4
PACIFIC CHRISTIAN MESSENGER, FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1881.
would seem most natural ,to follow ers of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Jesus your own conceits. Recompense to
confessions and deprecations, with in person, responded to the prayers of no man evil for evil Provide things
’
supplications for pardon, mercy and thousands by healing their maladies honest in the sight of all men. If it
J be possible, as much as l^etb in yon,
grace; after these, intercessions for and bestowing blessings.
T. F. CAMPBELL, E ditor .
I
The
prayer
of
Cornelius
was
an
live peaceably with all men. Dearly
those for whom we ought ,to pray,
swered
ly
the
visit
of
an
angel,
and
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but
Miss MARY STUMI’,
and then, without being over-anxious
about anything, we ought “ in every the Gospel preached by Peter. The rather give place unto tvrath; for
OFFICE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.
thing, bvprayer and supplication with prayers of the Disciples brought Pe­ | it is written, vengeance is mine; I
T—~
. ■ , . "
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1881.
thanksgiving ” to make known our ter out of the prison at midnight. will repay, saith the Lord. There­
Dorcas was raised from the dead in fore if thine enemy hunger, feed h*m ;
requests unto God.
Will Subscribers please notice the
For whom and for what may wo. answer to the prayer of Peter, and if he thirst, give him drink : for in so
date following their names on the pray?'
Eutychus, in answer to Paul.
doing thou shalt heap coals of fire
'Blessings and mercies more than on his head. Be not overcome with
paper ? It tells the time when your
The first point is answered by
subscription expires ; thus, if the date Paul: “For all men.” The reasons we could name, of all kinds, temporal, evfl, but overcome evil with good.”
reads 1|82, your subscription will ex­ assigned for the general prayer are spiritual, and eternal have been Romans, xii. 17-21.
two. First^^That we may lead quiet given and secured to men and women
Living and acting in the spirit and
pire Jan. 1, 1882. If tlie date after
and peaceable lives in all godliness in answer to prayer.
light of these and similar scriptures,
• your name is a time pant, you are in and honesty.”
The first and greatest of all bless­ he seeks not for a text,to sustain him
arrears. Please remit a little before
This is a matter of purely temporal,, ings is pardon. For this the Chris­ in an obstinate course marring the
present benefit. We are to pray for tian may pray. John says: " If we peace of the church.
your time is out, if possible.
But the man who cares not for the
those in autho^ty, not only to propi­ confess our sins, he is faithful and
Change of Address.
tiate their favor, but that, the gov­ just to forgive us our sins, and to cause of Christ nor the harmony of
ernment being preserved in purity cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” the brethren will become a great
Bro. D. W. Elledge, recently of
we may participate in the peace and And James adds : “ Is any among you stickler for principle. He will tell
Howel’s Prairie, has changed his resi
afflicted ? let him pray ♦ * * Is you that he would yield to the influ­
dence to Douglas county. His post- prosperity thereof.
Thus Jeremiah taught the captive any among you sick ? let him call for ence of the peacemaker, but he can
»office address is Payton Springs,
Jews:—“Seek the good of the city., the elders of the church; and let not sacrifice principle; net knowing
Douglas Co, 0^
----- .-------- -
whither the Lord has caused you to them pray ovar him, anointing him that the leading principle in Chris­
Prayer.
be carried away captive ; for in the with oil in the name of the Lord; tianity is, “ Peace on earth and good
and the prayer of faith shall save the will amongst men.”
peace thereof shall you have peace”’
The Scriptures—Old Testament and
Such an one is sure to court sym­
But the second reason is a more im­ sick, and the Lord shall raise him lip;
- New—are full of texts showing the
portant one, looking beyond the tem­ and if he have committed sins, they pathy and gain followers ; and, unless
importance and urging the necessity
,
the greatest prudence prevail and
poral and the present, to what will shall be forgiven him.”
of prayer, No>are we without in­
Jesus
?aught
his
disciples
to pray the wisest counsels govern, the shame
be pleasing to God. The Apostle
struction as to’the manner1 and mat­
adds; ‘ For this js good ,'and acc<q ta- for their daily bread, for the remission and ruin of the church must follow.
ter of acceptable prayer. Jesus gave :
The church should in no case bo-
tble in the sight of God our Savior, of their sins and for delivery from
to his disci; les a model worthy of im­
who will have all men to be saved, temptation. Elsewhere we are taught 1 come-an open- theatre of -caudal, nor
itation, There is 'not in any lan­
ake our requests known to God, sink to -the level of a police court in
and t£,come to the .knowledge of the
guage- a finer -specimen ol litera-
will withhold no good ferreting out iniquity and exp’osihg
truth."
. ture breathing a purer spirit' of
\love and obey the weakness of its members. ’ The
It is then in harmony With the di­ thing
devotion. His own prayer, (John
very weakest and humblest in the
vine will to pray for all men; and him,
xvii.) addressed to the Father feu the-
We may
ely conclude, then, that chinch can tell brethren what is right
t iiisTT 'SUrriy- tl*«-vciy_ best reason
unity of his disciples and all those
ay f or all men—qn-e- dll any given ease, and -point to the
■ that can be given for doing anything. B K We
who should believe on him through
But examples of .specific prayer for mies as well as friends', we may also scriptures whioh show them how they
their words, furnishes to all Christians
I particular persons and special favors, pray for all good things, with the ut­ ought to act.
a standing subject of prayer until the
The apostle, in reproving the Cor­
as health, peace, grace, &c, abound in most confidence, that oui* Father will
means there sought—th erm i tv of the
the apostolic writings. This gives us answer us in mercy, granting our re­ inthians for going to law, says: •' Lf
church—be attained and the end ac­
precedent for praying for the afflict­ quests where they would do us good then ye have judgement of things
complished—the conversion of the
ed, for those in any wise distressed, and withhold them where they would pertaining t» this life, set them to
world.
and especially for those whom we do harm to ourselves or to others. In. judge who are lea?t esteemed in the
The apostle Pau), in his first letter
this assurance "let us come boldly to church.” “ Is it so,” ho-says, “that
love.
to Timothy, ii. f, instructs us very
How delightful to bear them upon the thfone of grace, that we may ob­ there is not a wise man among you ?
fully in the matter, style and efl’ict»
the altar of our hearts before the tain merey, and find grace to help in no, not one that shall be able to judge
of a good and acceptable prayer."!
time of need."
between his brethren.?’’ ** Now there
throne of grace!
exhort therefore, that, first of all,
is,” he continues, “ utterly a fault
The second point may be answered
supplications, prayers, intercession»,
among you, because ye go not to law
in very general terms ;—we may pray
Church Trials.
and giving of thanks be made for all
one with another. . Why do ye not
fur all things for which we Zan ask in
men ;ffor kings and for all that are in
We call particular attention to Bro rather suffer yourselves to be de­
I faith—for which we can ask accord­
authority ; that we may lead a quiet
ing to the will of God. We can aak McCullough’s article in another col­ frauded ?”
and peaceable life in all godliness and
When brethren make the glory of
in faith only for things promised ; umn on “ Church Trials.” Though
honesty. For this is good and accept
and ask according to the will of God we may not agree with his article in God, the honor of Chris*:, and the
able in the sight of God our Savior ;
every specification, it certainly has peace of zion supreme in their hearts
\ only when the heart .is -right.
who will have xli men to lie saved,
James tells us that we ask and re- the merit of a middle course between and minds, they will find no difficulty
and to come unto the knowledge of
cieve not, because we ask amiss—IF -tKOMtremes. If only Christians, full in settling their disputes. Only let
the truth.”
cur Father in heaven knows how to of love and guided by the spirit, were them lie piompted by love and led
In this apostulic classification of
“give good things to them that ask involved in a church trial there would by the Spirit as becometh saints—
duty, four specific items are set out,
him,” he knows how to withhold be but little trouble in settling any only let them practice that charity
deprecations, supplications, intercess­
case that might come up.
without which all othei spiritual gifts
those things
° which would
. _ a do us hurt,
ions, and giving of thanks. Thus_we
are
but “ as sounding brass or a tink­
' Unfortunately, it is generally bad
though we ask for them.
are taught to deprecate evil—"Aban­
ling
cymbal ”—and church trials will
That our prayers are not answered men, without the spirit ofeChrist,
don us not to temptation, but deliver
become
tame affairs.
immediately, or that they are not an­ who originate the trouble, and who
us from evil,” to supplicate favors;— ;
When
trials cannot be avoided,
swered in the manner we expected, is have some selfish end to gain or sin­
" Forgive us our debts as we forgive
they
ought
to be conducted by the
by no means conclusive that God does ister motive to accomplish.
our debtors ”—to intercede for persons,
church
in
such
manner as to do the
The greater the confusion the bet­
not hear us, and will not answer our
as Jesus did for his apostles“ I
j petitions. The Scriptures, Old Testa­ ter such parties are pleased, and to least harm, having a tender regard for
pray not for the world, but for them
ment and New, abound in specific an- break up and ruin the church is a the feelings and reputation of the
which thou hast given me,” and again
! swers to prayer. Abraham prayed triumph in which they take great brethren involved ; and looking espe­
for the faithful r—" Neither^pray- I
cially to saving (he members to.the
for a son, and Isaac was given, not pleasure.
for these alone, but for them also who
The Christian who is guided by church and re-establishins peace. v
. immediately, but in due time. Jacob
shall believe on me through their
When the church has decided what
I and Esau were the answer to the love will make any sacrifice, consist­
word ; that they all may be one ; as
prayers of Isaac and Rebecca. Moses ent with christiah character, rather course it will take in any given case
thou, Fatirer, art in me, and I in thee,
prayed for Aaron, and his life was than do violence to* the church of te rtich these results, no one ought
that they may lie 0Qe in us ; that the
to object; and the parties in the trial
spared. And on more than one occa- God.
world may believe that thou hast
He will suffer long, and yet be kind. ought cheerfully to acquiesce in the
1 sion he interceded for Israel, and, the
sent me.” The apostle James, says:
people were saved from distruction. He will be ever ready for the peace- decision, knowing if they suffer
" The prayer, of faith shall save the
Hannah asked _ for a son, and God maker; and ever willing to compro- wrongfully for Christ’s sake, and for
sick, and the Lord shall raise him up ;
mise, in which case he will be ready the sake of peace, they will receive
and if l>e have committed sins, they ' gave her Samuel.
<
David, in the Psalms, says : “In my to make the larger concessions. He the richer reward hereafter.
shall be forgiven him. Confess your
distress I called upon the Lord, and will search out suclt scriptures as the
faults one to another, and pray one
—The Methodiet Recorder says that
cried unto my ■ God; he heard my following, and pray God to give him
for another, that ye may be healed.
“
The
man or woman professing godli­
voice out of his temple, ami my cry grace to walk in their light: "Love
The effectual fervent prayer of a
ness,
who
chooses not to unite with
come before him, even into his ears.” your enemies, do good to them which
righteous man availeth lcuch." To
the
Christian
church, discards God’s
" I love the Lord, because he has hate you, bless them that curse you,
give thanks for favors and mercies
plan
of
saving
men. The church is
hea.rd my voice and my supplications; and pray for them which despitefully
received. Paul expresses his grati­
his
vineyard,
and,
if ¿ve have the op­
because he has inclined his ear unto use you.” Luke vi. 27, 28. " Let
tude in this style: “ I thank Christ
portunity,
we
must
etfter it and work
me : therefore will I call upon him so love be without dissimulation. Abhor
Jesus, our Lord, who hath enabled me,
fer
Christ,
if
we
would
be saved.” We
that which is evil; cleave to that
for that he counted me faithful, put­ long as I live.”
know
a
great
many
professing
Chris­
The Lord said unto Hezekiah, when which is good. Be kindly affectionate
ting me into the ministry.” Again,
tians,
who
for
trivial
matters
hold
one to another with brotherly love, in
‘ For this cause also thank we God afflicted with a deadly disease, “I
,
themselves
aloof
from
the
church
and
honor prefering one another. • • •
without ceasing.” • Indeed, the spirit of have heard thy prayer, and have seen
its
work,
and
wonder
why
God
is
not
thy tears, an« I have added unto thy Bless them which persecute you ; bless i
gratitude, thanksgiving and praise
blessingthem
spiritually.
—
Evangelist.
and curse not • * • Be of the
l>ervades every part of the. Luring days fifteen years.”
Elijah shut up and opened the hea­ same mind one towarJ another. M ind
—Mr. John B. Carrington, of the New
Oracle*.
not high things, but, condescend to Hsvsn Journal and Courier, the oldest
vens
by
his
prayers.
John
the
Bap
­
The order of arrangement in a pray­
men of low estate. Be not wise in editor in Connecticut, died February 11th.
er may not be important; and yet it tist was giveu in answer to the pray-
PACIFIC
C hristian M essenger .
Return to Primitive Christianity.
DiscrseroN or uuldihg
, - psiscirLss.
• -
I Selected. I
BAPTISM.
Immersion into water in the name
of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
the frui-t of faith in the subject, is tho
most singular institution that ever
appeared in the world. Although
very common in p actiee, and trite in
theory, although the subject of a good
many volumes, and of many a conver­
sation, it appears to roe that this in­
stitution of divine origin, so singular
in its nature, and so grand and signi­
ficant in its design, is understood by
comparatively few.
I beg leave to call the attention of
the reader to it under the idea of the
bath of regeneration.
In the outer court of the Jewish
Tabernacle there stood two important
articles of furniture of most significant
import. The brazen altar next the
door, and the laver between the bra­
zen altar and the sanctuary. In this
laver, filled with water, the priests,
after they had paixF their devotion at
the altar,* as they came in, and before
they approached the sanctuary, al­
ways washed themselves. This ves­
sel was called laver, and the water in
it loutron or bath. The bath of puri­
fication was the literal import of the
vessel and its use, Paul more than
once, alludes to this usage in the tab­
ernacle in. his epistles, and once sub­
stitutes Christian immersion in its
place—that is, Christian immersion
stands in relation to the same place
in the Christian temple, or worship,
that the layer, or bath of purification,
stood in the Jewish, viz : between the
sacrifice of Christ and acceptable wor­
ship. In the Jlewish symbols the fig­
ures stood thus-. 1st, Tthe brazen al­
tar ; 2d, The laver or bath; and 3d,
The sanctuary. In the anbstupio or
antitype« it stands thus: 1st, Faith,
in the sacrifice of Christ, the antitype
of the altar ; 2d, ' Immersion, or tho
bath of regeneration, the entity,*« of
th« loutron or bath of purification;
and 3d, prayer, pra’se, ami vocal wor­
ship, the antitype of th« piiests ap-
proaching the holiest of all. Now all
Christians being made priests to God
and made to worship, in the place
where the Jewish priests stood, Jesus
Christ having now, as «ur great
High Priest, entered into the most
holy place, he has “ consecaated a
way " for us Christians; hs has au­
thorized us Christians to draw nigh
to that place where stood th« priests
under the law. Paul's exhortation to
the Hebrews, taken in the whole con­
text, chapter x. stands thus:
“ Brethren, we believing Hebrews
are authorized to approach much
nigher to God in our worship, than
were the saints under the former
economy. The people worshipped in
the outer court, the priests officiated,
at the same time, in the holy place—
but we Christians stand not in the
outer court, but in the sanctuary.
Since Jesus, as our great High Priest»
passed into the heavens the true holy
place, he has made it lawful for us,
or, consecrated a wav new and living
for us to approach as priests to the
entrance of the true holy placo, hav­
ing had our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience by faith in his sacri­
fice, and having bad our bodies wash-*
ed in clean water, in the bath of re­
generation ; we are now to draw near,
with a true heart, in the*4full assur­
ance of faith, and address Jehovah
through the meditation .of our great
High Priest, in our prayers, praises,
and thank ¡givings.” Such, 1 say, are
general terms, is the import of Paul’s
exhortation to the Hebrews, based
upon the fact that Christian immer­
sion stands in the place of the bath of
purification in that most instructive
system of types or figures, which God
instituted to prepare the way of this
new and perfect economy.
But Paul, in connecting the bath of
regeneration with the renewal of the
Holy Spirit, geee no farther than the
Lord Jeeus himself when he said, ex-