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Ethical
In summaries of so few words, how many utterances of the prophets, the Gospels, the apostles—how many discourses, examples, parables of the Lord, are touched on! How many duties are simultaneously discharged! The honour of God in the “Father;” the testimony of faith in the “Name;” the offering of obedience in the “Will;” the commemoration of hope in the “Kingdom;” the petition for life in the “Bread;” the full acknowledgment of debts in the prayer for their “Forgiveness;” the anxious dread of temptation in the request for “Protection.” What wonder? God alone could teach how he wished Himself prayed to. The religious rite of prayer therefore, ordained by Himself, and animated, even at the moment when it was issuing out of the Divine mouth, by His own Spirit, ascends, by its own prerogative, into heaven, commending to the Father what the Son has taught.
Since, however, the Lord, the Foreseer of human necessities,[8824] said separately, after delivering His Rule of Prayer, “Ask, and ye shall receive;”[8825] and since there are petitions which are made according to the circumstances of each individual; our additional wants have the right—after beginning with the legitimate and customary prayers as a foundation, as it were—of rearing an outer superstructure of petitions, yet with remembrance of the Master’s precepts.
That we may not be as far from the ears of God as we are from His precepts,[8826] the memory of His precepts paves for our prayers a way unto heaven; of which precepts the chief is, that we go not up unto God’s altar[8827] before we compose whatever of discord or offence we have contracted with our brethren.[8828] For what sort of deed is it to approach the peace of God[8829] without peace? the remission of debts[8830] while you retain them? How will he appease his Father who is angry with his brother, when from the beginning “all anger” is forbidden us?[8831] For even Joseph, when dismissing his brethren for the purpose of fetching their father, said, “And be not angry in the way.”[8832] He warned us, to be sure, at that time (for elsewhere our Discipline is called “the Way”[8833]), that when, set in “the way” of prayer, we go not unto “the Father” with anger. After that, the Lord, “amplifying the Law,”[8834] openly adds the prohibition of anger against a brother to that of murder.[8835] Not even by an evil word does He permit it to be vented.[8836] Ever if we must be angry, our anger must not be maintained beyond sunset, as the apostle admonishes.[8837] But how rash is it either to pass a day without prayer, while you refuse to make satisfaction to your brother; or else, by perseverance in anger, to lose your prayer?
Nor merely from anger, but altogether from all perturbation of mind, ought the exercise of prayer to be free, uttered from a spirit such as the Spirit unto whom it is sent. For a defiled spirit cannot be acknowledged by a holy Spirit,[8838] nor a sad by a joyful,[8839] nor a fettered by a free.[8840] No one grants reception to his adversary: no one grants admittance except to his compeer.
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