Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-20
ASKING MIRACLES.

inc cnurcn MAKE 10 those VINO ask Tor sign
that the religion preached to-day is re-
ligion of God. We are emphatically of that
opinion, and do not hesitate to approve the
sentiment expressed. The days of miracles
haue passed, and it is we'll for the world that
it is so-that the old superstitions are dying
out and passing away. Yet, though it is
generally conceded in these days that the
age of miracles has departed, it is astonish-
ing to notice with what persistencys
the members of the churches of
the present day ask for supernatural
manifestation from above. Has any lnteli-
gent person taken the trouble to analyze the
prayer of the clergyman who stands in the
pulpit every Sunday morning, and examine
the petitions which be presents to the throne
of grace? If not, let him do so this morn
ing, and then inquire how far wrong we are
in pronouncing these prayers the height of
absurdlty, and an insult to deity.
Last Sabbath morning the writer hap
pened to drop into city church just as the
clergyman was offering up his petitions to
the throne of grace. 1t was very evident
that he, at least, had not come to the con-
clusion that the days of miracles had passed.
He was earnest in his manner and studied
in his rhetoric, and apparently had faith
that his prayers would be answered. But
what did he request? Anything reasonable
within the scope of natural laws?
Not at all. He asked for things that
could not be granted without special in
terposition of providence demanded the
accomplishment of objects instantaneously
that will, in the natural course of events,
consume centuries of time. He prayed for
the conversion of the whole world, for the
overthrow of heresy in all it's forms, for the
! resurrection of the souls Of those who had
died iu the Lord, and for the damnation of
the wicked. Not content with disposing of
the world at large in spiritual sense, he
turned his attention to the physical welfare
of his flock, and demanded of the Creator
that he should raise a certain lady from a
bed of sickness and restore her to the arms
of those who loved her SO tenderly. In
passing it may be remarked that the lady
has since died, and that there is suspicion
that the brutality of the person who re-
quested prayers for her recovery fastened
her death.
Such prayers as these are an absurdity.
They presume that the settled order Of
things will be interrupted simply as an &C
commodation to the petitioner, and in thei1
inselence are almost uncomfortable. We d.
not care to charge that they are insincere il
their professions. The fact that they asl
what they know is impossible may be due t.
mental weakness or imbecility more than tt
mate perversity.
Is it net about time that the leaders in tn,
church should cease to encourage the delu
sion that miracles can be wrought at this
time? While, in ordinary discussion, mos
clergymen will agree that the days of mir
acles have passed, few of them hesitate t
demand of God that one be performed. The
majority of the pulpit prayers ask fol
nothing less than miracles. They
are, if not senseless compilation O.
scriptural passages, mass of incoheren
and disconnected applications for this, tina
or the other thing of which the person pre-
ferring the request knew but little. A littl
more reason in the pulpit, especially in tn
matter of prayers, would increase the respec
of the pulpit for those who occupy it. I
does not become mortal to address deity il
the familiar manner that characterizes mos
preachers, far less to convey requests tina
they would be ashamed to offer to an
; reasoning or reasonable human being. Tn
days of miracles have passed, and it is tim
that clergymen ceased to ask their pei
Torrance, and to make themselves and tn
cause they preach ridiculous.