The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
SIMPLE MENNONITE FAITH.
An Elder Explains how Cures Are Made
No Science" in II.

meeting here this week. was tho occasion OF
| great rejoicing. because the sick. the lame and
the paralytic departed. not all cured 1t is true.
but shouting aloud in Gladness because they
felt SO much better. One OF the Grayhaired
elders. after the ceremony. sat under a tree and
spoke as follows:
| 1T is great wonder 10 me that this import
ant ceremony Is not observed much more than
It is. especially by other denominations. There
Is not IN the four Gospels Of our Lord clearer
| or more emphatic proof Of the efficacy OF any
act OF goodness ever performed by the apos-
ties. than this ceremony. 81. Mark very dis
tinotly tells us that Jesus Christ specially in
struoted his apostles. as they went out two by
two. and at once the twelve began to cast out
dsvie.' and anointed with oil many that were
sick and healed them. OF course they used no
medicine. They Just healed the people. Those
mon OF God thoroughly understood what they
were told to do. They were absolutely sure they
could do It, What held good In those days.
holds good now. We have the most thrilling
and sslf-satisfyinR personal evidence. We
have never anointed any one In the full faith.
who was not either cured or relieved 1t is
strong language. but It Is true. We never
stop to think whether we can bring
about a cure. We only know that tho
Lords Apostles anointed with oil the sick and
cured them. We anoint In the true spirit OF
Christian faith and obedience to divine author
fty The receivers must be In the same simple
implicit faith We ask Gods blessing on our
work and We know we will bountitully receive
IL those we anoint are pure and worthy to
receive. and that they believe as children told
by their parents that thoy will be healed.
st. James. ffth chapter. fourth verse says:
Is any sick among your let him call for the
elders Of the church and let them pray over
him. amounting him with oil in the name Of the
Lord That is exactly what we do Hero in
camp meeting we pray over the sick.
Then they call for the elders and we
pray for them again. When we believe tho
afflicted are truly penitent; that they believe
in the Lord that they truly are Of the opinion
that God Is ready and willing and will help
them and when We arrive at the very point Of
supreme faith and confidence. then we proceed
to anoint with oil. knowing that the sick will
be cured. Tho more perfect the faith. the
more perfect the cure. The Lord is the great
est OF all doctors. He uses no medicines Ask.
and It shall be given.
For twenty-five years have seen wonder
full cures take place. And l have seen bitter
disappointments. Wonderful cures follow
wonderful. yet child-lke faith. Gall and
NORWOOD only await those who have i'm
perfect faith all shroudsd 10 doubt and
uncertainty. l don't blame the many who
are disappointed Men and women arc imper-
feet. True faith. TO many. does not come in a
single week. nor month. Sometimes it re-
auiros years to get to the proper degree otfaith.
1t is a sublime faith. yet II is so simple Our
prayers come from our hearts We know that
cures will assuredy ceme to those who believe.
We arc as sure OF II as we know that the sun
shines BY day. There Is never the slightest
shadow OF doubt. But We must have tho
same faith on the part OF those who receive.
We anoint with oil because the Apostles did.
We take IL that they received the order for the
use OF oil as divine command. Isaiah spoke
OF the use OF oil rs a cure. The Bible Is fun OF
illustrations. We use olive oil because the
Apostles used 1t. We try to get as near to
Apostolic times as We can. The Lord Jesus
ordered II so.
Centuries have passed since then, but TO US
Christians 1t ia only as day. We live In the
recollection OF our Lord. and IL is but as yester-
day that the Apostles anointsd with oil and
cured the sick. So can we. So have
We. Hundreds We know have prayed;
have believed: have had undyine faith
and they were cured They did not need to 60
far from home. We have no criticism to make
Of others. We only know that We are all breth-
rem and sisters in Christ Jesus. No man.
woman or child can be cured anywhere. or
amid any surroundings. or in the presence OF
anything. who first has not sublime faith in the
Lord or his saints. 1t is prayer and faith. II
these two conditions abide In the people to a
degree toward perfection. then we can cure
and do cure. here under the trees. at home at
the church altar anywhere whore the spirit OF
God is accepted in the simple faith OF child.
and an appeal to God that is from the heart
and made in the undyinE belief that God will
surely answer the prayer.
The use OF oil Is ply form. OF coursc. the
form used by the Apostles. 1t is delight to
the afflicted man or woman to know and feel
that oil that was used by Divine hlmand is
being used uron him. just as the Lord has
willed il. Be the scat OF pain in the head the
head is anoiuted: SO with hand and arm. and
mb, and eye. and ear. I have anointed with
oil hundreds who suffered. The truly penitent
presents his weak body with the only thought.
here. good Lord. is my poor paralytic arm.
Please, good Lord have mercy upon me. sin
nerr The stifrened limb is anonted. and the
Lord sends mercy and cure. Time and again
Ho says ask in tho true faith and ye shall re-
oeive.
Il have seen the deaf made to hear on the
| instant; the weak eyes become strong; ringing
sensations In the head to disaIpsar scurvy to
| depart: sores to dry up and 20 away; shrink
| ing limbs to grow strong: rheumatic joints to
| timber up and be fres Of pain: abdominal COM
| plants that apparently needed tho knife. TO
| correct themselves and pass away in the night"
but We must NOT DOdSl. We must nOt De
| proud. Wemu.t not hc given to too much talk.
| Only. our hearts at times arise In Rladness
| and we cannot contain ourselves. We must
| speak to the glory OF God the Father. We
| must bear witness to the truth. We must speak
| Of Gods love. power. wisdom. and his wonder
| full willingness to heal all who come to Him. l
| have nothing to say against perBonal appeals.
| Man can pray alone In his closet But st.
James says: Is any sick among you let him
| call tho elders OF the church and let them pray
| over him, amounting him with oil In the name
| OF the Lord That Is tho law that Is the divine
| authority. and that is why 1t is better
| that all sufferers abide by the letter
Of tho divine law. 1t is easy. To do it
perfectly in tho sight OF God and the peo-
! pie there must be absolute death OF all pride
and humility must possess all the heart and
the soul The world must openly see this hu-
| mility Man or woman must stand In public
stripped bare ofthe thought OF personal impor-
lance They are to kneel. naked as 1t were