Christian Messenger. (Bonham, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 17, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 16, 1883 Page: 4 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 40 x 26 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
*
\. • - 7V.>: »:*v- :^K,f
'
' * - ;
7 u.J-^1 ;■*■/--.*
w
% -
i~7
V
ft Si
CHRISTIAN MESSENGER.
THE MESSENGER.
iiKje.— '... -
WEDNESDAY. MAY 16, 1883.
, ^ 'v * V. _•
THE?REFLEX INFLUENCE
QF fRAYER. ‘
This theory, if we understand it
is thart the benefit of one’i prayer
is its influence upon himself, rath-
er than upon Ged. It is held by
the advocates of the theory, that
God is ready to bless ns to the full
extent of our fitness to be blessed*
and prayer, therefore, can not
make him more gracious. Hence,
prayer can bring us additional
blessings only asR affects us, and
thereby brings us into a condition
to receiye further blearing.
The plausibility of thi* theory,
when skillfully presented, is well
calculated to mislead those who
do not look beneath the surface.
If this theory of prayer be true, it
must stend the test of both facts
and philosophy; By. these, then
let it stand or fall.-
InJlfe first place, it is freely ad-
mitted that prayer has a reflex in
- 1 ,V • r T - ' . . ' • ' .
else the Son of God had his follow-
acting a stupeoduous farce for
forty years, need not concern him-
self about any theory of prayer.
Thus, the first fact breaks the neck
of the theory.
Before Paul' visited the saints
at Borne* he requested them to
join him in prayer for three spe-
cific things:;.ft.) That he might
be deliveredIrom the disobedient
in Judea; (2-X: That his contribu-
tion-, for the poor saints in Jerusa-
lem'might be accepted; (3.) That
he might finally be brought to them,
through. th©> will of God. (See
Rom.'xv. 30-33.)
Subsequent history shows that
while atl these petitions were an-
swered, they were answered
through the mysterious providence
of God, and not by ajreflex influ-
ence on Paul; fciS 7 the saints at
Bomfe-, t-~A:bdu# tea-<?baptera of the
_______________ included
fluence. It is further - admitted, in answer to
that.th^. influence brings, one into' '.thesi:pe^aaa,.. n ,
closer spk&iaL unions -.with '^Cbxb-;- TfeeasrpcaffivT^re offered with
and hencj into, a better condition
for thefiff^ption of divine bless-
ings. Tint'-ife deny that this reflex
blessing is the fundamental idea
in prayer. On the contrary, we
hold that the reflex theory is based
upon, a perversion of the divine
petition. It simply makes prayer
a ridiculous farce and meaningless
a mummery.
Prayer habits relations to others
besides the petitioner and the pe-
titioned. There are tho-e prayed
for, as well as those who pray.
The prayed for may hear, or they
may not. They may know they
are prayed for, or they may not.
Those holding the reflex theory
admit (as they are oompelled to)
that the prayed for can be benefit-
ed only when they hear, oi believe
that prayer is mede for them.
Certainly, if prayer is only reflex
in its influence, it is both idle and
silly to pray for those who do not
hear or know that they are objects
af the prayers offered. This= be-
ing true, it fellows that the loiter
class are not benefited by prayer,
but simply by the thought that
they are prayed for. The effect
would be the same if a prayer
were neveroffered for them. Thug,
deception has all the virtue of
truth! Let us now see how this
theory! harmonized with Bible
facts.
The Savior directed his cUsqj-
ples to pray that their flight from
the besieged city of Jerusalem be
not in the winter nor on the sab-
bath day. But the time of their
flight was to depend on the time
of the seige; and this on the move-
ments of ( the Homan army; and
this 6U the will of the Homan gov-
erm6nfc‘ Then, the Roman, gov-
ernment was to be influenced,
through the providence of God,
by the prayers of the saints.
Could any reflex influence of
prayer on the disciples affect the
movements of the Roman army?
'Certainly nt^t. Did the Roman
general’ know that the disciples
of ,-*CJiii»t were praying that
he could not besiege the city
• of Jerusalem in the winter?
He . knew nothing about the
prayers of the saints, and cared as
little us he knew. The Savior
taught his disciples that their
prayers were to effect the time of
the seige. This eould not be by
any reflex influence. Hence their
prayers, through the will and
providence of God, influenced the
ers praying forty years for a thing, prayer has a reflex inflaence on
when he knew that every petition men, when it is made with the un-
to that end was a sham and a dering that it will influence God;
fraud! He who can believe that but if made .with the understand-
the son of God could thus deceive ing that it affects only ourselves,
his disciples, and hava them en- then the very faith that alone can
produce a healthful reflex influ-
ence is gone; and the prayer had
as well be made to the man in the
moorn. Consequently, if the reflex
theory be true, it requires faith in
a false theory to make it so! Thus,
the theory cuts the cord by which
it hangs.
To illustrate: An old fisherman
can fish with interest all day with-
out a nibble, when he expscts to
catch something. But he could
not fish five minutes in a rain-bar-
rel without feeling like a fool.
Why? Because he knows there is
nothing there. He must believe
there is something to be caught,
else all interest in fishing is gone.
So, when we pray we believe that
God hears and answers prayers in
ways above and beyond the effect
of'prayer on ourselves, else all
benefit of prayer is destroyed, and
we simply find ourselves fishing
in a rain-barrel. Thus, we reach
the profound philosophy in that
saying of the Savior, “Therefore I
say unto you, what things soever
you desire when you pray, believe
tha&you recieve them and you
shall have them.”—Ex.
sc, y
Mh
Mr
S&, 4
i i . <
WHh
' T .
I ■
movements of the Homan army, or I ing.
. ... " •* .
the understanding that they would
reach out in their effects beyond
the lives of. those who offered
them. If they were deceived,
Paul deceived them, and he him-
self was deceived. Had they
prayed with the understanding
rthat their prayers would influence
only themselves, then the very
senselessness of the petitions
would have been destructive to
their piety. Consequently, if the'
reflex-influence theory be true,
people have to believe a lie, and
pray accordingly, in order that
prayer have any value!
When the church in Jerusalem
prayed for the release of Peter
from prison, it was not the effect
of prayer on themselves that so
deeply concerned them; but its
effect in releasing Peter. - Now, if
prayer has no such affect as this
release through its influence
would demand, then the whole
church had been misled both by
the* Son of God and the inspira-
tion of the Holy Spirit! Should
it be urged that this was a miracle,
it altars not the case. If God
performed a miracle it altars not
the nase. If God performed a
miracle through the influence of
prayer, then prayer influenced
him, and the reflex theory falls to
the ground. If prayer can move
the divine hand in miracle, cer-
tainly it can in providence. The
one necessary point is to show
that it touches the divine heart,
and moves the divine hand. On
this idea was based all the prayers
of the Savior and the saints.
When the Son of God prayed
that his disciples might be one, as
he and the Father are one, did he
make this petition for its reflex in-
fluence on him and his disciples?
Or did he expect a substantial an-
swer through divine interposition?
To ask such questions is to answer
them, with those who would not
make the world’s Redeemer the
merest trifle with the human heart
and understanding.
Let us now take a further peep
into the philosophy of this theory.
We start with the Scripture’s state-
ment, that God hear* prayer. Now,
if prayer does not influence God,
but man only, then it does not mat-
ter an untimely fig whether God
hears prayer or not; the effect will
be the same, both Godward and
manward. Hearing implies heed-
ing, and this implies influence;
else, language is without mean-
We can readily understand kow
•
RECOGNITION OF GOD’S POWER.
BY R. D. LUCAS.
(From Christian Standard.)
KOW MEN ASSUME RESPONSIBILTY.
In private life men can talk flip-
pantly about haying no faith in
God, or express Atheistic senti-
ments, but when a man takes a
responsible station he stems to
instinctively feel the necessity for
divide help and guidance. As
proof of this, I have taken pains
to examine the inaugural messages
of the Presidents of the United
States from the beginning. They
have greatly impressed my mind
and I am sure the readers of the
Standard in this day of Atheistic
philosophy, will be benefited by
them. I give them all in their
order.
WASHINGTON.
Washington, in bis first inaugu-
ral, says:
.“Such being the impression un-
der which I have, in obedience to
the public summons* repaired to
the present station, it would be
particularly improper to omit in
this my first official act my fervent
supplications to that Almighty
Being who rules over the universe,
who presides in the councls of na-
tions, and whose providential aids
can supply every human defect,
that His benediction may conse-
crate to the liberties and happiness
of the people of the United States
a government instituted by them-
selves for these essential purposes,
and may enable every instrument
employed'in its administration to
execute with success the function^
allotted to his charge.”
JOHN ADAMS.
John Adams concludes his in-
augural address as follows:
“And may that' Being who is su-
preme over all,the patron of order,
the fountain of justice,, and the
protector in all, ages of the world,
of virtuous liberty, -<fc>niinue his
blessing upon this nation and its
government and give it all possi-
ble success and duration consis-
— *
tent with the ends of his provi-
dence/’
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
inaugural as follows:
“May that Infinite Power which
rules the destinies of the universe,
lead our councils to what is best
and give them a favoi able issue
for your peace and prosperity.”
JAMBS MADISON.
James Madison concludes his
first inaugural as follows:
“In these (the tried intelligence
and virtue of my fellow citizens)
will my confidence under every
difficulty be placed next to that in
which we have all been encourag-
ed to feel, in the guardianship and
guidance of that Almighty Being
whose power regulates the desti-
ny of‘nations, whose blessings
have been so conspieiously dis-
pensed to this repuhlic, and to
whom we are bound to address
our devout gratitude for the past,
ns well as our fervent supplica-
tions and best hopes for the fu-
ture.”
JAMES MONROE.
James Monroe concludes as fol-
lows :
“I enter on the trust, to which I
have been called by the suffrages
of my fellow-citizens, with my
fervent prayers to the Almighty
that he will be graciously pleased
to continue to us that protection
which He has already so conspic-
uously displayed in our favor.”
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
John Quincy Adams concludes
as follows:
“Knowing that except the Lord
keep the city the watchman wak-
eth but in vain,'with fervent sup-
plications for His favor, to His
overruling providence I com mi t-
with humble but fearless confi-
dence, my own fate and the future
destinies of my country.”
ANDREW JACKSON.
Andiew Jeckson concludes his
first inaugural:
“A firm reliance on the goodness
of that Power whose providence
mercifully protected our national
infancy, and has since upheld our
liberties in various vicissitudes,
encourages me to offer up my ar-
dent supplications that He will
continue to make our beloved
country the object of His divine
care and gracious benediction.”
MARTIN VAN BUREN. *
Martin Van Buren concludes his
inaugural:.
“Beyond that, I only;iook to the
gracious protection of the Divide
Being, whose strengthening sup-
port I humbly solicit, and whom I
fervently pray to look down upon
us all. May it be among the dis-
pensations of His providence to
bless our beloved country with
honors and with length of days.
May her ways be ways of pleasant-
ness and all her paths be paths of
peace.”
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
William Henry Harrison con-
cludes his inaugural as follows:
. “I deem the present occasion
sufficiently important and solemn
to justify me in expressing to my
fellow-citizens a profound rever-
ence for the • Christian religion
and a thorough conviction that
sound morals, religious liberty
and a just sense of religious re-
sponsibility are essentially con-
nected with all true and lasting
happiness; and to that good Being
who has blessed us by the gifts of
civil and religious freedom, who
watched over and prospered the
labors of our, fathers, and has
hitherto preserved to us our insti-
tutions, far exceeding in excellence
those of any other people, let us
unite in fervently commending
every interest of our beloved coun-
try in all future time.”
JAMES K. POLK.
.. James K. Polk concludes his in-
augural:
“In assuming responsibilities so
vast, I fervently invoke the aid of
that Almighty Ruler of the uni-
verse, in whose hands are the des-
tinies of nations and men, to
guard this heaven-favored land
Thomas Jefftrson concludes his' against the mischiefs which, with-
out His guidance might arise from
an unwise public policy. With a
firm reliance upon the wisdom of
Omnipotence to sustain and direct
me in the path of duty, which I
am appointed to pursue, I stand
in the presence of this assembled
multitude of my country-men to
take upon myself the solemn obli-
gation to the best of my ability to
preserve, protect and defend the
constitution of the United States.”
ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Zachary Taylor concludes as
follows:
“In conclusion, I congratulate
you, my fellow-citizens, u^on the
high state of prosperity to which
the goodness of Dirine Providence
has conducted our com {non coun-
try. Let us invoke a continuance
of the same protecting care which
has led us from small beginnings
to the eminence.we this day occu-
py, and let ns seek to deserve that
continuance by prudence and mod-
eration in our council*.”
* FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Franklin Pierce in his first an-
nual message says:
"We have the most abundant
cause for reverent thankfulness to
God far an accumulation of signal
mercies showered upon us as a na-
tion. It is well that a conscious-
ness of rapid advancement and in-
creasing strength be habitually
associated with an abiding sense
of dependence upon Him who
holds in his hands the destiny of
men spd of nations.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
James Buchanan in his firEt an-
nual message says:
“But first, and above all, pur
thanks are due to Almighty God,
for the numerous benefits which
He has bestowed upon the people,
and our united prayers ought to
ascend to Him, that He would con-
tinue to bless oar great republic
in time to come as He has blessed
it in time past.”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Abraham Lincoln said in his
farewell to his Springfield neigh-
bors f
“A duty devolves upon me which
is, perhaps, greater than that which
has devolved upon any other man
since the days of Washington. He
never would have succeeded ex-
cept for the aid. of Divine Provi-
dence, upon which he at all times
relied. I feel that I can not suc-
ceed without the same Divine aid
which sustained him, and on the
same Almighty Being I place my
reliance for support; and I hope
that you, my friends, will all pray
that I may receive tUat Divine as-
sistance, without which I can not
succeed, but with which success is
certain.”
U. S. GRANT.
Ulysses 8. Grant concludes his
first inaugural:
“In conclusion, I ask patient for-
bearance one toward another
throughout the land, and a deter-
mined effort on the part of every
citizen to do his share toward
cementing a happy union, and 1
ask the prayers of the nation to
Almighty God in behalf of this
consumation.”
R. B. HAYS.
R. B. Hays concludes his inaug-
ural as follows:
“Looking for the guidance of
that Divine Hand by which the
destinies of nations and individuals
are shaped, I call upon you, sena-
tors, representatives, judges, fel-
low-citizens, here and everywhere,
to unite with me in an earnest ef-
fort to secure to our country the
blessing not only of national pros-
perity, but of justice, peace and
union,” etc.
JAMES A. GARFIELD.
James A. Garfield concluded his
inaugural:.
“And now,* fellow-citizens, I am
about to assume the great trust
which you have committed to my
hands, I appeal to you for that
earnest and thoughtful support
which makes this government in
fact, as it is in law, a government
of tho people. I shall greatly re-
ly upon the wisdom and patriot-
ism of congress, and with those
who may share with me the re-
sponsibilities of administration;
and, above all, upon our efforts to
piomote the welfare of this good
people and their government I
reverently invoke the suppori and
blessing of Almighty God.”
MPOBTXD GIFT BOOKS
F*r mM, C*Ur«4 Mfr*
Ufa, »«ry ah*i*« Friaa trmm It mu
surw “
M
m
■
j
* : i r
y >
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Burnett, Thomas R. Christian Messenger. (Bonham, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 17, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 16, 1883, newspaper, May 16, 1883; Bonham, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth904694/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bonham Public Library.