PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

DUly tmd Efficocy of PrtlJcr.
agre~able to perfect wisdoIll and justice, that we
should r~ccivc what we desire, GoJ, as perfectly wise
and just, will give it to us without asking: if it be not
agreeable to these attributes of his nature, our entrca4
ti~s cannot move him to give it us; and it were impiolls
to expect they should." In fewer wo;d~?
thus; "If what we request be fit for us, we sllall
have it without praying; if it ~ not fit fo~' us, we
cannot obtain it by praying." This objection admits
but of one answer, namely ~ that it may be
agreeable to perfect wisdom, to gl'3nt that to our
prayers, which it would not have been agreeable to
the same wisdom to have given us without praying
for. But what virtue, you will a~k, is; there in
prayer, which shGu1d make a favour conl-istent with
wisdom, which would not have been so \vithout it!
To this question, which contains the whole difficulty
attending the subject, the foBuwirtg possibili!ie;, are
offered in reply.
1. A favour granted to prayer may be mure apt,
on that very account, to pr'cduce good effects upon
the person obliged. It Inay hold in the divine
bounty, \\~ hat experience has raised into a proverb
in the collation of human be11efits, that \vhat is ob ..
tained without asking, is oftentimes received without
gratitude.
2. It nlay be consistent with the \visdom of tIle
Deity to withhold his favours till they be asked fol'!"
as all expedient to encourage devotion in his ration·~
aI creatioll, in order thereby to keep up and circulate
a know ledge and sense of their dependency upon
hi,JZ.
s. Prayer has a natural tendency to amend the pe ..
titioner himse1f; and thus to bring him within the
rules, which the wisdom of the Deity has prescribed to
the dispensation of his favours.
'
If these, or any other assignable suppositions, ~cr\'c
to remove the apparent repugnancy between the
~l1CCCSS of prayer and the character of the D:>ity, i::