This fable shows us how vain and ill-grounded the expectations of those
people are who imagine they can obtain whatever they want by
importuning heaven with their prayers; for it is so agreeable to the
nature of the Divine Being to be better pleased with virtuous actions
and an honest industry than idle prayers, that it is a sort of blasphemy
to say otherwise. These were the sentiments of honest good heathens, who
were strangers to all revealed religion: but it is not strange that they
should embrace and propagate such a notion, since it is no other than
the dictate of common reason. What is both strange in itself, and
surprising how it could be made so fashionable, is, that most of those
whose reason should be enlightened by revelation, are very apt to be
guilty of this stupidity, and, by praying often for the comforts of
life, to neglect that business which is the proper means of procuring
them. How such a mistaken devotion came to prevail one cannot imagine,
unless from one of these two motives; either that people, by such a veil
of hypocrisy, would pass themselves upon mankind for better than they
really are, or are influenced by unskilful preachers (which is
sometimes, indeed too often, the case) to mind the world as little as
possible, even to the neglect of their necessary callings. No question
but it is a great sin for a man to fail in his trade or occupation by
running often to prayers; it being a demonstration in itself, though the
Scripture had never said it, that we please God most when we are doing
the most good: and how can we do more good than, by a sober honest
industry, 'to provide for those of our own household,' and to endeavour
'to have to give to him that needeth?' The man who is virtuously and
honestly engaged, is actually serving God all the while, and is more
likely to have his silent wishes, accompanied with strenuous endeavours,
complied with by the Supreme Being, than he who begs with a fruitless
vehemence, and solicits with an empty hand: a hand which would be more
religious were it usefully employed, and more devout were it stretched
forth to do good to those that want it.