Letter to Monsieur Montaigne-Chapter LVI Of Prayers

Andrew Stutts

MONSIEUR, I am writing you to share some of my thoughts on one of your various essays.  It was difficult to focus on just one of your essays as you have many fine compositions to read, and all are worthy of solemn reflection.   However, for this correspondence I selected the essay that resonated the most with me, one that I felt drawn to engender a response with my own insight.  Bearing this in mind and begging your indulgence, I feel none could be considered more important to mankind’s well-being than your essay Of Prayers. 

I agree with you that devoting one's heart to God for one hour does not recompense the many other hours spent courting the devil.  The love for God should encourage one to remain morally upright and the heart should be continually devoted to God.  This is not only the honor due God but is for one’s own profit as well.  I too cannot imagine the conscience that could harbor such deceit and hypocrisy as to not strive to be mindful of God whenever as possible. 

As you said man’s thoughts must always be toward God.  Grace can always be found in the Lord, but you can only approach him with an earnest heart and when your thoughts are sincerely on him that redeems.  Also, as you mentioned one must attune all aspects of their life toward righteousness, including one’s livelihood.  To do otherwise would only cause one to remain divided amongst oneself.  Furthermore, religion will never be beneficial if it is contrary to what is in one’s heart. 

As you mentioned the divine and holy should not simply be paid lip service.  Even Psalms should not be recited monotonously.   It is better to remain silent than to render these holy poems less than the reverence they deserve.  Likewise, all holy emblems, like the Bible, should be treated with care and respect because they are holy instruments for the salvation of one’s soul.  However, Sir, I would have to disagree with your assertion that the Bible should not be translated into what you call the “vulgar tongue”. (Montaigne LVI) God’s word should be free and open to all races and kindred.   Furthermore, its contents should be accessible to every stratum of the social order from the lowest commoner to the most elite.  Although I agree that the wise and learned should be sought for guidance, one should be able to approach these revered teachers as fervent students and not indolent bondsmen, slaves to their own ignorance.

You mentioned that the Jews and Mohammedans relevantly “espouse the language wherein their mysteries were first conceived.” (Montaigne LVI)    However, your proclamation infers that the mysteries of Christ were first revealed by speakers of the Latin language.  Yet, there are libraries of information concerning the scriptures we refer to as the Bible that has been translated and retranslated from numerous languages.  In fact, Greek is probably the best lingua franca for interpreting the New Testament in the Bible.  Nonetheless, perhaps the in-depth theology and “mysteries” should be left to the elite scholar who is fluent in both Latin and Greek. (Montaigne LVI)    However, the promise of salvation and the grace of God should be free to all men regardless of the language they speak.

You mentioned that Pagans “know nothing more of their gods than their bare names and their statues.”  The logic of your statement would infer that people will worship God or Pagan gods in the same manner regardless of their exposure to the scriptures.  However, I do not think worship should be allowed to degenerate into such baseness nor should idolatry be encouraged under the guise of worshiping the one true God.  How is worship approached in a Pagan fashion affording any honor or glory to God? 

I concur that God should always be given reverence and devotion in all things.  This includes when we, as you say, call upon him to “accompany and assist us.” (Montaigne LVI)    However, pompous formalities should never stand in the way of one’s relationship with God.  We may go to him regardless of our circumstances and without standing on ceremony.  To insist otherwise is to deny the joyful and beneficial presence of God in our lives. 

You are correct that one must approach prayer with the right attitude.  It should be done with the least amount of sin in one’s heart.  A prayer is indeed hypocritical if it directly supports vice, and one remains in danger if a prayer supports or encourages vice indirectly.  Therefore, one should always approach prayer, both great and small, with a repentant heart. 

You are spot-on when you express that “we are not to pray that all things may go as we would have them, but as most concurrent with prudence” or in other words, God, thy will be done. (Montaigne LVI)    As you said in your essay; “neither the gods nor good men (says Plato) will accept the present of a wicked man.” (Montaigne LVI) Maybe this is the reason why, in Genesis, God was displeased with Cain’s offering and not Abel’s.

Sir, I sincerely thank you for the gift you have shared with the world in your writing.  Although my opinion diverged from yours on some points, I agree with much of your beliefs and principles concerning prayer.  Your essay Of Prayers merits meditation by all those who desire a more profound communion with God. 

Monsieur, I pray that my correspondence finds you in God’s grace. Your humble student, ANDREW STUTTS

 

Works Cited

Montaigne, Michel de. The Essays of Montaigne, Complete. EBook