Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-03-03
ST. John CONSIDERS UNCLE IOEs
THEOLOGY.

To Uncle Joe's question why do
preachers open service with song and
prayer" we reply because they are the
light of the world. Matt. s:i4; and Je.
sus said for them TO lot IL shine that
others might see their good works and
be constrained to glorify God, verse l6;
and because Paul says in lat Timothy
2: Ia, II exhOrt thee therefore that
first Of all supplicAtion, prayers, inter
cessions and giving OF thanks be made
for all men, for kings, and for All that
are in authority, that we may lead .
quiet and peaceAblo life in all honesty.
For this is good and acceptable to God,
our Saviour" In verso Paul tells us
that he speaks the truth in Christ
and in verse 8 hO says, II will,
therefore, that men pray every ryWhere,
Gn all places, see Wsbster) lifting up
holy hands, without wrath and without
doubling" James 5: 10 says, "The ef-
fectual fervent prayer of : righteous
man Availeth much" We have ever
loved to hear q good prayer from an
honest heart. 1t is indeed sffectual.
In A. D. SS Jesus and his apostles and
a great number Of people won't out OF
Jericho, and blind man whose name
Was Bartimaeus sat BY the wayside beg
ging, and when he heard that Jesus
was passing that way he began to cry
out and say, "JeSus, thou son of DAVID,
havC mercy on me-" Many mot few
charged him that hO should hold his
peace, but he cried the more . great
deal, "Thou son OF David, have. mercy
on me-" Did blind BaPtimaous pray
publicly? Did Jesus hear him2 What
did Jesus do in response to his prayer?
Let the bible speak. "Jesus stood still
and commanded him to bc called. Ahd
they called the blind man, saying unto
him, "Be OF good comfort, he cSlleth
thee" And he casting away his gar
ments, rose and came to Jesus. And
Jesus answered and said unto him,
What wilt thou that l should do unto
thee?" The blind man said unto him,
Lord, that might receive my sight"
And Jesus said unto him, go thy way,
thy faith hath made thee whole. And
Immediately hs received his sight and
followed Jesus on the way. st. Mark
10: 46 SO.
Who in the face Of Gods word would
have sudacity to say blind BArtimAeus
didn't pray publicly, nor that Jesus
heard him when he said, Jesus, thou
son of David, have mercy on me-" Jes-
us did have mercy on him, for he re-
stored his sight. Sincere public prayer
is nowhere in all the bible condemned,
either by Jesus or any Of the apostles
nor do we read whore Jesus ever rebuk'
ed or told his apostles to rebuke any
man who publicly and sincerely called
on him for help or pardon. These facts
alone are enough to forever settle the
question that public prayer rightly Of
fsred is acceptable to God. We would
feel safe in resting our case here bu
knowing that people want abundant
proof and examples pointed out We will
gladly do so that no one gainsay ouI
position,
We note from the 9th chapter OF end
Chronicals that Solomon prayed in the
conservation of the temple upon the
braEen scaffold, and that he stood anC
knSeled down upon his knees before all
the congregation OF Israel, and that he
spread forth his hands toward HEAVIER
and prayed. In 3nd Chronicles :: Il
we learn that when solomon had made
an end of praying that fire came dowr
from heaven and consumed the burn
Offering and the sacrifice, and the glorl
OF the Lord flled the Lords house
And the priests could not enter into tht
house Of the Lord, because the glory o.
the Lord had filled tho house. Vers'
12 says that the Lord appeared to Solo
mon by night, and told him he ha'
heard his prayer. Paul and Silas Whei
in prison at the hour Of midnight pray
ed and sang praises unto God, and tn
prisoners heard them. Acts l6: %
These men spske the word Of the Lord
after the praying and singing, to tn
jailor and to all that were In bis house
Verse SO. We're they not preachers, Un
Gle Joe, and did not God hear accep
their prayer and song service? thin
so.
! From the tone Of Uncle Jos's thsolC
gy be seems to think that the thief o
the cross did not pray, but we I'm,
that Luke says be said, Lord. rsmen
Der me when thou cOmsst into thy kinI
DOM" ST. Luke %: "a. Prayer is, an
means to entreAt the favor Of. Sc
Webster. Now who would deny th
thief entreating the favor Of Chris
Note the promise Of Christ to the thie
To-day shalt thou stay with me in pa
adise." Oh. says one, yOu are OF abol
Jesus promising the thief in answer
bis prayer that be should be with hi
in paradise. guess not, for the la
guage Of Jesus. To-day shalt thou