Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-11
FOB THE TELEGRAPH
THE PRAYER OF FAITH.


"& THE PRAYER OF FAITH.
To the Editor ofthe TTermont Telegraph:
DEAR SR,-You will confer favor on
one who processes to be friend to truth, by
giving this enquiry place in your paper
and also by giving an explanation to the re-
mark referred to, for which presume you
hold yourself measurably accountable, ii
having been admitted into your columns I'M
der your particular inspection.
In looking over your papers Of December
3lst, and January 9TH, was highly grati6-
ed in perusing the extracts from the Rev
Mr.. Finney's Lectures on the Prayer Of
Faith, until came 10 his sixth proposition,
in which he says, "lt is often asked is it
Our duty 10 pray the prayer of faith for the
salvation Of all men ?" to witch he replies, in
answer, "No: for that is not a thing accord
ing to the will Of God 1t is directly contra
nv TO his revealed will"
Now, Sir, as you have admitted these re-
marks into your columns, will you have the
goodness TO inform an anxious enquirer
what part Of mankind, definitely, it is Gods
revealed will that should not be saved, so
that if an unworthy dust should be permit
ted TO address throne of grace, he may offer
his requests in accordance with the will Of
God. My Bible tells me that it is Gods
will that all men should be saved | there
fore feel constrained to pray for all. Yet all
men may not be saved. But this does not
destroy Gods will concerning them, or the
provisions made, for them.
would further enquire, what YOU think
that individual prayed for, who Mr.. f. says
he had known to pray as if he would do VIC
lence 10 Heaven, and then had seen the
blessing come as plainly in answer to his
prayer, as fit was revealed, 80 that no person
would doubt it any more than if God had
spoken from heaven He further says in re-
! latlon to this individual that he used to take
| the map of the world before him, and pray,
and look over the different countries and
pray for them, till he absolutely expired in
| his room praying. Was it for those individ-
uals whose salvation God had revealed, or
was it that men might no longer be blinded
to their souls best interests, but improve
that rich provision which God had made in
the gift of his Son, in that he had tasted
death for every man.
We are also told, that whatsoever will may
come. am therefore constrained to believe
that God has designs Of mercy for all, and
it only remains that our wills be swallowed
up in the will Of God, that all may be saved ;
for which, until / am better convinced,
hope may be permitted to pray in faith for
all men, hoping and trusting that it is in &C
cordancc with therevealed will Of God.
w. NJ.
REMARKS.
Our brother is certainly ''pcrmitted to pray
in faith for all men," fhe can. In endeay-
oring to answer his queries, we will in turn
PROFOUND some questions. And
l. Is the prayer Of faith lost?
Let the Savior answer. On this point his
teaching is explicit and full" Ask, and We
shall receive" "And whatsoever We shall
ask in my name, that will do" "Whar
things soever We desire when ye pray, be,
lieve that we receive them, and We shall have
them"
2. Can there be faith ,oithola evidence
No. Then there is only one other question
3. Is there ertdence that all men 1riU b.
r sared2 n"W. M" says there is, we are a
issue, and the proof must be brought forward
But as he has said no such thing, we viii
not stop here to set up man Of straw, 70
, the sake of demolishing it. He has. how
] ever, said-"My Bible tells me that it i
. Gods will that all men should be saved.
e Very we'll SO the Bible teaches that 1t i
" Gods will that all men should repent. Blu
do they? SO too, it teaches that it is God
! will that all men should refrain from mur
G der But do they To conclude, that be
s cause God has benevolent desires towards a
i men, there fore we are in duty bound to pra
: for all, is to advance non Sequitur. 1t n
more follows, than that because God is will;n
= that all men should be saved, has made an
= pie provision, and given universal Invitation
y therefore all will obey the truth and live.
e Let US now go back and endcavor to dra
conclusion from the three questions pr
v pounded-or father from the answers
Y, them concerning which answers there
S, probably no disagreement between US.
P, then, the prayer of faith is not lost, i. e.
~ all who are prayed for in faith will be save
- and if it is evident that all will not be save
20 it must follow that God does not require I
or nor permit US, to pray the prayer of faith
h. all men. 1t would be requiring an impos'
SIX bilityss God is no tyrant, that he would !
J. quire US to do what he has taught US we ca
u u. not do; and there could be no greater tyra
n ny than to require us to believe against t
re evidence which he himself has given US.
al Who ever uttered the following prayer
at faith? 80 Lord, save all men," If sucl
10 prayer never could be made in faith, there
' ~ no propriety in saying that it ought to be