New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-11

GODS PURPOSE not 10 BE CHANGED Ef N'f'IiOA-
TioN-I1S USE BENEFICIAL 10 TIE sCPruCANf
HOWEVER
To me razor Of The TrtbUHc.
Sm: 1t is perhaps somewhat late to nave
ANYTHING TO say upon the question o prayer as regarded
from the point or view Of scientists and Cmi'hah'
bat my attention was forcihiy called 10 the Sl'-
icct last sunday while listening To discourse Joy the
Rev Dr. IT N az his church I'M your city The points eh-
phaszcd hv the doctor tie uancF Of facts ana ir
insuniccncy Of the evidence on which s'i'nuHc MINUS
base their objections to belief in the Divine Word or
Bible; and from his point Of view hc adduc.d some
good arguments in support Of his position
But whom ne came 20 the question OF the
efficacy of prayer. and the effect it pro-
duces il did not appear 10 me that his answer was
either logical or i'm any way sufficient Let MS b''iN
look at this question Of prayer from The Christian r'E
Of view or at least from what II seems 10 nc should hr
the Christian point Of view TO ascertain what tc true
Christian point Of view is, we must 90 to the Divine
Word In the Word we find IL stated that God is ALWAYS
the samc-tbJt He never changes. That Tie is rh.ie
Love Infinite Wisdom, Omm'cicrt, OmulpD'oni know
ing no past no future, hut existing in ONT eternal Son"
II teaches that God loves all Ills creatures, aud S
always dcsou, and ad 10 confer ul "n each n" a!i
the greatest good they capable ot rec. wing and t"
for their sole end lie advouccl'n ont cog .| ind IT,
Wd MI n - moi necessary for us to trll t.. what s..
want when We come to- Him IN PRAYER, Tor lie "Ea"'H
Z
Now II this fl, truc, and certainly Christians Should "-
nit ia, trut IL necessarily follows tha; uo s't
hat mankind address To- God cam IHtuo least '.f
His purposes toward them, for lie is UIrhuu-ta''-
suppose that tie purposes of God toward nu could 10.
rt tuged Dos prayer would necessarily pIc~uip'-t t'
God would not do AN lie could for man WH..A'f J..
prayed or not And IA would be contrary 10 Tie leach
ms of the word. Nevertheless, While r Nori teaches
as HAT the purposes OF Tie Divine love AID Wisdom, a-
constituting cod, the Creator and P"''r'.r' cannot hc
changed IN the s-htc-t Do, pray cr. yet 10 NIF t'alF
teaches the duty of prayer ana hence u'c'@-'iN lh
prayer is not only beneficial bIt q necessary o. m'hh "'
and that abstain from prayer would hc d'ilucu'tl'
Now : have seen that PRAYER cannot plo'u'' any
effect upon cod ana yct that God cil"IS prayer Upon
man, il is clear That u prayer las any 'H.ri "i't
such effect must bc upon the rdPiUc u'. ana
this / hold 10 be the true and only use o.
prayer and that this doctrine of thc nature ana
use Of PRAYER IS plainly Taught ln lhr N'if.
When Christians shall have Learned 'p'af d- or. i.-
taught has followers they oI.ht to I!"t, ana a'-.i
lhc absurd claim that the prayer OF mott r.u c.r
the purposes Df an AI-V.- Oo0, auD Hrhu'"IIr' ."'
its use ana efficacy c u l- eject upon itr -nphr1h
when thyN shall have dor. tbs, c' n'i htHtNt ttf.
will often have 90 complain jaa' .I. -iu''h
natural science scott az prayer, for D"u. i'i' "i.
steady ana constantly uivu-ii,luE i-. IT, " great '
oytrruug Intelligence thIt Vt c... '.H i'tt iF 'i--
not expect. and ought not 20 rNuDti. I't' I.Hl- '
Q, scientific investigation .lll admit '.. boo purposes '
an AIl-Nl-r Creator and PrcsrrNcr can i" 'l.'. .-
cause IoI-ouIt finite mortal ,nhS IL ~. 'A'i'"
J9cIg NJ. p. O..