Article December 3, 1904 Issue

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Man's true prayer,—the prayer which is true for him,—is the expression in words of the trend of his life. Man's effectual prayer is that petition which has in view and embraces the will of God. In all obediences to God and to righteousness, man is, as he should universally and continuously be, co-operating with God for the establishment of His kingdom on earth, and for the blessing of mankind. In all sinning and failure to obey he is resisting the will of God and limiting the blessedness of men. The true human attitude in prayer is that of Christ in his hour of great distress, "If this cup may not pass from me except I drink it, thy will be done." Importunity in prayer which has in view the accomplishment of the will of the petitioner and the bending of the will of God to our wills, is an impertinence. Rather is it the petitioner's place to seek to know and to come into harmony with the will of God. The various objects of prayer, personal, social, general, and worldwide, should be subordinated to the one desire that the kingdom of God may come and His will be done in earth as it is in heaven. That which is best for mankind as a whole is really best for each individual. The prayer which is selfish is prayer against the true interests of self and against the interests of mankind.—The Examiner.

The Journal and Messenger (Cincinnati Baptist) is amazed to find the following paragraph in the Sunday School Times, headed "Sin's Worst Punishment."

"It is often noted that punishment in the next world used to be more preached a few generations ago than it is to-day. Perhaps that is because men are coming to realize that religion is more a matter of this world than of the next,—certainly while we are here. But can punishment in the next world for sin be any greater than sin's punishment while we live? Sin's worst punishment is loss of power. We need not look into eternity to see this. Continued sin has only one end here: the power-current ceases; lights go out; wheels stop. Has any man so much power that he can risk the atrophy of one of his energies? Then he cannot afford to sin. Even God's forgiveness of sin does not restore all the lost power. 'The wages of sin is death'—death even while we live."—The Universalist Leader.

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