Smyrna times., 1881-09-07
Providential Theories.

Can prayer affect the Divine will? Are
not all human affairs subject to- laws, and
are not these laws immutable? If prayer
has value at all, why cannot sick man be
prayed well? These and many other
questions are asked. They are all based
on an utter misconception, both of the
law of Providence and the scope and pur-
pose Of prayer. The teaching relative to
these subjects is that while there are GER
tain laws that usually operate to certain
results, there is also power in the Divine
Being, either to override those laws, in
given cases, or to bring to bear other laws
which will effect given results. All the
miracles of Christ were in cOntravention
of natural laws-so far, at least, as these
with touch, or raise the dead with a
command is to cOntravene known natural
laws. Yet it was done. As applied to
the President, the idea is that he has
passed the point where human skill can
save him. Therefore, if raised, it must be
by divine power. This does not meces-
sarily imply the cOntravention of law.
There are laws of which we have no
knowledge; and it is entirely within the
scope of divine ability to call these into
| play. Such is divine intervention,
whether in accord with or above law, and
constitutes what is usually meant by a
providence
Prayer, as used in this age, is not under
stood to be an attempt to dictate to di-
vinity, but is request that if consistent
with the divine will given result may be
reached. The Bible clearly shows that
there may be many events in which the
divine mind is free to act in different di-
rections and is amenable to human re-
quests. When the purpose was announced
to destroy the Israelites it was SO modified
under Moses prayer that forty years were
allowed, during which they naturally
died. Many examples are given where
the divine purpose was modified or chan
| ged by prayer. All these serve to show
that human requests do have an influence
but not that they are invariably success
full. Again, there are instances where
| prayers are answered, but not in exact ac-
cordance with the request. Many assume
that i'll order that an event shall be pro-
Vidental it must be in exact accord with
| their ideas. Some have said that Garfield
will not die, because he is of too much
value to the nation for God to permit him
to die. All this suppOses that we can
correctly estimate the scope of the divine
thought. Such is not the fact. We are
not fully prepared to judge the meaning
of even an accomplished providence, as
we have not the facts to go upon. The
simple view tn take is to pray according
to the best light we have, but submissive
to the divine will. This will enable us to
conform to the divine teaching. If our
requests are not proper, they may not be
answered. If right the answer will come
in some form.
While the idea that prayer is effective
in benefiting the sick, there is at least
this true in the case of the Prince OF
Wales, who was given up by his physi-
clans in 1871. His doctors fully gave him
up ON Sunday, December 10, the day
that was appointed for fasting and prayer.
On Monday he showed signs of improve
ment, and eventually recovered. Such
are the facts. 1t may be declared that it
cannot be proved that the prayers benc-
fitted him. 1t cannot be demonstrated. it
is true. But the facts are that the day his
physicians gave him up, was made day
of fasting and prayer, and the next day
he was better. We do not doubt that
many fervent prayers went up on Sunday
for the Presidents recovery. 1t would
have been well had it been made nation
al day of fasting and prayer But the
fervency of the people in behalf of his
recovery is undoubted, and it is in this
sense that the event was national. What
ever the outcome, the nation does not
suffer by religious acts of this kind
Phila. Ereniny Nescs.