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THE KING’S BUSINESS Week of Prayer
HE present number of T he K ing ’ s B u sin e ss will reach all our subscribers by December 1. The Week of Prayer begins in about a month from that date, and we should make preparation for it now. A letter from Rev. H. M. Gooch, secretary of the World’s Evangelical Alliance, has been received enclosing the letter sent the brethren in Christ Jesus throughout the world. This letter reads as follows: Dear Brethren in Christ Jesus, In the year now behind us, the whole .civil ised world has been solemnly called to learn in the school of God. The disciplines of / life have been heavy upon us, but the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, has been upon the page as we scanned it. By th at light we have learned much th at may help us to face all th at lies ahead. We have been forced to distrust our feeble measures of the power, the wisdom, and the love of God. We have been driven to question both the adequacy and the finality of our in ter pretation to the world of our Lord Jesus Christ. Non-Christian writer's in the E ast have^ boldly challenged Christianity. The Holy Spirit is lead ing us, through our failures, not only to ,a deeper search, but also to an earnest expecta tion of what other nations, more lately, come under the influence of the Gospel, may realize in the risen, exalted and omnipotent Son of/God. The things that are shaken are crumbling, and with them is^ being removed the veil th at hides “the City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” In th is#way, the #realities of life have proved the realities of faith: God and sin in eternal opposition: redemption ^ and renewal the only way to peace: the Spirit of God upon the chaos our assurance th at God is indeed “within the shadow.” We are called anew to exercise the unspeak able privilege of Prayer. The m agnitudes of the time are so great th at nothing human can com pass them. God has pressed back into our trem bling hands the supreme instrum ent oi approach to Himself. Did year ever open w ith a more clamant need for what is represented by the World’s E van gelical Alliance? . The Alliance mobilizes the faith of the world' for Common Prayer, Chris tian U nity, and Co-operation. These are pre ludes to insight and vision, revival and new spiritual life, in preparation for the sure ful filment of the promise of His Coming. “Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and#Whose Dominion is from generation to generation.” The topics suggested for universal use are as follows: Sunday, January 6 th, 1918—Topic for sermons and addresses: “The Eternal Things.”—Dan. iv. 3; 2 Cor. iv. 18; Heb. xi. 10; xii. 27. Monday, January 7th—Thanksgiving and confession. Thanksgiving—For the ever- widening circle of brotherhood in Christ. Confession—That Christian witness, even
at its best, so little reflects the mind of Christ. Prayer—That the followers of Christ, speaking the Truth in love, may make no compromise with evil; that the number of those Who look for His glorious appearing may be increased. Scripture Readings: Acts xvii. 24-28; Matt. xi. 28- 30; 1 Peter ii. 21-25; 1 John ii. 3-6; 1 Thes. v. 22. Tuesday, January 8 th—The Church Uni versal—The “One Body” of which Christ is the Head. Thanksgiving—For the body of Christian witnesses throughout the ages; that a common purpose, with diversity of gifts, is drawing the various Communions together; for heartsearching in the Churches concerning their inefficiency. Con fession—That when the Church has failed the cause is not in her Lord, but in her self; of the Church’s failure'to reach the young manhood arid young womanhood of the world. Petitions—-That 1918 may wit ness new advances towards Christian Unity: that through sanctification of the Spirit, love of the Truth, and new gifts of wisdom and energy, the witness of the Church may become the beacon of the world; that the primary duty of the Church to evangelize may be given its true place. Scripture Readings: Eph. ii. 13-22; Heb. xi. 32-xii. 2; Eph. iv. 10-16; Mai. iii. 10; Prov. xxiii. 22-26; 2 Thes. ii. 13-15; Matt, xxviii. 18-20. Wednesday, January 9th—Nations and Their Rulers. Prayer—That the purposes of God in Christ may be sought and known among the nations; that in the develop ment of' their national ideals, the nations may find Christ; that efforts for the estab lishment of lasting Peace among the nations may be Divinely guided; that recon structions may be considered and effected with due regard to the Word of God and the things which are eternal; that the bur dens of rulers and of those who make and influence public opinion, may be laid upon the hearts of Christians everywhere; for smaller nations sorely troubled and suf-
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