The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-01
WHAT A LAWYER SAYS OF PRAYER
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ear from hearing the law" But what
saith the Scriptures? HE that turneth
away his ear from hearing the law, even
his prayer shall be an abomination.
Do protested Christians understand this?
What Is true OF Offering these two pe-
titions Is true OF all prayer. Do Chris
tians lay this to heart? Do they con-
sidor that all professed prayer Is an
abomination. II 1t be not offered in o
state Of entire conservation of all that
we have and are to God? If we do not
offer ourselves with and in our prayers,
with all that we have; if we are not in
state Of mind that cordially accepts and,
80 far as we know, perfe city conforms TO
tho whole will of God, our prayer Ia an
abomination. How awfully profane is
the use very frequently made OF the
Lords prayer. both in public and in pri-
vate. To hear men and women chstter
over the Lords Prayer, "Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done on earth as it is
In heaven," while their lives are any
thing but oonformed to the known will
OF God. Is shocking and revolving. To
hear men pray "Thy kingdom come"
while 1t is most evident that they are
making little or no sacrifice or effort to
promote this kingdom. forces the con-
viction OF baretaced hypocrisy. Such 10
not prevailing prayer.
| vailing prayer. I'VE ask and receive
not, because ye ask smiss, that ye may
consume 1t upon your lusts."-James
| iv. 8.
(d) Another condition Of prevailing
prayer IL conscience void of offence
| toward God and mani John Ill. 90,
%: III our heart Consistency condemn
US, God Is greater than our heart and
knoweth oil things; II our heart oon-
denim us not, then have we confidence
toward God, and whatsoever we ask we
receive of Him, because we keep His
| comm andments and do those things that
are pleasing in His sight" Here two
things arc made plain: first, that to
! prevail with God, we must keep . con-
| science void of offence; and &c cond, tha
we must keep His commandments and
do those things that are pleasing in His
sighv.
(e.) A pure heart is also 8 condition
OF prevailing prsyer.-Psnlm Xvi. IS.
1T 1 regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear me-"
! % All due confession and restitution
to God and man Is another condition of
prevailing prayer-Prov. xviii. 10:
HE that covereth his sins shall not
prosper. Whose confesseth and for
saketh them shall find mercy"
| (R.) Clean hands ia another condition.
Psalm XVI. 6: II will wash mine
hands in innocenoy, 10 will compass
thine altar, o Lord" Timothy vi. g.:
VI will that men pray everywhere, lift
Ing up holy hands, without wrath and
doubling"
d. The settling of disputes and AMI
noosities among brethren Is condition.
| Matt. v. 90, "a: "If thou bring thy
| gift to the altar, and there remem berest
that thy brother hath aught against
thee, leave there thy gift before the
altar and go thy way. First be recon-
ctled to thy brother. then come and offer
thy gift"
prevailing prayer.-James iv. 6: "God
resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to
the humble"
ID Taking up the stun bling blocks
is another oondision.-Ezek. xiv. 8:
"Son OF man, these men have set up
their idols in their heart, and put the
stumbling block OF their iniquisy before
their face. Should I be inquired of at
all by them?"
| (k.) A forgiviDg spirit Is q condition.
Matt. vi. 90: "Forgive us our debts as
we forgive our debtors;" Is: "But II We
forgive not men their trespseseB, neither
will your Heavenly Father forgive your
trespasses."
The exercise of o truthful spirit is a
condition.-Psslm Ii. 6: behold, Thou
desireth truth In the inward parta." If
the heart be not in O truthful state, If 1t
be not entirely sincere and unselflsh, We
regard iniquity in our hearts; and, there
fore. the Lord will not hear us.
| (m) Praying in the name Of Christ is
a condition OF prevailing prayer
| (n.) The inspiration of the Holy Spirit
Is another condition. ALI truly prevail
ing prayer Is iuspired by the Holy
| Ghost.-Romans viii, &c, 81: "For we
| know not what we should pray for, as we
ought, but the Spirit itself maketh in
! tercession for us with Rroanings which
| csnnot be uttered. And He that search
eth the heart knoweth what is the mind
of the Spirit, because He msketh inter-
| cession for the saints according to the
will of God" This Is the true spirit of
| prayer. This is being led by she Spirit in
! prayer. Do protested Christians really
understand this? Do they believe that
unless they live and walk In the Spirit,
unless they are taught how to pray by
the intercession OF the Spirit in them,
they cannot prevail with God?
(o.) Fervency Is condition. A prayer
to be prevailing, must be fervent-
James v. a6: "Oonfess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that
| ye may be healed. The effectual fer
vent prayer Of righteous man availeth
| much"
(p.) Perseverance or persistence in
prayer is osten condition of prevailing.
See the case Of Jacob, of Daniel, Of
| Elijah, of the Syrophenician woman,
OF the unjust judge, and the teaching of
| the Bible generally.
(q.) Travail of soul is often q condi-
tion OF prevailing prayer. "As soon as
| Zion travelled abe brought forth her