PRAYERS FOR ANCESTORS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1446, 22 May 1912, Page 10

PRAYERS FOR ANCESTORS.

Sir,—Bishop Crosslcy is reported to have said: "Surely if those who were departed remembered in their prayers those upon earth, then the world should remember its departc-d." Tho only evidence wo have that the departed remember thoso oa earth is to bo .found in. the parable of the rich roan and Lazarus, and it was to Abraham that Dives prayed, not to God. Abraham could afford him no consolation, nor alleviate his misery, If Dives's friends were praying for bin) their prayers were just as ineffectual as 1 his own, for they failed to bridge tho gulf. Those who are prepared to stake their future on the prayers of posterity are trusting to a very rotten plans. First, we have uo promise that such prayers are heard; sccond, we have no guarantee as to the spiritual, state of posterity, for "the world will wax worse-anti worse" and "the prayers of the wicked are an abomination unto God," so that even if God were willing to hear prayers fer ancestors there is groat danger of God turning a deaf ear to them. Christ said: "Let tho dead bury their dead." Nov is the accepted time, and not 0110 particle of hope did he hold out for the unregenernte dead. What a grave responsibility therefore rests upon those who preach otherwise. Wlmt the Scriptures do teach, however, and what is not preached, is that "tho prayer of faith slinli save the sick," not the dead. The utilitarian natnro of such a religion should surely appeal to tho veriest novice. Jesus pave the disciples power to heal all manner of sickness ami all manner of disease.?, and if the clergy would confine their prenching to God's Word, and not man s, and find out what is "the prayer of faith" and pray it and demonstrate i>.v tho direct answers to prayers that they have audience with. God what a jjrasii, reformation there would be. Such cases as that reported the other day or a man dying after being bedridden tor years would be few and far brtsveen. Answered prayer for the living is the need of this sin-cursed, disease-smitten world to-day. Not man's gospel, but (he saving, cleansiiif', hoalili? Rosncl of Jesus Christ. "There is no text'in the Bible to forbid prayer for the dead" say-s the Bishop, 'h'uc! but should not an obediwt servant hrs,. of nil obey the direct ejAimnmls ot God before introducing fusMpinnovaUons.—l luul, CiC " F. riERAKD.