^t we
have been instrumental in bringing a soul
to God!
Now, for the sake of God's Kingdom,
for the sake of dying humanity, for the
sake of the unsaved souls among us; yes,
even more for the sake of our own fathers,
mothers, brothers, sisters, children,
and friends in our own community, town
or city, let us, as Christians, take Christ
as our example in prayer.
Bethel Church, Ala.
Satan does not care how much religion
a man gets if he can only make him believe
that he has enough to get along
with.
Call nothing insignificant when answering
the call of duty.
* 4 *
H. 15
TO THE GRAHAM CLAN IN AMERICA:
The writer Is compiling a volume on
the Grahams, and hopes to have it in the
hands of the printer by the coming winter.
The book will be of unusual interest
to the Grahams, and of especial importance
to the rising generation.
Beginning with William de Graham,
who lived in the reign of King David I.,
of Scotland (1124-1153), this book will
trace several lines of Graham descent
from this man down to the present?the
earls, marquises, viscounts, dukes, barons,
baronets and some other families of royal
descent. The great Marquis of Montrose,
Claverhouse, Sir James Graham, M. P.,
and Gov. W. A. Graham will have a chapter
each.
The book will be in three divisions. The
first division will be the introductory, containing
a chapter on the Graham Dyke
episode, and another on the origin and
meaning of the word Graham. The second
division will be genealogical, tracing family
genealogies as far as the author can
obtain reliable information. As it is quite
difficult to separate biography and history,
the third division will be biographical
and historical.
fsn ?? ? * * *
-v. ?vav.ih.cij juicrwoven wun tne nistory
of the Grahams is that of Scotland
itself, of the Graham clan, of the ScotchIrish,
of the Covenant, and of Presbyterianism,
the book will contain something
on each of these subjects. It will be Graham
to the core, giving the Graham side
on many mooted questions.
The book does not claim to be a complete
history of the Graham family, but
will give biographical sketches of the
more prominent Grahams?a family rich
in historic characters. The Grahams in
congress, in parliament, in the army and
navy, in science, in medicine, in law, in
the ministry, in education, in literature?
authors and editors?all receive attention.
Thh riroKo *v?o l*""" ' "?* "
nave jcii iueir looipnnts in
the sands Of time, so counties, towns,
lakes, mountains, islands, post-offices and
even streets bearing that name receive attention.
This book will contain about 550 pages,
and will be important and valuable to all
Graham families. It should be in the
homes of all Grahams; in the homes of
all who love to read of old Scotland and
her people. It will be a valuable reference
work for all public lbiraries.
The author urges that everything of
general or personal interest pertaining to
the Grahams, dead or living, be sent to
him at once for publication. His book
will be different from most works of this
nature, in that it will not be overburdened
with genealogies, but will be largely biographical
and historical.
The price will probably be five dollars
lur me uesi oinaing ana tnree dollars for
the cheaper. All who wish a copy will
please notify me as to which kind they
want, as I wish to know how many copies
of each will be wanted. Subscriptions
may be sent to me at any tlnje. Money
orders preferred. Please circulate these
circulars.'
Robert Love Graham.
Montgomery Ala.