Part 6 (1/2)

Have you forgotten that it is _not natural_ to any one to pray? The carnal mind is enmity against G.o.d. The desire of man's heart is to get far away from G.o.d, and to have nothing to do with Him. His feeling toward Him is not love but fear. Why then should a man pray when he has no real sense of sin, no real feeling of spiritual wants,--no thorough belief in unseen things,--no desire after holiness and heaven? Of all these things the vast majority of men know and feel nothing. The mult.i.tude walk in the broad way. I cannot forget this. Therefore I say boldly, I believe that few pray.

Have you forgotten that it is _not fas.h.i.+onable_ to pray? It is just one of the things that many would be rather ashamed to own. There are hundreds who would sooner storm a breach, or lead a forlorn hope, than confess publicly that they make a habit of prayer. There are thousands who, if obliged by chance to sleep in the same room with a stranger, would lie down in bed without a prayer. To ride well, to shoot well, to dress well, to go to b.a.l.l.s, and concerts, and theatres, to be thought clever and agreeable,--all this is fas.h.i.+onable, but not to pray. I cannot forget this. I cannot think a habit is common which so many seem ashamed to own. I believe that few pray.

Have you forgotten _the lives that many live_? Can we really suppose that people are praying against sin night and day, when we see them plunging right into it? Can we suppose they pray against the world, when they are entirely absorbed and taken up with its pursuits? Can we think they really ask G.o.d for grace to serve Him, when they do not show the slightest desire to serve Him at all? Oh, no! It is plain as daylight that the great majority of men either ask nothing of G.o.d, or _do not mean what they say_ when they do ask,--which is just the same thing.

Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer. I cannot forget this. I look at men's lives. I believe that few pray.

Have you forgotten _the deaths that many die_? How many, when they draw near death, seem entirely strangers to G.o.d. Not only are they sadly ignorant of His Gospel, but sadly wanting in the power of speaking to Him. There is a terrible awkwardness, and shyness, and newness, and rawness, in their endeavours to approach Him. They seem to be taking up a fresh thing. They appear as if they wanted an introduction to G.o.d, and as if they had never talked with Him before. I remember having heard of a lady who was anxious to have a minister to visit her in her last illness. She desired that he would pray with her. He asked her what he should pray for. She did not know and could not tell. She was utterly unable to name any one thing which she wished him to ask G.o.d for her soul. All she seemed to want was the form of a minister's prayers. I can quite understand this. Death-beds are great revealers of secrets. I cannot forget what I have seen of sick and dying people. This also leads me to believe that few pray.

IV. In the fourth place, _prayer is that act in religion to which there is the greatest encouragement_.

There is everything on G.o.d's part to make prayer easy, if men will only attempt it. ”All things are ready” on His side. (Luke xiv. 17.) Every objection is antic.i.p.ated. Every difficulty is provided for. The crooked places are made straight, and the rough places are made smooth. There is no excuse left for the prayerless man.

There is _a way_ by which any man, however sinful and unworthy, may draw near to G.o.d the Father. Jesus Christ has opened that way by the sacrifice He made for us upon the cross. The holiness and justice of G.o.d need not frighten sinners and keep them back. Only let them cry to G.o.d in the name of Jesus,--only let them plead the atoning blood of Jesus,--and they shall find G.o.d upon a throne of grace, willing and ready to hear. The name of Jesus is a never-failing pa.s.sport to our prayers. In that name a man may draw near to G.o.d with boldness, and ask with confidence. G.o.d has engaged to hear him. Think of this. Is not this encouragement?

There is _an advocate_ and intercessor always waiting to present the prayers of those who will employ Him. That advocate is Jesus Christ. He mingles our prayers with the incense of His own almighty intercession.

So mingled they go up as a sweet savour before the throne of G.o.d. Poor as they are in themselves, they are mighty and powerful in the hand of our High Priest and elder brother. The bank-note without a signature at the bottom is nothing but a worthless piece of paper. A few strokes of a pen confer on it all its value. The prayer of a poor child of Adam is a feeble thing in itself, but once endorsed by the hand of the Lord Jesus it availeth much. There was an officer in the city of Rome who was appointed to have his doors always open, in order to receive any Roman citizen who applied to him for help. Just so the ear of the Lord Jesus is ever open to the cry of all who want mercy and grace. It is His office to help them. Their prayer is His delight. Think of this. Is not this encouragement?

There is _the Holy Spirit_ ever ready to help our infirmities in prayer.

It is one part of His special office to a.s.sist us in our endeavours to speak to G.o.d. We need not be cast down and distressed by the fear of not knowing what to say. The Spirit will give us words if we will only seek His aid. He will supply us with ”thoughts that breathe and words that burn.” The prayers of the Lord's people are the inspiration of the Lord's Spirit,--the work of the Holy Ghost who dwells within them as the Spirit of grace and supplications. Surely the Lord's people may well hope to be heard. It is not they merely that pray, but the Holy Ghost pleading in them. (Rom. viii. 26.) Think of this. Is not this encouragement?

There are exceeding great and precious _promises_ to those who pray.

What did the Lord Jesus mean when He spoke such words as these, ”Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matt.

vii. 7, 8.) ”All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive.” (Matt. xxi. 22.) ”Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John xiv. 13, 14.) What did the Lord mean when He spoke the parables of the friend at midnight and the importunate widow? (Luke xi. 5, and xviii. 1.) Think over these pa.s.sages. If this is not encouragement to pray, words have no meaning at all.

There are wonderful _examples_ in Scripture of the power of prayer.

Nothing seems to be too great, too hard, or too difficult for prayer to do. It has obtained things that seemed impossible and out of reach. It has won victories over fire, air, earth, and water. Prayer opened the Red Sea. Prayer brought water from the rock and bread from heaven.

Prayer made the sun stand still. Prayer brought fire from the sky on Elijah's sacrifice. Prayer turned the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. Prayer overthrew the army of Sennacherib. Well might Mary, Queen of Scots, say, ”I fear John Knox's prayers more than an army of ten thousand men.” Prayer has healed the sick. Prayer has raised the dead. Prayer has procured the conversion of souls. ”The child of many prayers,” said an old Christian to Augustine's mother, ”shall never perish.” Prayer, pains, and faith can do anything. Nothing seems impossible when a man has the Spirit of adoption. ”Let me alone,” is the remarkable saying of G.o.d to Moses, when Moses was about to intercede for the children of Israel. (Exod. x.x.xii. 10.) The Chaldee version has it ”Leave off praying.” So long as Abraham asked mercy for Sodom, the Lord went on giving. He never ceased to give till Abraham ceased to pray.

Think of this. Is not this encouragement?

What more can a man want to lead him to take any step in religion than the things I have just told him about prayer? What more could be done to make the path to the mercy-seat easy, and to remove all occasions of stumbling from the sinner's way? Surely if the devils in h.e.l.l had such a door set open before them they would leap for gladness, and make the very pit ring with joy.

But where will the man hide his head at last who neglects such glorious encouragements? What can be possibly said for the man who after all dies without prayer? G.o.d forbid that any reader of this paper should be that man.

V. In the fifth place, _diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness_.

Without controversy there is a vast difference among true Christians.

There is an immense interval between the foremost and the hindermost in the army of G.o.d.

They are all fighting the same good fight;--but how much more valiantly some fight than others! They are all doing the Lord's work;--but how much more some do than others! They are all light in the Lord;--but how much more brightly some s.h.i.+ne than others! They are all running the same race;--but how much faster some get on than others! They all love the same Lord and Saviour;--but how much more some love Him than others! I ask any true Christian whether this is not the case. Are not these things so?

There are some of the Lord's people who seem _never able to get on_ from the time of their conversion. They are born again, but they remain babies all their lives. They are learners in Christ's school, but they never seem to get beyond A B C, and the lowest form. They have got inside the fold, but there they lie down and get no further. Year after year you see in them the same old besetting sins. You hear from them the same old experience. You remark in them the same want of spiritual appet.i.te,--the same squeamishness about anything but the milk of the Word, and the same dislike to strong meat,--the same childishness,--the same feebleness,--the same littleness of mind,--the same narrowness of heart,--the same want of interest in anything beyond their own little circle, which you remarked ten years ago. They are pilgrims indeed, but pilgrims like the Gibeonites of old;--their bread is always dry and mouldy,--their shoes always old and clouted, and their garments always rent and torn. (Josh. ix. 4, 5.) I say this with sorrow and grief. But I ask any real Christian, Is it not true?

There are others of the Lord's people who seem to be _always getting on_. They grow like the gra.s.s after rain. They increase like Israel in Egypt. They press on like Gideon,--though sometimes ”faint, yet always pursuing.” (Judges viii. 4.) They are ever adding grace to grace, and faith to faith, and strength to strength. Every time you meet them their hearts seem larger, and their spiritual stature bigger, taller, and stronger. Every year they appear to see more, and know more, and believe more, and feel more in their religion. They not only have good works to prove the reality of their faith, but they are _zealous_ of them. They not only do well, but they are _unwearied_, in well-doing.

(t.i.tus ii. 14; Gal. vi. 9.) They attempt great things, and they do great things. When they fail they try again, and when they fall they are soon up again. And all this time they think themselves poor unprofitable servants, and fancy they do nothing at all!--These are those who make religion lovely and beautiful in the eyes of all. They wrest praise even from the unconverted, and win golden opinions even from the selfish men of the world. These are those whom it does one good to see, to be with, and to hear. When you meet them, you could believe that, like Moses, they had just come out from the presence of G.o.d. When you part with them you feel warmed by their company, as if your soul had been near a fire.

I know such people are rare. I only ask, Is it not so?