The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-08-16

cali for the elders of the church; and
let them pray over him, amounting
him with oil in the name of the Lord,
and the prayer of faith shall save the
sick. and the Lord shall raise him up.
James: 5-lS.
We cannot dispose of this teaching
by remarking that we do not believe
II. neither by claiming that it once
was true but that it has been dis
continued.
We cannot dispose of it by claiming
that "our church" does not teach it,
and that we are consistent with "Our
church"
We are to consider this solem state
ment as being from God and when
God speaks to us we can afford to
listen.
The statement is out and with it
the church must deal.
In the first place, allow me to say,
know this statement to be absolutely
true as it reads. There is no twisting
or wrestling needed in order to make
il read another way or mean some
thing else. ... ..:4
In the second place, permit me to
say, | do not believe any reader of
this sermon has ever demonstrated
lanes statement to be false. l know
of no one who ever tried it and failed
and | do not know of any one who
ever heard of any one trying and
found it to be untrue. l have tried it
and know it to be true.
The conditions are these: There
must be elders. Next, they must be
called for by ANY among you" There
fore there must be people who are
thus designated. One of these folks
must be too sick to pray. He must
call for the elders. They must come
and secure some oil. They must take
that oil and annoint the sick man.
Another elder must pray over that
sick man. They must work in all
faith. The sick man must have suf-
fcient faith to want to try it. The
elders must have enough faith to per-
form the test. The material must be
oil, and not water nor grease. The
praying must be done lover" the sick
man. The prayer must be fervent
and effectual. He who makes the
prayer, the sick man and the elder
believe that God is and that he is a
rewarder Of them who diligently seek
him. Nobody in the group shall
WdNcI. 1NO OuC Vi SuClu Sudh SuPPOSC
he and the others are doing the heal
ing, but all shall combine in the
belief that God is able to accomplish
and make good this promise and then
leave it with God to accomplish.
This prayer shall be spontaneous
and not a recitation. The prayer of
some professor who wrote it in COL
lege fifteen years ago and which some
o,annrtzod &c hhcn1,,fo1v ,,co1o
in this case Some unconverted slow
pokey old man with neither pity nor
manhood enough to take a temptation
nor see point hall not suppose hi
meets the conditions, for he does not.
1t shall be a man who believes in God
and who is willing to walk right out
on the promises and also be willing to
tell his friend he meets as he goes on
his errand, just where he is going and
what he is about. That hoodoo of a
Christian who thinks he can slip a.
round and work this test case and
keep it from the people in event he
fails, would just as we'll decline to go
and say he declines because he does
not believe it. That is the manly way
out of it.
God does not say that the sick man
thus raised, shall thereafter live for
ever. He does not say this ministra-
ton is an insurance policy. Nor does
he say it is evidence that he who make
the prayer is infallible and would know
whether it is best ito plant potatoes
that year or put the ground in grain
The writing is for definite thing and
that thing is to inform the sick peo-
pie of certain religious connection
Just how they may demonstrate to the
neighbors that God lives and is doing
business as of old. He does not state
how many times God will do thing
tor one man, but he does say it will BIZ
done one time, and I know this state
ment to be certainly and absolutely
true.
also knows it works for women
Tor | have tried that too. We cannot
cry this truth down by saying we
have known all sorts of cranks and
imposters to have it and undertake to
teach it. Nor can we annul it by pro.
claiming that intelligent people nc
longer practice it. 1t remains script
ure in the face of every objection anG
we are but advertising our own des
tiny and in6delity when we proclian
it otherwise. No where is there 4;
hint that It should be discontinued
except by sinners who have lost faitl
in God. II il the same old story owe
again; the Jews once had convenan
with God in which the High Prizes
offered up the sacrifice. God met tn,
people through that offering and God
own FIRE burned the flesh. After
while the Priesthood became so cor
rupt that God, one day. declined to sc
hre on thu alter The did nriest arches
his brows and began to scheme. H
saw through it, God was done. H
had stood It as long as he would. Tn
people were not meeting his condi
tons and he ceased to work wit
them. The priests then got togethe
and concocted q scheme of settin,
their own fire and told the people. VIII,
OF course. the time has come whel