Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-24

self sacrifice for their loved ones But
though the women of Weinsberg each
saved husband. Il father. II brother
or son. want to tell you that Ra.
/ hab Of Jericho did far more than that
Through her faith In God she was the
means OF saving the lives of her fa-
ihcr and mother aud brothers and sis
tiers. She carried forth out of that
destroyed city not one. but many,
dear ones She saved the lives of her
whole family
"Nonsensc." says some one To me:
"nonScnsc. II was not through the
help of God that Rahab saved the fam
lily They were saved Oh account of the
bargain she made with .IoslIuas spies.
After she had hidden these two spies in
her home and saved their nccks from
the pursuers she made them take an
oath to save her and her fathers house
hold They had to do II. being bound
by their sacred oaths. Then. in order
to make her rescue more certain. the
two spies said. Place II scarlet rope in
your window and our soldiers will not
search IT, Inhab did this. and she
was saved. God had nothing 10 do
Z with H. That Is just the way with you
i Christians. If n man is sick and you
pray over him. then you say God makes
the invalid well The simple fact Is
the man would get well. whether you
prayed over him or no
4 q 4 Ia, sI...
common idea. You are exactly In the
same position as prominent professor
Of one of our large state universities
who. II short time ago. said 10 his class:
young gentlemen. prayer has abso-
lutcly nothing to do with the outcome
of the natural world When the condi-
tlons are right for II to rain. the rain
comes When the medicines are taken
and the fever has run its course. the
patient gets well. and II makes but
! little difference whether the sick man Is
n Mohammelan or Christian. When
the tornado has blown itself out, the
storm censes, and not before. Prayer
/ may have its influence on the spiritual
world. but It has absolutely no infiu-
encc IN the material" Now. | take
issue with those who hold such ideas.
God does rule the material. And God
does change the outcome of the mate
rial This ancient story of preservation
of Rahab in the destruction of Jericho
Is symbol of what has taken place
many times in history and of events in
your career and In mine.
How Rahab Was saved.
You say Rahab was saved by Josh
ua's army She was saved by the pro
tecting hmnd Of God alone. Did you
ever stop to consider where Rahab's
house was built The Bible distinctly
tells this IN Joshua H. 10: For her
house was upon the town wall and she
dwelt upon the wall" Now. AS this
house was built upon the wall, what
happened when the besiegng army
marched ini Why. that part of the
wall where Rahab's house was and
where she gathered her father aud
mother and brothers and sisters was
left standing God did not allow that
part of the city wall 10 totter and fall,
for II II had with the tumbling OF
those mighty rocks Rahab and her IA
Tiers household surely would have
been instantly killed. You say. "Rahab
and her household were saved by the
Hebrew soldiers on account of the
scarlet thread placed In the window"
IT'S true: God does work through hui
man agencies. But. say. Rahab was
also saved because God held up that
wall upon the top of which stood Ra-
hab's home. Can you not see that God
in answer To prayer cares for the phys
Teal we'll being of man as well as the
spiritualf
DO you feel that II is a silly or use
less act to 20 and knccl by the little
crib of your sick child and say. 20
God. make my baby well. II II he thy
Will" Was not the life of lIeZekiah
prolonged fifteen years through his
praying 10 God? DO you think II an
nbSurdity when you are about TO start
on long voyage 10 knecl and say. 20
Lord thou who dost govern the winds
and doSt hold the seas in the palms OF
thy hands, guard us and care for us as
we pillow through the tracklcss dcepT
Was not the Mayiower protected OH
her Journey 10 the American shor" he
cause John Robinson and his band OF
followers started the pilgrim fathers
with the plcadngs OF prayer In an
old book | once saw Il picture called
"The Prayers For the Crusaders"
There nj the foot Of the cross knelt the
wives sisters. mothers and children,
while off In the distance you could see
the armies marching toward the east
crn capital OF David. All. yes; may
every one of our homes be Il living pie
ture of The Prayers For the Crusad-
ers" May we pray for the safety OF
our loved ones. May we pray for the
restoration of health 10 the sick. May
we pray that God shall guard the
bodies of our dear ones. even as God
was the Saviour OF Rahab and her ia
Tiers household. upon the top Of the
heavlng. rocking. tumblng and shat
tered walls of Jericho. ut the mercy or