PRAYER by A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1858

PRAYER.

By A. S. Hutchins

BY A. S. HUTCHINS.

"He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him." Job xxxiii, 26. From this text and its connection, we learn that prayer is closely connected with the repentance for sin, and the forgiveness of the same.

"He looketh upon men; and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light." Job xxxiii, 27, 28. It has been well remarked that prayer is the "commencement of the Christian life; the pulse by which its strength and vigor may be known." "Prayer," says Bishop Taylor, "is the effect and the exercise, the beginning and the promoter, of all graces. A holy life is a continual prayer. Prayer is the peace of our spirit, the stillness of our thoughts, the rest of our cares, the calm of our tempest."

If we would prevail with God in prayer, if we desire to be heard in heaven, and rewarded "openly," we must,

Realize our dependence upon God.
Possess a desire to enjoy his presence; otherwise, at the best, our prayers will be cold and formal, and our worship that of the lips, and not of the heart.

This fact is strikingly developed in the case of the Pharisee and the publican, who went into the temple to pray: "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke xviii, 11-14.

"The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." Prov. xv, 29. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. xxviii, 9.

We do not, like many at the present time, understand prayer simply to be the desire of the heart. We are aware, however, that this view accommodates itself well to the practice of thousands professedly following the example of the blessed Saviour, whose voices are not heard in prayer from the beginning to the close of the year. From observation while connected with the F. W. Baptists for seven years, I judge, that not more than one fifth or one tenth part of the families professing godliness, were in the practice of attending family devotion; and I have no idea that the fallen churches enjoy more of the love of God in their hearts now, or that they are more obedient to the word of God than they were ten years since. And if not, do they pray more now than formerly?

Prayer is the expression of the heart's desire unto God. It is the language with which the Christian approaches the throne of grace. Said Jesus, "When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven," &c. Luke, xi. He does not say think, Our Father &c. Says Peter, "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." 1 Peter iv, 7. Does the Apostle design to instruct the church living in the last days, that they should be sober and watch unto desire? Says Paul, "Brethren my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Rom. x, 1.

But we may farther remark that without the assistance of the Holy Spirit, prayers will be offered in vain. They will be but little better than mockery. "Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Rom. viii, 26, 27. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." Jas. iv, 3.

"Suppose the case of a calm at sea. The ship in the midst of the ocean is sometimes arrested in its progress by a dead calm. Every sail is spread to catch the dying breeze, but all in vain. The vessel continues almost motionless on the vast expanse, or only rocked to and fro by the swell of the sea. The mariners look out, day after day, with longing eyes for a favorable gale to carry them forward. And perhaps when they almost despair of attaining it, then, in this hour of need, the sea manifests in the distance a darker hue, some clouds are seen rising in the horizon, a ripple appears upon the water, the sails begin to fill, the wished-for breeze springs up, the sea parts and foams, and the ship darts along towards its destined port."

"Thus it is sometimes with the Christian. He needs the breeze from above, and could not without it advance in his course. Sometimes after using every means of grace, his soul seems motionless in the voyage, and his heart sighs and longs for better days. His sails are spread, he is on his way, longing and waiting for, and yet not immediately receiving the favorable breath of heaven. It is delayed, perhaps, to show him his own inability and weakness, that he is entirely dependent on divine grace, and that the Holy Spirit is the free gift of God. But he is waiting for the breeze, and at length the wind blows, every sail is filled, every faculty, affection and power is engaged; he proceeds rapidly in his course, and is wafted along towards the desired haven."

Thousands at the present day, that think much of the religion they enjoy, and expect to gain the kingdom of heaven because they are praying men, are strangely deceived respecting their condition. God stops not to listen to their prayers. No angels from the city, from glory, hasten to bring them sweet refreshing blessings. Among this class we might note not a few professed lovers of God and his sacred word, that violate and oppose his holy law, and "bite" and seek to devour them who do and teach the commandments of God. We think the prophet Isaiah notices such. "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." Isa. i, 15.

But it is a blessing graciously bestowed upon the children of God to have his Holy Spirit to bear their infirmities, and make intercession for them while they enter into audience with the Author of every blessing, by prayer. We are exhorted to pray through the aid of the Spirit of God. Says Jude, [verses 20, 21.] "Praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Eph. vi, 18. "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Gal. iv, 6. "Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Rom. viii, 15.

"The enlightening and sanctifying influences of the Spirit are of great importance as to prayer, being needful in preparing our hearts for holy intercourse with God, and for desiring those things which will glorify him, and really benefit our own souls."

Says one, "The interposition of the Holy Spirit, like a powerful and able advocate, takes up our sinking cause; urges our necessities, and our pleas, with power, earnestness and perseverance; and places them with strong and irresistible effect in such a light, that it is evident the suit is obtained and the request granted."

The Spirit of God leads us out with strong and ardent confidence in God, and with holy boldness to approach the throne of grace, and claim those promises left on record for the faithful followers of the Saviour.

"There is a distinction, not improperly made, between the gift and the grace of prayer, though perhaps the more just distinction would be between the talent of elocution and the spirit of prayer. Some have a natural or acquired power of a great command of words, and a full flow of language, which enables them to pray with facility. But men may have this talent, and yet have none of the real feeling of want, desire, resignation, peace, hope, joy, &c., which form the essence of true prayer, and without which the best expressions are of little worth. The right spirit of prayer is not merely to be able to press God with the most proper words and urgent vehemence; this is talent and elocution. True prayer is a higher thing, the special gift of the Holy Ghost; not so much a matter of the lips, as of the heart. He has the most of this gift, who has the most enlightened apprehension of the God to whom he speaks; the deepest sense of his own wants; the most eager longings after grace, the most fervent desires of supplies from heaven; and, in a word, whose heart sends up the strongest cries to the Father of mercies. Hence many may have much of the spirit of prayer who have but a small degree of the power of utterance.",

"The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Says a writer on prayer, speaking on this point, "But further, he maketh intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered. I am sensible that I am here bringing a subject forward which must be in a great measure unintelligible (and may therefore appear absurd) to those who have never experienced it; but since the sacred writings have plainly stated it, we should neither conceal it, nor keep it back. And conceive the case of a mind truly and fully awakened to see the shortness of time, the vanity of worldly things, the unutterable glory of the blessed, the anguish of the condemned, the boundless ages of eternity, the uncertainty of every moment, and the inseparable connection between obtaining grace in this life, and glory in the next. If we realize this state of mind we may easily imagine that there are such ardent thirstings wrought within us, after pardon, grace, Christ, heaven and glory, as no words are great or strong enough to express. The Psalms of David often manifest this state of mind. My soul fainteth, he says, for thy salvation. O Lord, how long! I am weary with my groaning. Here we may observe some of the groanings of him in whom the Spirit intercedes; but yet this intercession is with such importunities of desire, such holy pleading, and holy wrestling with God, such ardor of spirit, such inward laboring and working of the heart towards God, as cannot be expressed by words."

My dear brethren and sisters, it is our privilege in these days of increasing peril and wickedness to enjoy much of the saving sanctifying Spirit of the Lord: that we may not only pray with the Spirit, and with the understanding, but that we may live in the Spirit and also walk in the Spirit. Suffer not your affections to cement to this poor perishing world; but set them on things above, on things imperishable and eternal.

The Lord in tender mercy has done much for us, and kindly waits to do more. With David we may say, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust; and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies." Ps. xl, 1-4. O, let this new song, even praise unto God, fill your hearts!

(To be Continued)