The Duty of Prayer by Jno. Byington

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 27, 1865

The Duty of Prayer.

By Jno. Byington

In Rev. vii, 2, the angel ascending from the east cries with a loud voice, saying, Hurt not the earth till the servants of God are sealed. Is not this the voice of earnest, effectual prayer? In Luke xviii, we have the parable of the importunate widow. The unjust judge grants her request lest by her continual coming she trouble him. Now says the Saviour, Shall not God avenge his own elect, whom he does love and regard though he may seem to delay or bear long with them? The answer is, He will avenge them speedily that cry day and night unto him. The following verse connects this earnest, effectual praying with the coming of our Saviour.

Dear brethren, is it not time we pray more? Will the message of truth have a loud cry without more effectual, fervent prayer on the part of those who are looking for Christ's appearing? Would it not be well more frequently to have seasons of prayer when we meet our friends? I find some of our friends thrown into trial about some articles of dress. Get above this by crying earnestly to God for a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price.

Jno. Byington.

Grand Ledge, Mich.