[ANOINTING WITH OIL.]
TOUCHING the “anointing with oil in the name of the Lord,” we think no literal “anointing with oil” is enjoined. The praying for him, in the Christian dispensation, answers to the “anointing with oil,” in the old institution. It is simply a figurative allusion to the anointing, and not the actual use of oil. The praying for the sick, in the name of the Lord, is the anointing.
The Lord raises sick people up, in numerous instances, without any miracle. He may do this now, in answer to prayer, when consistent with his will. It matters nothing that we can not tell how he does it. He can do it. This is enough.
[GIVING UP PRINCIPLES.]
THERE is nothing more important for individuals or bodies of people than clearly defined and well settled principles. To stand the test, and be of any importance to the world, the principles of an individual or a body of people, must be correct, and of vital importance. They should also be clearly defined, well understood, and constantly kept in view. It is then not only safe, but of the highest importance to adhere to them with the most determined pertinacity, fixed purpose and inflexible firmness. When principles are of the character we have described, it is dangerous to swerve, shrink or depart from them, in the least degree. Adherence—the most strict, rigid and determined adherence—to correct, clearly defined and settled principles, of a vital character, is indispensable to permanence, stability and happiness. If the principles thus defined are divine, departure from them is apostasy.
We are not speaking of subtle principles, requiring the utmost stretch of intelligence or learning to understand, or even to perceive them, when clearly set forth. There may he principles of this kind, correct ones, too, but we think, never practical. That which is practical and vital, is never so subtle as to require the utmost stretch of intelligence, either to set it forth or understand it. The Bible has its deep things, profound and wonderful, requiring the utmost stretch of human intelligence to set them forth, or understand them; or, it may be, deeper than human intelligence can fully fathom, but they are not the practical, and if vital in any sense, it is not vital that we should understand them. If we could not be Christians, serve, or please our heavenly Father, without understanding all such, it would certainly put it out of the power of the masses, to be acceptable at all. We know this is not so.