Systematic Theology (Volume 2 of 3)Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Religion
Systematic Theology (Volume 2 of 3)
Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Baptists -- Doctrines; Theology, Doctrinal
_Ps. 116:1-8_—“_I love Jehovah because he heareth my voice and my
supplications._” Luther prays for the dying Melanchthon, and he recovers.
George Müller trusts to prayer, and builds his great orphan-houses. For a
multitude of instances, see Prime, Answers to Prayer. Charles H. Spurgeon:
“If there is any fact that is proved, it is that God hears prayer. If
there is any scientific statement that is capable of mathematical proof,
this is.” Mr. Spurgeon’s language is rhetorical: he means simply that
God’s answers to prayer remove all reasonable doubt. Adoniram Judson: “I
never was deeply interested in any object, I never prayed sincerely and
earnestly for anything, but it came; at some time—no matter at how distant
a day—somehow, in some shape, probably the last I should have devised—it
came. And yet I have always had so little faith! May God forgive me, and
while he condescends to use me as his instrument, wipe the sin of unbelief
from my heart!”
(_b_) In condescension to human blindness, God may sometimes submit to a
formal test of his faithfulness and power,—as in the case of Elijah and
the priests of Baal.
_Is. 7:10-13_—Ahaz is rebuked for not asking a sign,—in him it
indicated unbelief. _1 K. 18:36-38_—Elijah said, “_let it be known
this day that thou art God in Israel.... Then the fire of Jehovah
fell, and consumed the burnt offering._” Romaine speaks of “a year
famous for believing.” _Mat 21:21, 22_—“_even if ye shall say unto
this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be
done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive._” “Impossible?” said Napoleon; “then
it shall be done!” Arthur Hallam, quoted in Tennyson’s Life,
1:44—“With respect to prayer, you ask how I am to distinguish the
operations of God in me from the motions of my own heart. Why
should you distinguish them, or how do you know that there is any
distinction? Is God less God because he acts by general laws when
he deals with the common elements of nature?” “Watch in prayer to
see what cometh. Foolish boys that knock at a door in wantonness,
will not stay till somebody open to them; but a man that hath
business will knock, and knock again, till he gets his answer.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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