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young ravens crying for food, without speech of reason. Nevertheless, he who hears and feeds the ravens, overlooks the alloy of wrong tempers, nor shuts out the supplication of imploring perplexity and distress.

More submission, however, would make our deliverance much sweeter; and if an answer were suspended, the delay would be more tolerable, and far less irksome. Our blessed Lord has left us an example of such a frame, in that prayer, (in which the greatest earnestness combines with the greatest submission to the 'divine will,) "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." This is the true model of prayer, to desire things earnestly, and yet refer the whole to the determination of the Sovereign will. In such a spirit, we shall never be greatly dissatisfied; for if our desires are granted we are pleased, and not displeased if they are denied; for the will of our Father is done. This will lead us. in the progress of faith, when sick, to prefer sickness to health; when poor, to prefer a poor condition to wealth; when evil entreated and set at nought, to prefer persecution and reproach, to garlands of human ap

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plause. We shall, like the Apostle, learn to • "take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake." Not that these things are in themselves joyous, and not that we may not lawfully pray for their removal or mitigation; only, while they continue, we recognize the will of God in them, and when we pray respecting them, we say,

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Thy will be done." And with such sentiments, the spirit of devout resignation will never vex itself against God, nor complain that prayer is shut out by his sovereign award. Of the intensest supplication, and a cheerful acquiescence in the will of God in refusing the request, in a matter of most touching interest, no mean example is furnished us in a well known case, recorded in 2 Sam. xii. 15-24. Such an one might well say "Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned ; soul is even as a weaned child."

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Finally, if nothing in the foregoing considerations appear satisfactory, or capable of tranquillizing the mind under the trial which prayer not answered occasions, we have this one additional view to suggest,-let those who are disposed to murmur, reflect on their own demerit, and let conscience say,

if it is not surprising grace that they themselves are still in the place of hope. The first thing that seems to have arrested the Prophet in his detail of woe, was the reflection of man's guilt, and God's forbearance. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not," verse 22. This thought gave a new determination to his sentiments; and the following part of the chapter is as remarkable for its consolatory, as the former part for its plaintive and deploring strain.

Here we may return to the cases of spiritual distress referred to in another part of this discourse. And to those who have lost the comforts of religion, and cry, without relief, in prayer for their. restoration, we would say," Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins," verse 39. Lay it down as an unquestionable truth, that it is of the Lord's mercies ye are not consumed-because his compassions fail not. Be assured that his compassions have not failed. "For the Lord will not cast off for ever. cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies." ye were persuaded of this, the bitterness of trouble would be passed. O give place

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to thankfulness in the midst of disquieting thoughts, and thankfulness will do much to allay your troubles. If ye have lost the comforts of faith, through sin, do not lose faith itself; and do not imagine that former sins will be more remissible, by adding to them the new sin of unbelief. Rather hold fast the confidence of faith in the absolute sufficiency of the redemption which is in Christ, and trust in Him to restore your peace, through the efficacy of his atoning blood, and by the grace of his intercession. Believe that ye have an Advocate with the Father, whose pleadings for you will find acceptance, when your own cries and shouts merit no regard.

We ought not to extenuate our sins; we ought not to decline correction; nor should we dispute the equity of the Divine procedure in visiting our iniquities with the rod. Nay, until we consent to it, our penitence for sin wants one important feature of genuineness and sincerity. And instead of impatient complaint that prayer for lost comforts is not heard, how much more becoming a true penitent is language like the following ?"I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he

plead my cause, and execute judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness." Pray much; plead mightily for the restoring of your souls; and though it be delayed, believe that he will bring you forth to the light of his countenance, and once more to behold his righteousness with assured faith. If ye are given over, for sin against God, to suffer from injurious men, (on their part without a cause); when he is pacified, your characters will be vindicated, and your enemies abashed. In this case, however, we are aware, that to comfort those whom God in his retributive dealings brings into bitterness for sin, is beyond our power. The mere knowledge of truth does not necessarily bring comfort along with it; for we see in Scripture, that men, while uttering truth by inspiration, were sometimes labouring under spiritual distress; which, when God sends it, no human direction can remove. Unfeigned repentance, patient hope, and believing prayer, are to be inculcated; and, exercising these, if we no longer regard iniquity in our hearts, and are truly humbled for the past, let faith act the part which belongs to it, and venture to ask the soul a reason for its utter comfortlessness,

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