Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-07-19

His important work as Advocate 70
the Church In the present, and as Medi
ator elect for the world In the future.
Wrong Views Respecting Prayer.
Nearly all Christian people in thu
past have discerned the subject oi
prayer very indistinctly. Sinners have
been urged to pray; moralists, who
have never accepted Christ as thell
Savior, have been chided for not pray
ing. In general way the impression
has been given to the world that God
is very anxious to have some recogni
ton on the part OF humanity, and will
be glad to be approached by anybody
at any time. How strange a mistake!
Was 1t not God who denounced sin
and placed the penalty, or curse OF
death upon the sinner, and cut of the
sinner from fellowship with Himselfi
Has He changed? VIII He ever
changer Was not the statement that
God heareth not sinners" a correct
one ?--John 9:31.
Tho Church Has an Advocate.
Gods arrangement whereby His con.
secrated people may approach Him ac-
ceptably is clearly stated. I'VE 1.-THE
Royal Priesthoodl have an Advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the
Righteous" q John 2:1) But before
the Redeemer Of men will become the
Advocate for any, certain terms and
conditions are laid down. Those ap-
preaching are first Of all reminded
that mo man cOmeth unto the Father
but by Me"-the Advocate. And upon
inqulr1ng respecting the terms upon
which He would be their Advocate, we
are admonished that He serves only
those who become His disciples. In
quiring the terms Of discipleship, we
receive the answer, "If any man will
come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me-"
Matthew 10: "a
Under these conditions the poorest
and the meanest Of humanity have
the privilege of approaching with cour-
age the Throne Of Heavenly Grace to
obtain mercy, and to find grace to
help in every time Of need. Hebrews
410) But equally certain is 1t that
none others have access to God, "Nei-
ther Is there any other name given
under Heaven or amongst men where
by we must be saved from our fallen
condition, than the name Of Jesus.
Perhaps there is something revolu-
tionary in this thought that, while all
may worship In the sense Of bowling
down and showing reverence to the
Almighty, none but the consecrated
followers Of Jesus have any assurance
whatever Of the Divine supervision Of
their affairs. And none but these have
any authority for coming to God in
prayer.
One exception to this rule should be
here stated; namely, that the children
Of consecrated believers, while they
are still immature Of judgment, have a
standing with God through their rela-
tionship to their parents. St Paul
makes this very evident in his declara-
ton; "The unbelieving husband is
sanctitied by the wife, and the unbe-
lieying wife is sanctihed by the hus-
band, else were your children unclean,
but now are they holy."-1 Cor. TIA.
The translation Of this text slightly
beclouds the Apostles thought, which
is that where either Of the parents
has become disciple of Jesus. the
child stands related to God, regardless
Of the standing OF the other parent
Such children may participate in wor-
ship and In prayer. But this relation
ship manlfestly terminates shortly aft
er the child shall have come to a per
sonal knowledge Of It's responsible
ties. Thereupon II must make a per.
sonal covenant with the Lord, or have
It's standing with the rest Of the world.
And that standing, be II remember
ed, does not mean liability to eternal
torment II merely means alienation,
separation, from God and from His
special care and providences In the
present time; for the Divine arrange.
ment is for the ultimate blessing Of
mankind through the Messianic King.
through the Temple Of Glory and
It's Royal Priesthood glorlhed. in It's
Kingdom power for thousand years.
Might the Truth Discouraged
Some might be inclined to say, There
are millions OF people who, with more
or less formality, approach God in
prayer daily, should we not fear that
after truthful presentation OF the
facts these would be discouraged2 Our
reply is that the whole responsibility
for the Divine Plan rests upon It's Dl.
vine Author who says, "TIe that hath
My Word, let him speak My Word
faithfully" Indeed, the preaching OF
the Truth on this subject may bring
many Indifferent ones to the point Of
decision, and thus greatly benefit them.
Have we not been telling the world
In general that there ls practically no
difference between Gods people by
conservation and the children OF this
world? Have we not been misleading
them In this respectl Is II not high
time that they were told the truth ON
this. as well as some other subjcctsH
A gentleman who attended my
preaching In London met me the FOL,
lowing day and said, "Your discourse
did not at all encourage me; indeed,
II greatly discouraged me, had for
years thought Of myself as a Christian.
being a member OF the Church Of Eng.
land participated In Its service, hut
without ever having had the thought
that ! could not he acceptable as one