Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-11-06

The Remedial Agency of Prayer

Mr. EDITOR In an article under the
above title in las' We, IS FREEMAN hud IN,
follow NJ, which take % re editorial:
" Prayers Tor ram or fair weather are no
Likely t. change the cJnIItt,n OF the atinos-
puere in the smallest degree: and We SCI ~
reason why prayer can any more do the office
OF medicines OF diet or nursing IN healing
the SICK. Broken legs cannot be healed by
prayer, yet they well be healed b.
prayer as the Prince OF Wales could be re-
stored by any such agency. Prayer is a.
mucn out OF Its province IN attempting any
cures Tor any but spiritual diseases as steam
eng mes would be II their forty horse power
were SCI TO work IN converting a sinner. OF
- drugs and medicines would be in an at
tempt 10 phYsic person into righteousness.
Prayer does n I set broken limbs OF heal
the sick, or change the course of nature in
any respect, and those who think it does
only lower and debase its high Office. and
attempt to make it no better than newer OF
wood and drawer Of water, servant to do
the work they are too lazy to do for them
selves.
This seems very reasonable and philosophy
cal, but how shall we reconcile it with the
9Th chapter of James and the 3Sth of Isaiah.
Can you give any light on this question
S. NJ. SEAvER.
Williamstown, Oct. 9Th, 1872.
REHARks.-Our correspondent might have
referred to many other passages of Scripture
as well as to these, to show that in The
beginning of the Christian era, nd earlier
we have records of miracles. Whatever
opinions scientific men may hold as to the
precise character of the occurrences com
monty called miracles, We suppose it is now
agreed upon all hands, and by Protestant
churches no less than by others, that miracles
cannot in our day be looked for. Whether
this is owing to decay in faith, or to Other
causes, is hardly worth while to inquire
1t would not to-day be considered skeptical
probably, to express doubt whether faitl
exists that is equal to casting mountain
into the sea yet there is just as much war
rant in Scripture for expecting to remoy,
mountains by the prayer of faith, as fol
looking to see the sick healed by such agen.
cies.
As we write, we have before us two recenl
items of intelligence illustrating this point
One of these items mentions as - striking
Illustration of Italian superstition th,
occurrences in Italy on the death of Catho
lie Bishop. The account proceeds:
There had been before his death popular
| feeling that he was a saint, and on the day
OF burial. Just as the body, followed y ar
immense crowd, bad nearly reached the GENE
! terry, messengers came in the widest haste
| rom the town to annuunce to the awe struck
multitude that the dead as working mira
cits; I'll It not only bad the lame ben made
10 walk, but the dumb TO speak, and all
| through the miraculous influence of tie
| .aInted bishop. - miracle miracle -
shouted the crowd, and, in spite oi the ei-
| orts of the bearers, the proc.ssiun was
turned back. AS the corpse was borne
| toward the church, cries :. bring out the
SICK, we're heard on all sioe9. Having
cached the church, a large cruciix was
rOrn down aud the body OF thus miracle
worker set IN it's place. In the beief that
| I've Episcopal garments IN which the corpse
lad been arrayed possessed also the rsue
| of miraculous cures, the crowd OF ignorant
Anatles, struggling and fighting with each
other IN their outrageous yea, larry stripped
5ne body naked. The insane desire to secure
the precious relics was 50 uDgovernabie that
the civil officers and a small body OF military
we're powerless to stay its ravases, and the
steward of the church funds nearly paid
With his life the presumption of asserting
that tie age of miracles was past. Is was
only by ruse that the disgraceful proceed