SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT? Take heart, friends...

"And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night to Him, though He bear long with them?" —Luke 18:7 [KJV]

This question implies the strongest assertion. Thus our Lord concludes a parable He had delivered to this end, "that men ought always to pray and not to faint." Our Saviour well knew how ready His disciples' hands are to hang down and their hearts to grow languid and faint, so as to be remiss in this duty. Therefore His loving heart would stir up and encourage them to a constant perseverance in prayer; assuring them that God's ears are ever open to their cry, and His omnipotent arm would most certainly avenge the enemies of His own elect, and surely deliver them from all their troubles. Hath the Lord loved His people with an everlasting love? hath He chosen them in Christ Jesus from before the foundation of the world? hath He given them the precious faith of His own elect, and the cry of His children, Abba, Father? and shall an unjust judge deliver one whom he cares not for, and the just and holy Lord leave any of His beloved little ones to the power of any adversary? O, believer, never indulge such a hard thought of thy heavenly Father! Doth sin make thee cry? Satan cause thee to call? the world excite thee to complain? Blessed be God for a throne of grace to go to, and an all-powerful King to protect and conquer for us. Duty is thine; be careful not to neglect it. Deliverance is the Lord's; be assured in His own time, way and manner, thou shalt receive it. Remember, one moment before thy Lord's time would not be thy mercy.

Thy prayers, however frequent or fervent, do not influence the Lord to elect and choose thee to salvation. No; but the cry of a heart believing in Jesus is an evidence of election. Therefore thou art in Christ always acceptable to God; so are thy prayers through Him: "The prayer of the upright is His delight."—Proverbs 15:8. Though thy comfort may be often damped through the coldness and deadness of thy prayers; yet art thou to persevere conscientiously in thy duty. Why? To profess thy subjection to the Lord: "He is thy Lord, worship thou Him."—Psalm 45:11. Therefore prefer a cold prayer before none at all. Better to bring words that want a soul, than neglect to bring our bodies which have souls in them: "Take with you words."—Hosea 14:2—and say, if you cannot take the spirit and pray. This is the only foundation of hope of being heard, not our frames in duty; but the prevalency of Christ's intercession for us before the throne, and the faithful promises of God in Him by the word and Spirit of truth. "Continue in prayer."—Colossians 4:2.

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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