An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Now, as when the Disciples heard Christs answer to the Pharisees question about Divorce, they presently said, (Math. 19.10.) If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry; so some hearing this doctrine, that God heareth not proud sinners when they cry or pray, may possibly say, if the case of the proud be thus with God, it is not good for them to pray at all. To such I answer, this doctrine is not urged to make proud or impenitent sinners to leave praying, but to leave their pride, 'tis urged to make them humble under their oppressions and afflictions, not to make them profane. They who (as they are) cannot get by prayer, certainly they cannot get by casting off prayer. What answer can they have who cry not at all to God, when some may cry and get no answer! as Elihu here speaks, There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of wicked men. This sense or interpretation most insisted upon in this 12th verse, will appear more full and fair in opening the 13th,¹ in which Elihu brings down what he said here into a strong and peremptory conclusion; or the next verse renders another reason why God would not relieve those oppressed ones, It was not only for the pride of their spirits, (v. 12.) but also for the emptiness and heartlessness of their prayers; or because the prayers of proud and evil men are heartless or empty.

Now, as when the Disciples heard Christs answer to the Pharisees question about Divorce, they presently said, (Math. 19.10.) If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry; so some hearing this doctrine, that God heareth not proud sinners when they cry or pray, may possibly say, if the case of the proud be thus with God, it is not good for them to pray at all. To such I answer, this doctrine is not urged to make proud or impenitent sinners to leave praying, but to leave their pride, 'tis urged to make them humble under their oppressions and afflictions, not to make them prophane. They who (as they are) cannot get by prayer, certainly they cannot get by casting off prayer. What answer can they have who cry not at all to God, when some may cry and get no answer! as Elihu here speaks, There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of wicked men. This sense or interpretation most insisted upon in this 12th verse, will appear more full and faire in opening the 13th,