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Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)
Metropolitan Platon of Moscow, tr. Pinkerton, 1814
Part 3, Section 15: Divine Grace Necessary to the Keeping of God’s Commandments
The co-operating influence of divine grace is necessary to the keeping of God’s commandments; which, like every other good, is obtained through prayer.
Man being, in a spiritual sense, weak indeed, and unable of himself to choose that which is good, (as we have sufficiently shewn above), needs the all powerful grace of God to make up these deficiencies, by elevating his mind to the understanding of saving truth, and directing his heart to desire and attain real happiness. Of this the gospel not only informs us, but assures us, that our gracious God is always ready to help us in this work, which is so necessary to make us truly happy. “Without me,” saith our Saviour, “ye can do nothing;” for, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me,” John xv. 5. And, in agreement with these words of the Master, is the reasoning of his chosen vessel, 2 Cor. iii. 4, “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”
This gracious assistance of our weakness to enable us to fulfil the will of our Maker, is not only necessary in spiritual concerns to direct us aright on our way to eternity, but in all things which respect even the present life. For the Lord is the Supreme Governor of all things, and he, from the light of his holiness, beholds all, and grants unto every creature a fit and proper portion of enjoyment, according to his infinite wisdom and goodness. In reference to this, St James has written, That “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights.” Therefore, in order that we may always be assisted by the liberal gifts of our heavenly Father, we ought to offer up our hearty desires to him, and by sincere prayers knock at the door of his mercy. It is true that God knoweth before we ask what we stand in need of, and knows also what is proper to bestow upon us; but though this is the case, it frequently happens that a man does not receive even that, which otherwise he would have received, had he, by fervent prayer, out of a pure heart, brought his inclinations to agree with the will of his gracious Maker.
What is Prayer?
Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God, and the supplication of spiritual good from him.
That our prayers may be accepted of God, and effectual, it is necessary,
1. That we ask of him those things which he has prescribed in his word. For as a man who is unenlightened by the Holy Ghost cannot know in what his real happiness consists, so he is also unacquainted with what he should ask in his prayers. The great apostle confirms this, Rom. viii. 26, “The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
The Holy Spirit in his word, has revealed to us, that we ought first of all to seek the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, that is, the means by which it is obtained. And that we should beg for this salvation of our souls immediately from God, that is, with the undoubted assurance, that this our petition is pleasing to God; but other blessings, such as health, long life, riches, honours, pleasure, ought always to be prayed for conditionally, that is, by adding, “if it be agreeable to his holy will, and if he, with his omniscient eye, foresee that such blessings shall be for our good.”
2. That our prayers be offered up with a fervent and contrite spirit, with unfeigned confession of our poverty and need; and, in the words of the repenting prodigal son, “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough, and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” Luke xv. 17. For a man of himself has nothing, nor can he have any thing, unless our heavenly Father open his liberal hand.
3. That the hope of acceptance in all our petitions be grounded on the precious merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, with the firm assurance on our part, that the death and shedding of our Redeemer’s blood for us, can alone be efficacious to incline the divine mercy to grant us our desires. For without this, our prayers, proceeding from a sinful heart, and from unworthy lips, can have no effect. The certainty of this, the Son of God himself hath clearly made known to us, in plain words: “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you,” John xvi. 23. And the blessed Paul hath strongly declared the same truth: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Rom. viii. 32.