June 22

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

2 Saving, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man.

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, not regard man.

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will

avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me

6 And he Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I last twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up a much as his eyes out heaven, but smoke upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you this man went down to his house just fed rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbeth himself shall be exalted.

The first parable (vers. 1-8) teaches importunity in prayer. Incessant importunity, in which the desire rises like a river by obstruction. The element of power is faith. If it be small, there is no response. If it increases by delay, and at last glows through the night as well as the day, it will exalt to the realm where it will have power with God.

"The busy mother, cumbered with many cares, hears her babe fret for a moment and then hush. It is the far away symptoms of hunger. It must be nursed, but not yet. The child soon breaks forth with stronger cry, but is diverted by some plaything, and the work of the household goes on. Now it breaks forth again, and the hurrying mother, completing some labor, says, 'Yes, my darling, in a moment.' But no; hunger is in the child's stomach; it grows to pain. He bursts into tears, and with piteous cry and uplifted hands the child will take no more neglect. A thrill goes through the mother's breast; she catches up her child, and every want is supplied. Shall not God hear and answer His own elect that cry day and night unto Him?"—H. W. Beecher.

The second parable (vers. 9-14) teaches whom the Lord receives. The humble prayer the best

"You can fill an empty jug with clear water from the spring; but it would be foolishness to bring to the spring a jug already full. The Lord has no blessing for the heart that is full of haughtiness; that He reserves for the heart emptied of self. It is the best filled stalk of corn that bends its head the lowliest."—Sunday-School Times.

Closet Promise.—While they are yet speaking, I will hear.—Isa. lxv. 24.

Therefore the soul that begins to offer itself to Him, though overwhelmed with a sense of its own unworthiness and the meanness of its love, may yet say: Lord, I am ashamed of this gift I bring Thee; yet because Thou callest for it, such as it is, here it is. My heart and all the love I have I offer unto Thee; and had I ten thousand times more, it should all be Thine. My loving of Thee adds nothing to Thee, but it makes me happy; and though the love and the heart I offer Thee is infinitely too little for Thee, yet there is nothing besides Thee enough for it.—Archbishop Leighton.