The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931, March 03, 1909, Page 5, Image 9

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March 3, 1909. THE PRESBYTER: tion, that that death was the sentence of a civil court for crimes against the state and public good, and that it was approved by the Reformed Churches and their leaders, and Calvin was not alone responsible for it. It will prove a profitable celebration to many lands, if there be a return to these great truths of the Bible, taught by Paul and Augustine and Calvin, and their life and energy be revived in the Church of Christ. It will be a pood result if the freat Reformed Church es be drawn nearer together in mutual esteem and hearty co-operation. It will be most happy if, among the Churches not called Reformed and Calvinistic, there be some awakening to the fact that as to the great and vital principles of the sovereignty of God, the absolute need by all men of the grace of God, and the final and eternal safety of all believers in Christ, there is now a great unity of faith. Vital and active religion is essentially the same in times of revival and great evangelistic meetings, Christians of various names and creeds come very near together. The Presbyterian with all his-heart proclaims a full and free salvation to every one that thirsts, and the Methodist mother prays with a prostrate dependence upon the God of all grace. In our great evangelistic meetings in Richmond, vast assemblies from all the Churches with deepest fervor sang over and over again: "For my Savior loves me so He will rold me fast." J. P. S. FAITH AND HEALTH. TV/T u i- . ? .i- - * 1 - ? iviutu is ucmg wuucii jusi iiuw oil mc niicr-rciiiLiuii of spiritual and physical laws. Certain scientific men, with an air of condescension, arc recognizing the realm of the spiritual and defining 'its boundaries as related to the domain of the physical, or material. Much more numerous are the expounders of spiritual laws who attempt to define the relation of psychical causes to physical phenomena. Prominent among these latter are the leaders of the Emmanuel Movement, Drs. Elwood Worcester and Samuel McComb, and others who adopt their theories either in their entirety or in modified forms. n is a distinct gain to true religion, and theretore to the well-being of mankind, that there is a breaking away from the grossness and consequent moral degeneracy of modern materialism, and a corresponding tendency to stress the higher, nobler part of our humanity, the mental and spiritual. Even irreverent thinkers and adventurers in the field of philopsophic speculation are favorably disposed toward Christian conceptions of the nature of mind as distinguished from all phenomena of matter. The Emmanuel Movement proposes the treatment and cure of certain classes of physical disorder through the use of psychical or spiritual means. It assigns a large degree of efficacy to the power of mental suggestion, by which mental activity is directed or restrained, producing a corresponding effect on the nervous sys-t tern. But it goes further, and insists upon the efficacy of prayer, meditation, and obedience to revealed law, IAN OF THE SOUTH. 5 in securing the divine blessing upon the diseased physical system and its consequent restoration to health. To what extent can we accept the teachings of the Emmanuel Movement and apply them in our practical, sane Christian living? There can be no question that an intimate relation exists between right moral principle and bodily health. It does not require expert testimony to verify a proposition so abundantly proven to the eye of the most casual observer. "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap," "tjie wages of sin is death," are laws that are written on the whole history of humanity and are Deing vermea in our every-day observation. We do not need a specialist to convince us that a clear conscience is promotive of sound sleep and good digestion, and that a life of sobriety and virtue is preparatory to an old age of honor and peace. As ^in instance of the relation of moral conduct to physical health, a pathetic and even tragic picture is drawn of the fate of the men who were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the state of Pennsylvania in the notorious case of building and furnishing the state capitol. The state treasurer, having been sentenced to prison, died soon afterward at his home. The chief contractor is reported to be ill with an organic disease An associate of his is ill at his home and may never recover. Another defendant is in bad health and in mental distress. Another conspirator was only saved from becoming a complete nervous wreck, by his doctors. The clerk, who knew most of the dishonest proceedings, died suddenly at his lodging house, as the result of worry. The traveling auditor, who was involved, became insane while on trial for false measurements. The contractor for the building after being indicted died of a lingering illness. Truly the way of the transgressor is hard, whether we consider his position in society, his peace of mind, or his bodily strength. While declining to approve suggestions of the friends of the Emmanuel Movement, that the miraculous element that appeared so clearly and constantly in our Lord's ministry may be expected in his blessing upon the sick in our own time, we must believe that he does bestow his direct, efficacious blessing in answer to prayer?a blessing which is in addition to the regular and constant orderings of his providence. We are entitled to expect the direct personal bestowment of his 1! A. 1.!_ *11 1- * -1 puwcr, atcoruing 10 ms win, upon inose wno arc sick. What else can be the meaning of our earnest supplication when a loved one is ill and we resort to the throne of heavenly grace? As we plead for his healing touch do we not hope that he will be merciful and will hear our cry? And do we not expect more than that the ordinary laws that affect bodily health shall be administered? We long for and plead for personal and extraordinary intervention. We do not dictate the way. We do not profess even to know the process. We are ready to say "speak the word only and my loved one shall be healed." Such prayers are not merely the promptings of the inctinrf r\f o 1 rwr\mr* 1-*r*o*-4- ??1 J MUVIIIW VI C4 ivviug nvdll. 1 lit) die I dllUlldl rtllU IJJ" tural. We' need not quote exclusively those words of James, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and