Ques. 18.-Concerning the Lord’s Table is it in accordance with God’s Word to pray or sing hymns in which one or more verses are prayers, or speak anything save that which bears on the Lord’s death or His suffering?

All I can see from the Word is, we come to remember Him, and not ourselves. If it is wrong, how is it that so many, even of those who should know better offer prayers at the Lord’s Table?

Ans.-The high plane of Christian worship is, alas, too little occupied by us all. Cold neglect on the part oi most professors, of what concerns the honor of Christ, is the rule. Even the true children of God rise but seldom to their privilege. Hence most think that what contributes to their own blessing is of greatest importance. This puts worship in a secondary place, and we need not be surprised that prayer, making requests for themselves, usurps the joyful worship that should he offered to the Lord.

Prayer, even for spiritual blessing, is hardly in place at the Lord’s table, where adoring worship, the result of remembering Him, should be the chief occupation. On the other hand real prayer is better than forced worship, and if in it a low state is owned, God will surely lift up. Doubtless if there were more secret prayer, and more full attendance at the prayer meeting, less need would be felt for confession and prayer at the Lord’s table. Then too we must guard against a too rigid exclusion of prayer, as in hymns. There is such a thing as "making request with joy."

Ques. 19.-Does not the number twelve speak of ministry, as well as of government?

There were twelve apostles. The twelve disciples ministered to the multitude of the loaves and fishes.

Twelve officers of Solomon’s household procured supplies for his household.

There were twelve wells of water, with the seventy palm trees at Elim.

The tree of life bearing twelve manner of fruits.

If other scriptures such as the twelve "princes of Israel" (Num. 7:2.) speak of government, are the two meanings intertwined as in Matt. 20:27-" whoso will be chief among you let him be your servant"?

Ans.-The spirit of rule is that of service. " I am among you as He that serveth;" " the servant is not greater than his Lord." Twelve throughout Scripture seems to be the number of divine administration of the earth. Its factors (4 x 3) seem to suggest this, each part being taken hold of by the three. Thus the prominence of twelve in the heavenly city is not simply a suggestion of Israel, but is a reminder of that perfect and absolute control of all things, when the throne of God and the Lamb are the center of blessing throughout the universe.