Words of Comfort by Mary Jeanett Cottrill

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 26, 1865

Words of Comfort.

By Mary Jeanett Cottrill

“Neither pray I for those alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” John xvii, 20.

OFTEN I repeat these words of our Saviour's prayer to myself, and feel comforted thereby. He was praying for his disciples, those who had been led to accept the poor despised Nazarene as their Saviour and King, through hearing him speak as “no man ever spake,” and seeing him perform miracles, such miracles as none had ever performed before. They were mocked at, derisive, scornful words greeted them, but the sweet voice of Jesus is heard saying: “The world hath hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world, I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil.” And a little further on he says: “Neither pray I for those alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” This verse bears comfort to my heart, for it brings the sweet thought that JESUS PRAYED FOR ME; yes dear reader, if you are a believer on him, you and I may take comfort in the thought, that Jesus prayed FOR US. Yes, the Son of God while here on earth bent the knee and prayed for mortals. Then let us not sink 'neath trials; but may this thought, together with that, that he is now pleading before the throne, that his spilled blood may wash away our every stain, send comfort to each tried one, and nerve us all to greater watchfulness, that we may live so as to please him.

MARY JEANETT COTTRILL. Ridgeway, N. Y.