True Christianity Part 40

Thus, "I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies." Ps. 18:2. "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my G.o.d, I trust in thee; let me not be ashamed; let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed; but let them be ashamed which transgress without cause." Ps. 25:1-3.

5. But it ought to be carefully noticed that David says, his enemies are far from the law of G.o.d. These are all they that persecute others, forsaking the word of G.o.d, and being far from his fear; whence it follows, that as they are far from G.o.d, so G.o.d is far from them, and nothing but destruction hangs over their heads. On the other hand, the faithful, pious, and devout soul approaches G.o.d through prayer.

6. When, therefore, we are daily lifting up our hearts to G.o.d, and learn to converse with him, we approach continually nearer and nearer to him, and by degrees, forgetting this lower world, from earthly we become heavenly and spiritual; like Moses, whose face, when he had conversed forty days and forty nights with G.o.d, shone like the sun. Exod. 34:29. For as we easily learn the customs and manners of those with whom we converse, and are not so well pleased with any company as that to which we are accustomed, so by continual and daily prayer, we grow daily more and more acquainted with the manners and language of our heavenly country, and are more and more inflamed with divine love. Moreover, prayer is a preservative against sins, temptations, and all kinds of evils; according to that saying of Christ: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." Matt. 26:41. But if even then anything befall us, we know that it is by the immediate permission of G.o.d; and from it with all due submission and resignation to his will, we may lawfully pray to be delivered.

7. III. David proceeds: "Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy commandments are truth." Ps. 119:151. Here he a.s.sures us, that the second and the third foundation of prayer, are the presence and the truth of G.o.d.

8. How great soever our calamities may be, there is no one consideration that gives us so much ease and comfort, as that of the presence of G.o.d with us: according to that Scripture: "Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy G.o.d." Isa. 41:10. In consideration of his presence, we may with a.s.surance call upon him in all places, and upon all occasions. For though our Saviour tells us, "Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:6): yet we are to consider, that these words were spoken against the hypocrites of those times, who, from a vain ostentation, used to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the street; but they are by no means binding on any man to pray in any one particular place.

9. We read of the patriarch Isaac (Gen. 24:63), that he went out at the eventide into the field to meditate. And it is plain (Luke 6:12), that our blessed Lord went alone "into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to G.o.d." We may, therefore, in all places, and at any time, pray to G.o.d; but more especially when we are alone, and not disturbed by the conversation of others. Let us continually stir ourselves up to this divine conversation with G.o.d, remembering the words of the Psalmist, "Thou art near, O Lord." Now if this be true, as it most certainly is, we cannot do better than to be often conversing with him; according to that Scripture, "Call ye upon him while he is near." Isa. 55:6. "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him." Ps. 145:18.

10. IV. So, too, the veracity of G.o.d is a strong obligation upon us to pray, because we know, 1. That he has commanded it; "Call upon me." Ps.

50:15. 2. That he has promised to hear us; "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isa. 65:24. 3. That he has not only promised to hear, but has actually heard the prayers of the faithful. This is plain, from the examples of Moses, David, Samuel, Joshua, and of Cornelius in the Acts, whose "prayers and alms ascended up for a memorial before G.o.d." Acts 10:4.

11. Many other examples are to be found in the Holy Scriptures. And that thou mayest not think that, because thou art not such a one as Moses, David, Elias, or Joshua, therefore thou shalt not be heard as easily as they were, thou art to consider that they all were men "subject to like pa.s.sions as we are." James 5:17.

12. Who was Cornelius? Acts, ch. 10. He was a heathen. Who was Mana.s.seh? 2 Chron. 33:12, 13. A most grievous sinner. Yet G.o.d has promised that he will hear the miserable. Ps. 34:7. "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him." And "He will regard the prayer of the dest.i.tute, and not despise their prayer." Ps. 102:17. "The expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever." Ps. 9:18. The cases just mentioned ill.u.s.trate these promises.

13. V. But as the Psalmist adds: "Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old, that thou hast founded them for ever" (Ps. 119:152), this consideration exceedingly encourages our prayers and strengthens our faith, and is another immovable foundation of prayer. The word and promise of G.o.d are built upon an eternal foundation, being nothing else but G.o.d himself and his Son Jesus Christ; in him the Word of G.o.d, and the salvation of man were founded "before the foundation of the world." Eph.

1:4. Whatsoever is built upon an eternal basis, no temporal thing can overturn. It is this that St. Paul had in his eye when he tells us that neither height, nor depth, nor things present, nor things to come, nor angels, nor princ.i.p.alities shall be able to separate us from the love of G.o.d. Rom. 8:38.

14. And what greater consolation can we wish? Or who can refrain from rejoicing, when he considers that our faith and prayer are founded upon that which is eternal? Hence it is said, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste" (Isa. 28:16); or, as St. Peter explains it, "shall not be confounded" (1 Peter 2:6): and St.

Paul, "Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11); and again, "The foundation of G.o.d standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." 2 Tim. 2:19.

15. Against this foundation even the gates of h.e.l.l shall not prevail.

Matt. 16:18. This, in short, is the foundation of our salvation, our faith and blessedness, which is more secure than heaven and earth.

16. For prayer is a conversation with G.o.d-a key of heaven-a free access to G.o.d-a familiarity with G.o.d-an opener of his mysteries-a spiritual banquet-a heavenly enjoyment-a nurse of virtues-a conqueror of vices-a medicine of the soul-a remedy against infirmities-an antidote against sin-a pillar of the world-a seed of blessing-an increase of faith-a support of hope-a parent of charity-a path of righteousness-a preserver of constancy-an ornament of holiness-a fire of devotion-a light of knowledge-a repository of wisdom-the strength of the soul-a remedy against faint-heartedness-a foundation of peace-the joy of the heart-a jubilee of the soul-a faithful companion in this earthly pilgrimage-the s.h.i.+eld of a Christian soldier-a rule of humility-a forerunner of honor-a nurse of patience-a guardian of obedience-a fountain of quietness-the conquest of devils-a comfort of the sorrowful-a triumph of the just-the joy of the saints-a helper of the oppressed-the ease of the afflicted-the rest of the weary-an ornament of the conscience-an advancement of graces-an acceptable sacrifice-an encourager of mutual goodwill-the refreshment of this miserable life-the sweetening of death-a foretaste of the heavenly life-the earnest desire of everlasting salvation.

Chapter x.x.xVII.

Reasons Why G.o.d Certainly Hears Our Prayers.

_Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee; for thou wilt answer me._-PS.

86:5-7.

Thus saith the prophet Jeremiah, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compa.s.sions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him." Lam. 3:22-24.

2. In these words the Holy Spirit gives us strong consolation in our afflictions, drawn from the goodness and lovingkindness of G.o.d; without which we should immediately be consumed. As in the natural world light and darkness, by the appointment of G.o.d, alternately succeed each other, so do light and darkness, joy and sorrow, in the spiritual world. Hence there is a necessity that the light should spring up after darkness, and joy after sorrow, in the souls of the righteous. Ps. 97:11. For both our life and our well-being depend entirely upon the loving-kindness of G.o.d: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being." Acts 17:28. He is the never-failing fountain and spring of life and happiness. His works testify this, for by the effects we judge of the cause. Since, therefore, G.o.d is the Maker and Creator of all things that have life, it follows that He is LIFE itself; and as He is the original of all that is good, it follows, that He himself is the Supreme GOOD and LOVE itself. For this reason He is called the Living G.o.d, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living G.o.d"

(Matt. 16:16); not only from his essence, as being an original, necessary Being, but also from the effects which he produces; because he giveth and preserveth breath, and life, and motion to all things. Acts 17:25; Ps.

104:27. "Thou (O Belshazzar), hast praised the G.o.ds of silver and gold, of bra.s.s, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the G.o.d in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified." Dan. 5:23. "They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jer. 2:13. "The Lord is thy life, and the length of thy days."

Deut. 30:20. "The Lord is the strength of my life." Ps. 27:1. Whence it follows, that G.o.d is in effect the life of every living creature, and produces and preserves life in all, according to the words of St. Paul, "Of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever." Amen. Rom. 11:36. "Christ is all in all." Col. 3:11.

3. Now though all creatures derive their life from G.o.d, yet man has received it from his Maker in a more eminent degree; for as he is endowed with a rational soul, it follows that he enjoys a more n.o.ble life than the rest of the creatures. The life of angels again is more n.o.ble and glorious than that of men, because the glory and majesty of G.o.d manifest themselves more ill.u.s.triously in them. Hence also, angels are described in 2 Thess.

1:7, as "mighty," because they are not subject to vanity and change like man. But the most n.o.ble life is that of Jesus Christ our Lord, because he is _G.o.d_ and _Life_ itself; according to St. John, "This is the true G.o.d, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20); that is, He is G.o.d of G.o.d, Light of Light, very G.o.d of very G.o.d. (Nicene Creed.)

4. And as G.o.d is the fountain and principle of life, so he is also of all good. For he is the supreme and eternal GOOD, and whatsoever bears the marks and characters of good, is derived from this original. Thus, every creature has received a small portion of the divine goodness, by which it bears witness of its Maker, and in some manner calls upon man to do the same. Thus the vine speaks to us, "Consider, O man, that the sweetness of my juice, with which I cheer thy heart (Ps. 104:15), is the gift of my Maker." And so the bread: "That virtue, O man, by which I satisfy thy hunger, is bestowed on me by my Creator and thine." This is the meaning of that saying of St. Augustine: "That G.o.d has, as it were, shed some drops of his divine goodness upon all the creatures, that they might thereby contribute to the happiness of man." And the Psalmist says: "Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness." Ps. 65:11.

5. That which, in nature, we call the _goodness_ of G.o.d, is, by the Scriptures, called the _grace_ of G.o.d; this bearing relation to the soul, and that to the body. And as G.o.d has, by a thousand ways, discovered his goodness in the great Book of nature, so he has, in innumerable instances, discovered his grace and mercy in the Book of his word, all which are completed in Christ, who is the great centre of all the treasures of divine goodness and love that are distributed in heaven and earth.

6. Now, as it is the nature of every good being to be communicative, and otherwise it ceases to be good (for who can tell what is good, unless it thus discover itself?); so no man could know whether G.o.d were good and gracious unless he had communicated his grace and goodness to others. Who could have known the inestimable benefits of Christ as a Saviour, if he had not so abundantly manifested his love towards us?

7. But why was G.o.d pleased to manifest his goodness, grace, and mercy to mankind? It was for this reason: that we might believe in him, love him above all things, and call upon him in all our troubles; and he was pleased to make this manifestation of himself, that it might be, as it were, the first incentive to kindle the flames of devotion in our hearts.

For how should we call on him of whom we have not heard? Rom. 10:14. As Almighty G.o.d discovered himself to Moses, when he pa.s.sed by, and he, upon the sense of his goodness, grace, and mercy, immediately began to pray (Exod. 34:8, 9), so has He, in like manner, manifested himself to us, and made all his goodness pa.s.s before us, that we also might learn to praise him.

8. But you will say, How has G.o.d manifested himself to me? If he would show himself to me, as he did to Moses, why should I not praise him as he did? To which I answer: This is done in Christ Jesus, in whom he manifested all his goodness after a visible manner. "We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14. And did we but seriously consider all that our blessed Saviour has done for us, we should, doubtless, exclaim: "The Lord, the Lord G.o.d, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and in truth."

10. And thus we see in what sense the type, which may be discerned in this narrative of Moses, was fulfilled by the incarnation of Christ. For G.o.d, descending from heaven in him, was pleased to make his glory pa.s.s before us.

11. When Paul and Barnabas wrought great miracles at Athens, the heathens cried out, "The G.o.ds are come down to us in the likeness of men." Acts 14:11. This was their judgment of the matter; but we may in a very proper sense say, that all the goodness and grace of G.o.d did, by Christ, come down to us upon earth, in order that we might thereby be drawn to G.o.d, and that the spirit of faith and prayer might be bestowed on us. For by prayer only we obtain the grace and favor of G.o.d.

12. Let us now produce some reasons which may convince us, that G.o.d hears our prayers.

13. And _first_, such is the power of prayer and entreaty, that they often pacify and prevail upon, not only the compa.s.sionate and kind, but even morose and harsh tempers; of which we have an instance in the case of the widow, who by her continual prayers, prevailed even upon that unjust judge, who neither feared G.o.d, nor regarded man. Luke 18:4, 5. For prayer, as it proceeds from the spirit, and is, as it were, the strength of the soul, has a marvellous power and influence upon the minds of others, so as to be able to soften and mould them into any form of benevolence. Now as G.o.d is not a harsh Being, but merciful in the highest degree, the most sincere love, the most perfect patience, the most generous compa.s.sion, the most ardent love itself, and in a word, the most absolute perfection; so he cannot but be tenderly moved by the ardent and devout prayers of his servants. Were it otherwise, it would follow, that G.o.d is not supremely good, loving, and merciful. Now, as true as it is that he is all this; so true it is that he is easy to be entreated by devout and humble prayer.

14. Tauler says: "G.o.d is moved with so vehement a love towards us, as if his divinity itself depended on us, and his only aim and design were, to discover to us the abyss of his divinity, and the fulness of his essence and nature; so that all may belong to us, even as it belongs to him." And again, "We were created, and are called and invited to things immeasurably great, and eternal; wherefore G.o.d is exceedingly displeased with us, when we prefer the empty and trifling vanities of the world before him, who is ready, not only to bestow all things else, but even Himself upon us."

Again, "So great is the love of G.o.d towards us, that he will deny us nothing: yea, he antic.i.p.ates our prayers, meets us (as it were) half-way, and courts our friends.h.i.+p, being a thousand times more ready to give, than we are to receive."

15. The _second_ argument is found in the _truth and promise of G.o.d_.

"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee." Ps. 50:15.

"Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." Ps. 86:5. The Lord, we see, is _good_; and if this be not sufficient, he is also _ready to forgive_; and if this do not satisfy us, he is also _plenteous in mercy_. But to whom? Even _to all those that call upon him_. Hence, it is said, "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them." Ps. 145:18, 19; Isa. 65:24; John 16:23; Matt. 7:7, 8.

_Ask_, but rest not there; _seek_ also; neither think this sufficient, but _knock_. "For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened." "What things soever ye desire, when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24. Compare this with Luke 11:9. And that G.o.d will keep his promise, is as certain, as that he really is what he, in his holy word, has declared himself to be. And that he may hear us, and pour his abundant goodness upon us, he has commanded us to pray often, to pray earnestly, and without ceasing. Luke 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17.

16. A _third_ argument for our prayer, is G.o.d's paternal tenderness, which is thus ill.u.s.trated. "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?-If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:11, 13. And is not G.o.d this Father, "of whom the whole family in heaven and in earth is named"? (Eph. 3:15) whom St. Paul calls, "The Father of mercies, and G.o.d of all comfort?" 2 Cor. 1:3. Shall man then be merciful, and shall G.o.d, that created that merciful heart, be unmerciful? Shall he that gave to parents such tender affection, be without compa.s.sion himself? Why should G.o.d call himself a Father, if he be not of a paternal disposition? So that, in short, we must conclude, either that G.o.d is unjustly styled our Father, or else he will hear the prayers of his children that call upon him. Hence, it is said, "Thou, O Lord, art our Father." Isa. 63:16. And, "I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." Jer. 31:9. But if the affections of a mother be so great, that she cannot but have "compa.s.sion on the son of her womb" (Isa. 49:15), why should we think G.o.d so void of mercy? Why should we question G.o.d's compa.s.sions toward us, if we approach him with penitent and contrite hearts? How do the mother's bowels yearn over her beloved son, when she sees him laboring under any dangerous disease? So the Almighty G.o.d says of himself: "Therefore, my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." Jer. 31:20.

17. A _fourth_ argument is, the _intercession of Christ_. With what ardent prayer did he, in the time of his humiliation upon earth, recommend his Church to his Father, and intercede for all believers!

18. Thus, "Holy Father, keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me; that they may be one, as we are. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them." John 17:11, 17, 15, 20, 24, 26. Nor did he pray so for us only upon earth; for even now he continues his intercessions for us at the right hand of G.o.d. "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is pa.s.sed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of G.o.d;-let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:14, 16; 7:26; 9:11; Rom. 8:34.

19. A _fifth_ argument is, _the testimony of the Holy Spirit_, who "beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of G.o.d" (Rom.

8:16), and this witness in our hearts cannot deceive us. For if this testimony be in us of a truth, we shall have a demonstrative evidence that we are G.o.d's children, and that he hears us in Christ when we pray unto him.

20. _Sixthly_, because G.o.d and Christ are with us, and dwell in us _by faith_, how can we suppose that G.o.d will not hear our sighs and groans?

"Thou understandest my thought afar off. There is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether." Ps. 139:2, 4. Think not, therefore, that G.o.d is separated from thee by any distance of place, that may hinder thy prayers from coming to him, "for he is in thee, and thou in him." Acts 17:28; John 17:23. Since, therefore, he lives and works in thee, why should he not hear thy prayers? "Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee?" Ps. 38:10. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight." Ps.

19:14.

21. _Seventhly_, because the Holy Spirit, who is truly G.o.d, is also the Spirit of prayer, and himself maketh intercession in us with sighs and groanings unutterable. Zech. 12:10; Rom. 8:26. Why then shouldest thou imagine that G.o.d will not see, hear, and regard that which he himself works in thee? Therefore it is impossible that even the feeblest sigh proceeding from the Holy Spirit in us, and tending towards G.o.d, can be lost or come to nought. For as it proceeds from G.o.d, so it goes to him; and whatsoever is in him cannot perish. The deeds are wrought in G.o.d, and will be made manifest. John 3:21.

22. _Eighthly_, G.o.d is not forgetful like men, as "a book of remembrance is written before him, for them that fear the Lord, and that think upon his name" (Mal. 3:16): so that he cannot be forgetful of our prayers. G.o.d cannot forget that which is good, nor will he call the sins of the penitent to remembrance. So mighty and so abundant is the grace of G.o.d, that he blots out our sins, and calls not our transgressions to mind. But the good which he himself has wrought in us, he can never forget; for then he must forget himself and his own works. It is therefore impossible that G.o.d should disregard those prayers which his own Holy Spirit works in us; any more than he can forget his word, or be unmindful of his promise.

"Since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still," saith G.o.d by the prophet. Jer. 31:20. And again, "Thou tellest my wanderings; put thou my tears into thy bottle." Ps. 56:8. So he a.s.sures us that "He will ever be mindful of his covenant." Ps. 111:5. And what is this covenant?

Nothing else but the remission of our sins, confirmed to us by the death of Christ, and sealed by his Holy Spirit. Eph. 1:13.