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. [10] Matt. xi, 4-5. [11] Mark xvi, 17-18. [12] John xiv, 12. [13] John viii, 51. [14] John xi, 26. [15] John xi, 6. [16] Matt. x, 29-31. [17] Matt. xviii, 19. [18] Matt. xxi, 21-22. [19] Mark xi, 24. [20] Matt. xvii, 20. OBSCURE TEACHINGS Many of the sayings of Jesus lacked clarity. Various interpretations have been put upon them by scholars of distinction. No one is sure what was meant. According to the gospels, Jesus was descended from David, but Jesus mystified his hearers on this descent, saying: "If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?"[1] _Witnesses and Judge_ On the subject of witnesses there is great confusion. "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true."[2] "Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true."[3] "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."[4] "I and my Father are one."[5] "My Father is greater than I."[6] This and the following instruction regarding judicial procedure are far from clear. Jesus acknowledged the principle of law requiring more than one witness but said that in his case the only other witness necessary was his Father, although he and his Father were one. Jesus is supposed to be the judge of the world, but his statement of the case leaves the issue ambiguous. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son."[7] "I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true."[8] "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."[9] "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."[10] The quality of reasoning employed in these instances has naturally led to theological quibbling. If Jesus can argue in that fashion, so can his followers, at the expense of intellectual honesty. _Cannibalism_ The Jews could not understand what Jesus meant when he said: "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life."[11] _Religion Only for Children_