The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-07-02

they have to do.
"a Pray Not For the World"
We have seen who may and who
may not pray, according to the linn
itations of the Lords Word; that no
one is invited to pray except the pen
itent who turns from sin and accepts
of Christ. We have seen how the peo-
pie of God may pray for the forgive
ness of their own trespasses, and have
Divine mercy and help. and how they
may give thanks on behalf of them
selves and each other. But may they
pray to God for sinners, for the world?
Undoubtedly the majority Of Chris
tians would answer. Yes. they should
specially pray for these; but if we
find the Scriptural answer to the
query. it is. No. Our Lords words in
his prayer to the Father on the same
night in which he was betrayed were,
81 pray not for the world, but for
those whom thou hast given me"
John xvii, 81. Our Lord was the great
exemplar for all of his followers, who
are exhorted to walk in his footsteps
If he prayed not for the world, neither
should we.
But what is the philosophy of this?
Did not Jesus love the world? Yes,
verify, he so loved the world as to die
for us while we were vet sinners.
Why. then, did he not pray for those
whom he loved and for whom he
died? We answer, because it is not
70 l.
praying for them, but, as the Apostle
declared. 1t pleased God that through
the preaching of the Cross Of Christ
believers should be saved. though this
course may seem foolish to the world
ly. God has made great plan Of sal
vation. which eventually will reach
the whole world of mankind-every
creature. He does not need, therefore,
that either our Lord Jesus or we
should pray for the world, for he has
every arrangement made on their be-
half that Love and Justice could pro-
vide. The time for blessing the world
has not yet come.
The present is the time for blessing
the Church. believers who are now
being called out of the world-to sepa-
rate themselves as Gods peculiar peo-
pie. 1t was for these that Jesus
prayed, and for these. therefore, we,
following his example, should pray.
Their Affections are his Affections. and
hence our Affections. because If one
member of the Body of Christ suffer,
all the other members suffer with it.
Hence. as the Apostle says, we should
pray one for the other, as we'll as
labor to assist each other. and to build
one another up in the most holy faith.
for this Is the will Of God This is
the plan of God-that during the pres
ent age the Elect class should be
called and tested and chosen. in order
that in the next age they with Christ
In his Millennial Kingdom may be the
divine agency for the blessing of all
the families of the earth.
Why should we not pray for the con-
version of our families, and neighbors
and friends? Because it is not for us
to ask the Lord to select according to
our judgment those who shall be of
his elect Little Flock. his Bride class.
Divine rules are in operation. and it
is for us to cooperate with them. We
may tell the good tidings to our
friends, neighbors. families; we may
exemplify the Gospel in our daily lives.
and thus bring to bear upon our friends
the things of the truth, which God has
ordained shall be the sanctifying
power-"Sanctify them through they
truth; thy Word is Truth"
We may, however. ask of the Lord
wisdom and grace whereby we may
serve him acceptably, whereby we may
present his message faithfully as his
ambassadors, and whereby we may be
more and more burning and shining
lights, and living epistles known and
read of the dear friends whom we
would love to serve and to bring to
him. We might even ask for the
Lords blessing upon favored oppOrtu-
mites for presentation of the Truth.
and for the wisdom which our Lord
eXhorted us to exercise. saying that
we should be wise as Serpents and
harmless as doves in the presentation
of his message.
The exhortations to pray for our ene-
mics, and for rulers and magistrates,
are not in conflict with the foregoing
because our prayer for our enemies
would be that whereas they might be
justly entitled to stripes on account of
injury done to us, we would be willing
to forgive them, that the trespass
might not be laid to their charge; but
this would not be asking the Lord for
some miraculous power upon them for
their conversion to be his disciples.
And when the Apostle eXhorts that
prayer be made for magistrates, he
makes no suggestion Of praying for
their conversion, but rather that their
government might be so ordered as 10
inure to the benefit. the blessing, Of
the Lords Elect Church-"that we
may lead a quiet and peaceful life in
all goodness and honesty" Il Timothy
ii, y.
| close with the eXhortation that we
all seek to appreciate more and more
the great privilege which we enjoy as
Christians, of coming in the name Of
our Lord and Head into the presence
of the Emperor of the Universe, to get
his smile, his benediction. obtaining
his mercy, and finding daily grace to
helm orr needs