We hear less of what is called the “judgment of God” than formerly, but
quite enough to show that this foolish superstition still lingers in the
human mind. It used to be believed that God was on the lookout for the bad
boy who went fishing or skating on his holy sabbath and that when he
caught him he immediately made use of him to prove his loving-kindness and
tender mercy by making him get into the water where he could drown him. It
was never related that God took this boy by the shoulder or even by the
ear and led him back home to his parents with the request that they take
better care of him in the future. This was not God’s way. There would be
no judgment in this. God must murder the poor boy who could see no
difference in the conduct of the birds and fishes on Sunday from their
conduct on Saturday, and have him carried back to his father’s arms and
his mother’s heart a corpse, a cold, dead thing, no longer needing love,
kindness, and a parent’s great, forgiving charity. This was God’s way. He
delighted in seeing a dead boy taken out of the frozen stream and laid
down in the presence of his poor, grief-crazed mother. He thought this
would make the mother love him more and other boys keep his holy sabbath.
So when any misfortune befell on Sunday a human being who was not on his
way to God’s house, or engaged in other pious occupation, it was believed
to be a judgment of God and people took care to avoid a similar
punishment. This kind of religious teaching does not enjoy the reputation
that it once did for the reason that it has become discredited by human
experience. All things considered it is just as safe to go sailing or
swimming, fishing, or driving, on Sunday as on Monday and men have learned
that no penalty attaches to violation of the fourth commandment. As people
become sensible they cease to be religious.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Prayer is begging from a pauper.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
The egg of prayer never yet became a chicken.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Prayer is like a pump in an empty well, it makes lots of noise, but brings
no water.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
A great many people who worship Jesus would not let him come in at the
back door.