vidence that God does
protect believers any more than unbelievers. When the Titanic went down,
those who perished were not solely the wicked persons; there was no
distinction in the terrible disaster between believers and unbelievers.

Jesus created in the minds of his hearers and his followers the idea
that God was watching each individual to save him from danger, but this,
unfortunately, is not a fact. It sounds comforting; it makes people feel
nearer to God; but experience proves that no such close relationship
exists. Jesus gave a false impression of God's loving care for men.

_Belief in Prayer_

Modern religious people may still consistently believe in prayer as a
form of inward aspiration, but it is difficult to take literally the
assurance given by Jesus of practical accomplishments by means of prayer
in his name.

Jesus did not confine himself to promising spiritual results from
prayer, but distinctly gave it to be understood that the physical world
would respond to petitions to Jehovah. "Again I say unto you, That if
two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall
ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."[17] "If
ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to
the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou
removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."[18]
"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive
them, and ye shall have them."[19] "If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder
place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto
you."[20]

These promises have not been fulfilled. Bishops, priests and deacons
with strong faith have been unable to obtain, by means of the most
sincere prayer, results similar to those indicated. They have followed
Jesus in vain. No man living dare put his faith to the test by a public
demonstration of prayer for physical changes. Christian prayers for rain
are conventional, not being offered with confidence that rain will
follow.

Jesus has misled us.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Matt. xii, 40.

[2] Luke xvii, 27; Matt. xxv, 38.

[3] Matt. iv, 17.

[4] Matt. x, 23.

[5] Matt. xvi, 28; Mark ix, 1.

[6] Matt. xxiv, 14-34; Luke xxi, 32.

[7] Mark i, 15.

[8] Mark xiii, 29-30.

[9] John v, 28-29.