QUES. 37.-I have been brought up to believe that it was wrong to pray for the dead; but having come face to face with the question, I am unable to give an answer from Scripture. Would you kindly give in help and food what is taught in Scripture on the subject?

ANS.-First of all, Scripture is absolutely silent as to praying for the dead. It says much about prayer, as we all know who know the Scriptures ; it invites us, it urges us to it; it gives us innumerable instances of its use by the saints of God in every age-by our Lord Himself in His pathway here :those instances cover every need of mail in every sphere of his dependence upon God; yet in all this array not a syllable is heard about praying for the dead, either in doctrine or practice.

This is the negative side, sufficient of itself to close every month that is ruled by the word of God, as to prayer for the dead.

Now as to the positive side :

In doctrine, the Lord puts these words into Abraham's mouth when the dead rich man was pleading for comfort in his place of torment:"Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:so that they which would pass from hence to yon cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence " (Luke 16:26). If things are fixed when once we are passed out of this life, what use can there be in prayer? Prayer can only be in relation to the scene where things are not fixed, but may be changed.

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment," says the unerring word of God. They are all liars therefore who give hope for a change after this life, and, as a consequence room for prayer. It is a money-making scheme, or a forlorn hope offered and entertained by such as have no faith in God's way of salvation and the revelation He has given us. 1 Pet -3 :18-22 has been used in defense of praying for the dead, but it no more teaches preaching to the spirits which were then in prison than Matt. 16 :19 gives the keys of heaven to the prelate of Rome.

In example, we have David at the death of his child (2 Sam. 12). He pleads while the child is alive; but once dead, he rises up and ceases. All fixed now.

In the 16th of Luke-the case already cited-the dead rich man does pray, hut his prayer is refused:his doom is fixed. He would fain disturb Lazarus lo bring him comfort, or to return to earth to warn his careless brothers ; but Lazarus' bliss is as fixed as the rich man's doom, and the prayer is useless.

How solemn all this is ! How solemn and decisive for all eternity it makes the use of the present life! It is but a span ; it has eternal, unchangeable issues :eternal misery to those who die in their sins ; eternal peace and glory to those who die in the Lord.