054. Prayer Of The Wicked.
Prayer Of The Wicked.
Suppose a wicked or impenitent man puts the question to me—“Sir, is it my duty to pray?”
Now, as a minister of Jesus Christ, authorized and required to point out his duty, according to the Scriptures, I should reply, “Most certainly. It is your duty, and the duty of all other men, to pray. It is a service enjoined, both by the light of nature and the voice of revelation.”
“But,” says he, “I am considered to be an impenitent man. Can it be the duty of such a man to pray?”
“Yes,” I reply, “as truly his duty, as the duty of the Christian. Why not?”
He objects: “The Scriptures declare that ‘the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord.’—‘The Lord is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.’—‘He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.’ Do not these passages forbid me to pray?”
“And, if so, my friend, are you not forbid to plow? Another scripture says: ‘The plowing of the wicked is sin.’ Proverbs 21:4. Will you, therefore, consider yourself as forbid to plow?”
“That I must do,” he replies; “the necessities of myself and family require it. Besides, it is enjoined upon a man to provide for his family.”
“And yet, every furrow you turn, as a wicked man, you sin. And every prayer you offer, as a wicked man, you sin. Yet you must plow, and you must pray.”
“Then I must sin.”
“By no means. You are not shut up to any such necessity. Suppose you pray, and suppose you plow with a right heart—with a penitent heart?”
“But I have no such heart,” he replies.
“No, you have none now. But is it not your imperative duty to possess such a heart? to make yourself such a heart? ‘Cast away from you all your transgressions,’ says the Word of Inspiration, ‘whereby ye have transgressed: and make you a new heart, and a new spirit.’ Ezekiel 18:31. Do this, and your prayers will be acceptable. Do this, and your plowing, your reaping, your eating—whatsoever you do—will be done to the glory of God, and, therefore, be acceptable to Him. You will then be a ‘righteous man;’ and ‘the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’” But, perhaps, he replies, “I have no such heart as you describe; and no disposition to make myself such a heart as you aver it is my duty to make. What, then, shall I do?”
I answer: “You are a subject of God’s moral government; and, under that government, you are able to choose, or refuse to do your duty. Prayer is your duty; and, when offered, should proceed from an humble, penitent, and obedient heart. If it proceed from any other heart, prayer will be, and must be, an abomination to God. You can thus pray, if you please; but then you must expect the displeasure of God. If you neglect prayer—and this you can do—you will be condemned for neglecting a known and positive duty. You are shut up, then, if you would meet the approbation of God, to one course; and that is, to pray with a right heart.”