what is for man's good better than man can tell Him?

If He knows better than Man knows what is best for man, and if He
is a just God and a loving Father, will He not do right without any
advice or reminder from Man?

If He is a just God, will He give us less than justice unless we pray
to Him; or will He give us more than justice because we importune Him?

To ask God for His love, or for His grace, or for any worldly benefit
seems to me unreasonable.

If God knows we need His grace, or if He knows we need some help or
benefit, He will give it to us if we deserve it. If we do not deserve
it, or do not need what we ask for, it would not be just nor wise of
Him to grant our prayer.

To pray to God is to insult Him. What would a man think if his
children knelt and begged for his love or for their daily bread?
He would think his children showed a very low conception of their
father's sense of duty and affection.

Then Christians think God answers prayer. How can they think that?

In the many massacres, and famines, and pestilences has God answered
prayer? As we learn more and more of the laws of Nature we put less
and less reliance on the effect of prayer.

When fever broke out, men used to run to the priest: now they run
to the doctor. In old times when plague struck a city, the priests