The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 168

obsorvo ovary longing which is directed towards him. No utterance whatever CRcapcs tho Divino oar. None but a gracious Being would regard the prayers which are offered by such unworthy euppllnnte. Great is the condescension of God in ii.ttondin~ to our requests. 'fh11t ho does graciously hear and attend to them is repeatedly declared in the sncrccl Scriptures (sco 2 Snm. xxii. 7; Ps. nii. 4, 6, 24; xu. 2, 8-12; xxxi. 22; xxxlv. 4-6; J. 16; Mott. vii. 7-11; Luke xviii, 1-8; John xvi. 23, 24; Jae. i. 5; v. 16). II. AN IMPORTANT LJMITATION OF Tm: SCOPE OF ACCF.PTAilLE PDAYEn. "Tf we nsk anything accorcling to his will, he heareth us." 1. This limitation is nece,qsary. God's will is supreme. The well-being of the universe is bound up with the execution of his will. Therefore he cannot grant the petitions which ore not in harmony there- with, 'fbis limitation is necessary also, inasmuch as different suppliants ma.y be seeking from him at the same time things which are thoroughly opposed to each other. Thus in time of war between two Christian nations, prayer is presented to God for the success of each of the contending armies. 'l'he requests of both cannot be granted. 2. This limitation is beneficial. The judicious and kind parent does not give to his child the thing which he asks for, if it will prove hurtful or perilous to him. In our ignorance we may pray to God for such things as would be injurious to us, in which case it is well for us to be denied. 'l'hus the request of St. Paul was not granted, though his prayer was graciously answered (2 Cor. xii. 7-9). On the other hand, the clamorou11 cry of the unbelieving and self-willed Israelites for flesh was acceded to, to their sore injury (Numb. xi. 4-6, 31-34; Pa. cvi. 15). 8. This limitation allows a large sphere for the exercise of prayer. There are many things which we know are "according to his will," and these are the most important things ; e.g. supplies for bodily and tem- poral needs, forgiveness of sins, grace to enable us to do or to bear his will, guidance in our quest of truth and in our way of life, the sanctification of our being, and possession of an inheritance in heaven. We may seek the salvation of others, the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the final triumph of bis cause throughout the world. These and other things we know accord with his will. Ill. AJil ASSURANCE THAT THE THINGS SOLICITED IN BUCH PRAYERS WILL DE GRANTED. "And if we know that he beareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him." Alford calls attention to the present, "we have the petitions," with the perfect, "which we have asked of him." "The perfect reaches through aJJ our past prayers to this moment. All these' we have;' not one of them is lost: he has heard, he has answered them all: we know that we have them in the truest sense, in possession." It is important to bear in mind here the character of those to whom St. John writes. They are genuine Christians; possessors of Jesus Christ, and of eternal life in him. Their will is that God's will may be done. In them is fulfilled the inspiring assurance of the sacred psalmis~: "Delight thyself in the Lord; e.nd he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." In whomsoever this character is realized, the desires are in harmony with the will of God, and the things solicited in prayer are such as God takes pleasure in bestowing and man is blessed in receiving. And this assumnce which the apostle expresses is confirmed by the experience of the godly in all ages (cf. Exod. xxxii. 11-14, 31-34; Numb. xi. 1, 2; 1 Kings xvii. 17-24; xviii. 42--45; 2 Kings iv. 28-36; Ps. cxvi. 1---8; Isa. :xxxviii. 1-8; Dan. ix. 20-23; Acts xii. 1-17). Let us seek a character like that indic11ted by the npostle (vers. 11-13), and then this inspiring and ~trengtbening "confidence toward God" may be our~ also.-\V. J. Vera. 16, 17.-The Ohi·istian's prayer for liis brethren. "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto drnth," etc. Haviug expressed his assurnnco ns to tho efficacy of the prnyers of Christians generally (vers. 14, 15), the apostle heru brings forward a special case in which prayer may bo beneficently exorcised, viz. on behalf of an erring brother. Notice- !. 'l'HEI OCOABlON OF PRAYER FOR THE BRETIIREN, We do not mean that St. John wo11ld restrict our prnyers to any one occasion, but be mentions one in which thoy may bo profitably cxercisrtl. "If any man see his brother sinning a sin not uuto death, 110 slrnll aak," etc. 1. The liability of a brothe1· to sin. Whether we limit the term " brother" to thoso who aro believers in Christ-Christion brethren, or take it in it8  166 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. [oa. v. 1-21.