Moreover, those who pray should not come to God with fruitless or naked prayers. Petition is ineffectual when it is a barren entreaty that beseeches God. For as every tree that bringeth not forth fruit is cut down and cast into the fire; assuredly also, words that do not bear fruit cannot deserve anything of God, because they are fruitful in no result. And thus Holy Scripture instructs us, saying, \u201cPrayer is good with fasting and almsgiving.\u201d For He who will give us in the day of judgment a reward for our labours and alms, is even in this life a merciful hearer of one who comes to Him in prayer associated with good works. Thus, for instance, Cornelius the centurion, when he prayed, had a claim to be heard. For he was in the habit of doing many alms-deeds towards the people, and of ever praying to God. To this man, when he prayed about the ninth hour, appeared an angel bearing testimony to his labours, and saying, \u201cCornelius, thy prayers and thine alms are gone up in remembrance before God.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Isaiah also the Lord reminds us, and teaches similar things, saying, \u201cLoosen every knot of iniquity, release the oppressions of contracts which have no power, let the troubled go into peace, and break every unjust engagement. Break thy bread to the hungry, and bring the poor that are without shelter into thy house. When thou seest the naked, clothe him; and despise not those of the same family and race as thyself. Then shall thy light break forth in season, and thy raiment shall spring forth speedily; and righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of God shall surround thee. Then shalt thou call, and God shall hear thee; and while thou shalt yet speak, He shall say, Here I am.\u201d He promises that He will be at hand, and says that He will hear and protect those who, loosening the knots of unrighteousness from their heart, and giving alms among the members of God\u2019s household according to His commands, even in hearing what God commands to be done, do themselves also deserve to be heard by God.<\/p>\n
The blessed Apostle Paul, when aided in the necessity of affliction by his brethren, said that good works which are performed are sacrifices to God. \u201cI am full,\u201d saith he, \u201chaving received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.\u201d For when one has pity on the poor, he lends to God; and he who gives to the least gives to God\u2014sacrifices spiritually to God an odour of a sweet smell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prayer and Alms Moreover, those who pray should not come to God with fruitless or naked prayers. Petition is ineffectual when it is a barren entreaty that beseeches God. For as every tree that bringeth not forth fruit is cut down and cast into the fire; assuredly also, words that do not bear fruit cannot deserve anything of God, because they are fruitful in no result. And thus Holy Scripture […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cyprian"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1163,"url":"https:\/\/nemoslibrary.com\/patristics\/cyprian-on-the-advantage-of-patience\/","url_meta":{"origin":1158,"position":0},"title":"Cyprian: On the Advantage of Patience","author":"Nemo","date":"April 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Stephen, when he was slain by the Jews with violence and stoning, did not ask for vengeance for himself, but for pardon for his murderers, saying, \u201cLord, lay not this sin to their charge.\u201d It behoved the first martyr of Christ thus to be, who, fore-running the martyrs that should\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cyprian"","block_context":{"text":"Cyprian","link":"https:\/\/nemoslibrary.com\/patristics\/category\/cyprian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1012,"url":"https:\/\/nemoslibrary.com\/patristics\/tertullian-on-prayer\/","url_meta":{"origin":1158,"position":1},"title":"Tertullian: On Prayer","author":"Nemo","date":"January 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"In the Lord's Prayer is comprised an epitome of the whole Gospel. Prayer is alone that which vanquishes God. But Christ has willed that it be operative for no evil: He had conferred on it all its virtue in the cause of good. And so it knows nothing save how\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Tertullian"","block_context":{"text":"Tertullian","link":"https:\/\/nemoslibrary.com\/patristics\/category\/tertullian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1152,"url":"https:\/\/nemoslibrary.com\/patristics\/cyprian-on-the-unity-of-the-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":1158,"position":2},"title":"Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church","author":"Nemo","date":"April 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The episcopate is one, each part of which is held by each one for the whole. 3115 The Church also is one, which is spread abroad far and wide into a multitude by an increase of fruitfulness. As there are many rays of the sun, but one light; and many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cyprian"","block_context":{"text":"Cyprian","link":"https:\/\/nemoslibrary.com\/patristics\/category\/cyprian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1129,"url":"https:\/\/nemoslibrary.com\/patristics\/cyprian-on-the-glory-of-a-martyr\/","url_meta":{"origin":1158,"position":3},"title":"Cyprian On the Glory of a Martyr","author":"Nemo","date":"March 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"For nineteen days, shut up in the close guard of a dungeon, he was racked and in irons; but although his body was laid in chains, his spirit remained free and at liberty. 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