True Christianity Part 36

O Eternal G.o.d and Father, teach me, I beseech thee, by thy Holy Spirit, that even as I have lost all by dying in Adam, so I may recover all by being made alive again in Christ. Grant that I may daily die to myself, by continual mortification and repentance, and devote and give myself up entirely to thee; that so all the good things which I have lost may be restored to me, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Section II.

The Evils That Follow The Neglect Of Prayer.

_Ye have not, because ye ask not._-JAMES 4:2.

1. The neglect of prayer is a violation of the _commandments_ of Christ, who commands us to "pray without ceasing" (Matt. 7:7; Luke 18:1), not for His sake, for he well knows what we stand in need of (Matt. 6:32); but for our own, that we may have a portion of the treasures and inheritance of G.o.d. He that lives in the neglect of prayer is a breaker of the first and second commandments, even as to blaspheme G.o.d is to bring voluntary destruction upon himself.

2. He that neglects the duty of prayer is a despiser of the _promises_ annexed to the performance of that duty. "Call upon me, and I will deliver thee" (Ps. 50:15); "Ask, and ye shall receive" (John 16:24); for he thereby represents G.o.d as unmindful of his promises, or as not able to fulfil them.

3. By the neglect of prayer, our faith, which is the great treasure and foundation of the inward man, by degrees decays and perishes. For not by the arm or power of flesh, but by faith in Christ, can we conquer sin, death, and the devil. 1 John 5:4. Prayer is the nourishment of faith; and this is that wisdom and eternal life which we must seek for by diligent prayer.

4. The Lord Jesus departs from them that despise prayer; so that they are blinded and walk in darkness, knowing neither themselves nor G.o.d, but are strangers to his will. They shut the kingdom of heaven against themselves; and, being dest.i.tute of light to know the will of G.o.d, they fall into many dangers and temptations, and sometimes into despair: whereas, on the contrary, where there are the Holy Spirit and faith, there the world is overcome.

5. He that neglects prayer enters into a state of carnal security, and every kind of iniquity. Such a man is not sensible how deeply he is engaged in sin; but rushes into all the avenues of destruction which lie open to receive him. The good things of this world which G.o.d has given him, such as health and riches, he regards as things that come by chance, or are secured by his own labor; and upon that account he has no grat.i.tude to his Creator and Benefactor.

6. As man, since his fall, is exposed to continual dangers, both of body and soul, so is he particularly in danger from the devil, evil spirits, and wicked men, who, like the devil, are continually plotting the destruction of the righteous. Whosoever, therefore, neglects prayer, will be, in the midst of these temptations, like a s.h.i.+p tost in a storm, without help or hopes of escape.

7. Such a one also leads a most unhappy life; he is in continual difficulties and fears, being perplexed, doubtful, and uneasy about the success of his affairs. His head and hands are full of business; yet he sees but little fruit of his labors, and even that little is in the end unblessed. Therefore, though the Scripture says that "the wicked may be seen in great power," yet it adds, "they pa.s.s away, and are not." Ps.

37:35, 36. They are "like the chaff which the wind driveth away." Ps. 1:4.

On the other hand, they that seek unto G.o.d by prayer "shall flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon." Ps. 92:12. And "though many are the afflictions of the righteous" (Ps. 34:19), yet the wicked undergo more pain and trouble to go to h.e.l.l than the righteous do to obtain heaven.

A PRAYER.

Most merciful and compa.s.sionate Father, thou knowest that man renders himself miserable by his own negligence and sloth, whilst he transgresses thy commands, and neglects the duty of prayer, contemning and slighting thy most certain and faithful promises. But because thou lovest thy creatures, and art not willing that any should perish, therefore it is that thou dost so earnestly invite us to the exercise of prayer. Give me grace to lay this continually to heart, that I may be able to offer up my prayers aright, through thy Son Jesus Christ, and be delivered from the punishments and miseries due to the despisers of that holy duty. Amen.

Section III.

The Benefits Of Continual Prayer.

_Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full._-JOHN 16:24.

1. Man, since his fall, is become slothful and inactive in everything that is good. He, therefore, that would escape this unhappy state, and the destruction that will certainly attend it, must stir himself up by prayer; and by holy meditation conquer his aversion to divine things, and devoutly consider with himself the advantages of prayer. Let him reflect, that he thereby praises, honors, and adores the eternal, living, and true G.o.d; that he does not wors.h.i.+p any strange G.o.d; but offers up his most earnest supplications to the only one and true G.o.d, whose commands, like an obedient child, he ought to obey, and show forth the praises of his Creator, Father, and Saviour.

2. He that prays does not despise the promises of G.o.d, but testifies by his prayers that he sets a just value upon them, acknowledging that G.o.d is true, and that he neither can nor will lie.

3. Prayer is the life of faith, causing it to flourish and prosper like a tree by the river side, and faith is the root of all that is good in us.

Faith is our power, our spiritual consolation, our strength against all our enemies and temptations, yea, faith is our "victory that overcometh the world" (1 John 5:4); and consequently everything else that opposes and hinders us in our spiritual warfare.

4. By prayer, we receive the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13; Zech. 12:10. By prayer, we make room for the Holy Spirit to work and exert his power in us, and by this means to come and make his abode with us. John 14:23. By prayer, we obtain the true light and knowledge of G.o.d, so as perfectly to understand his will; and, by prayer, we abide in his kingdom, and are partakers of the blessings of heaven.

5. By prayer, we shake off carnal security, resist sin, and, by vanquis.h.i.+ng flesh and blood, "fight the good fight, and hold faith and a good conscience." 1 Tim. 1:19; 6:12.

6. By prayer, we oppose temptations, dangers, afflictions, the devil, and wicked men. For prayer is a strong tower of defence against our enemies, and the holy fortress to which we must have recourse (Eph. 6:18; Prov.

18:10; Ps. 31:3); and though the devil and wicked men raise the greatest opposition, yet "all things work together for good to them that love G.o.d."

Rom. 8:28.

7. Lastly, he that continually watches unto prayer may always thankfully rejoice in the Holy Ghost; according to the doctrine of St. Paul, "Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks." 1 Thess.

5:16-18. For the comfortable addresses made to G.o.d, the eternal King, by prayer, are an effectual remedy against sorrow, trouble, misery, and affliction; and produce joy, peace, and tranquillity in the hearts of the faithful; and when our prayers are right, we are a.s.sured that all our righteous designs shall prosper in our hands "whilst we cast our care upon G.o.d." 1 Pet. 5:7. "The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing." Phil.

4:5, 6. "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pa.s.s." Ps. 37:5. For all solicitude arises from a distrust of G.o.d, which naturally proceeds from the neglect of prayer. On the contrary, faith and prayer give us confidence towards G.o.d, and are the proper antidote against all anxiety and trouble of mind.

A PRAYER.

Help me, O Lord my G.o.d, that I may continually call to mind, that it is for my own sake that thou invitest and urgest me to the exercise of prayer. Do thou rouse me, and I shall arise; awaken thou me, and I shall awake, and follow Christ alone. Amen.

Section IV.

The True Christian Chooses The Narrow Way In Christ, Rather Than The Broad Way In Adam.

_We glory in tribulations._-ROM. 5:3.

1. The Scripture teaches us that when Adam was placed in Paradise, G.o.d showed him the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and forbade him to eat of it (Gen. 2:9, 17); so that Adam was thus placed between time and eternity. Life and death, light and darkness (Deut. 30:15), were set before him, that he might qualify himself for eternal glory in the narrow way. Our case is just the same. For since the fall of Adam, Christ comes to us, and endeavors to draw us from the broad way in Adam, to the narrow way, which is himself; and this he does gently and without violence, resolving to force no man either to his salvation or his condemnation. He shows us the way by his prevenient grace, which is bestowed on all men without exception. Christ now says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction; and many there be that go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt.

7:13, 14.

2. Here we plainly see two paths set before us: the one is the way of the world, in which many walk, because they continue in Adam, and refuse Christ; the other is the way of G.o.d, in which few walk, because they prefer the broad way in Adam. Many are the difficulties which attend both these paths. If you conform yourself to the world, you will meet with many troubles and vexations; and, not being established in the truth of G.o.d, your lot finally is eternal d.a.m.nation. But if you enter into the way of G.o.d through Christ, and persevere in prayer, you must expect to suffer with Christ, from the opposition of this evil world: but, at the same time, your heart shall be constantly filled with the refres.h.i.+ng consolations of the Spirit of truth, and in the end, you shall obtain everlasting life. 2 Tim. 2:11, 12; 3:12.

3. He that prays, fights against the devil and his own corrupt nature; overcomes himself, the devil, and all the enemies of his salvation; and shall at last with Christ, the Captain of his salvation (Heb. 2:10), enter into everlasting rest.

4. But he that lives in the neglect of prayer, makes no progress in the conquest of his spiritual enemies; but is a miserable slave of the world, and shall at last, with the prince of darkness, be condemned to everlasting misery.

5. It is better to fight now, and to enter triumphantly into everlasting glory, than not to fight, and yet endure many afflictions, and at last be doomed to everlasting destruction.

A PRAYER.

Oh that men would but consider these things! They would then loathe and despise this present world; would hate and deny themselves, and would follow Christ alone, in the narrow way of the cross. That we may, therefore, seriously lay these things to heart; that we may renounce the old Adam within us, and put on the new man, Christ Jesus: and at last, through the narrow way, enter into everlasting life, may G.o.d of his infinite mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Section V.

Considerations Which Should Move The Heart To Commune With G.o.d In Prayer.