"PRAYING FOR THE DEAD"

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 22 May 1912, Page 2

"PRAYING FOR THE DEAD"

Continuing on Sunday last Mr Milner dealt with " praying for the dead '*. Prayer is the grandest themo upon which man can exercise his mind, it ia the way of commune with God and our approach unto Him should always be m the deepest humility. Kecognising as we must God's perfect wisdom and love, all our prayer should be in harmony with His Will. The Word which He had spoken reveals His Will and it is our rule of conduct, the guide of our life. Now if God had intended we should pray Sor the dead, He would have instructed us so, agaiu in the many instances recorded where the saints have poured out their prayers at the Throne of grace, no mention is ever made of the dqad. Bishop Crosaley destitute of scriptural ground, argues If they have loye and memory they must pray tor us and if the dead remember ns should not we remember them ? But the bible speaking erf the dead says •• As well as their W eir^ a?N dal!r on,v^ ißno^ Perished (Eec 9. 6.). •'ln death there isnoreC membrance of thee, in eheol who shall give thee thanks" (P aß lm 6.5,), Ihe dead praisa not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence, but we wiU bless the Lord " (Psalm U5 10- Praying for the dead is not o»1y contrary to Scripture but also ta Qoda revealed purposes. <• Now is the «h ceptable time, now ia the day of sal yjti<«(a<3ara.2.). If man in this life ignores Gods love, despires h£ Grace and neglects the salvation,sa freely offered, then when he is awaW ed out of the death state.theie a him the Judgment tHeb. &. 27V and it is immoral to i each that be ml v prayed or payed out of punishment to say nothing of the sin of so doSiS scriptural authority. »Be not dS cieved iiod is not mocked whateL££ mausowoth that shall d 6 J™^ 1 hey that have same* withont theOaw shall perish wt fc wt the ! *° t^' which ha.v© sauned a°-ain«f «. i y begged by tKv.^l^ day when God shall Judge the, l««ti of men according to m Y ««?««¥> Jesus Christ". W^*"^ **