Q. What will become of them that do not pray?—A. They do not worship God, and he will destroy them; 'Pour out thy fury [said the prophet] upon the heathen,—and upon the families that call not on thy name' (Jer 10:25; Psa 79:6).
Q. But seeing God knoweth what we want, why doth he not give us what we need, without praying?—A. His counsel and wisdom leadeth him otherwise. 'Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them' (Eze 36:37).
Q. Why will God have us pray?—A. Because he would be acknowledged by thee, that he is above thee, and therefore would have thee come to him as the mean come to the mighty. Thus Abraham came unto him (Gen 18:27,30).
Q. Is there another reason why I should pray?—A. Yes. For by prayer thou acknowledgest, that help is not in thine own power (2 Chron 20:6,12).
Q. What reason else have you why I should pray?—A. By prayer thou confessest that help is only in him (Psa 62:1).
Q. What other reason have you?—A. By prayer thou confessest thou canst not live without his grace and mercy (Matt 14:30; Heb 4:16).
Q. Are all that pray heard of the Lord?—A. No; 'They looked,' that is prayed, 'but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not' (2 Sam 22:42).
Q. To what doth God compare the prayers which he refuseth to answer?—A. He compareth them to the howling of a dog (Hosea 7:14).
Q. Who be they whose prayers God will not answer?—A. Theirs, who think to be heard for their much speaking, and vain repetition (Matt 6:7).
Q. Is there any other whose prayer God refuseth?—A. Yes; There are that ask and have not, because what they ask, they would spend upon their lusts (James 4:3).