Not so George Muller. He saw at once that this would be _finding a way of his own out of difficulty, instead of waiting on the Lord for deliverance._ Moreover, he also saw that it would be _forming a habit of trusting to such expedients of his own, which in other trials would lead to a similar course and so hinder the growth of faith._ We use italics here because here is revealed one of the _tests_ by which this man of faith, was proven; and we see how he kept consistently and persistently to the one great purpose of his life--to demonstrate to all men that to _rest solely on I the promise of a faithful God_ is the only way to know for one's self and prove to others, His faithfulness.
At this time of need--the type of many others--this man who had determined to risk everything upon God's word of promise, turned from doubtful devices and questionable methods of relief to _pleading with God._ And it may be well to mark his _manner_ of pleading. He used _argument_ in prayer, and at this time he piles up _eleven reasons_ why God should and would send help.
This method of _holy argument_--ordering our cause before God, as an advocate would plead before a judge--is not only almost a lost art, but to many it actually seems almost puerile. And yet it is abundantly taught and exemplified in Scripture. Abraham in his plea for Sodom is the first great example of it. Moses excelled in this art, in many crises interceding in behalf of the people with consummate skill, marshalling arguments as a general-in-chief marshals battalions. Elijah on Carmel is a striking example of power in this special pleading. What holy zeal and jealousy for God! It is probable that if we had fuller records we should find that all pleaders with God, like Noah, Job, Samuel, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Paul, and James, have used the same method.
Of course God does not _need to be convinced:_ no arguments can make any plainer to Him the claims of trusting souls to His intervention, claims based upon His own word, confirmed by His oath. And yet He will be inquired of and argued with. That is His way of blessing. He loves to have us set before Him our cause and His own promises: He delights in the well-ordered plea, where argument is piled upon argument. See how the Lord Jesus Christ commended the persistent argument of the woman of Canaan, who with the _wit of importunity_ actually turned his own _objection_ into a _reason._ He said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the little dogs."* "Truth, Lord," she answered, "yet the little dogs under the master's tables eat of the crumbs which fall from the children's mouths!" What a triumph of argument! Catching the Master Himself in His words, as He meant she should, and turning His apparent reason for not granting into a reason for granting her request! "O woman," said He, "great is thy faith! Be it unto thee even as thou wilt"--thus, as Luther said, "flinging the reins on her neck."
* Cf. Matt. vii. 6, xv. 26, 27. Not [Transcriber's note: Greek word here], but [Transcriber's note: another Greek word here], the diminutive for little pet dogs.
This case stands unique in the word of God, and it is this use of argument in prayer that makes it thus solitary in grandeur. But one other case is at all parallel,--that of the centurion of Capernaum,* who, when our Lord promised to go and heal his servant, argued that such coming was not needful, since He had only to speak the healing word. And notice the basis of his argument: if he, a commander exercising authority and yielding himself to higher authority, both obeyed the word of his superior and exacted obedience of his subordinate, how much more could the Great Healer, in his absence, by a word of command, wield the healing Power that in His presence was obedient to His will! Of him likewise our Lord said: "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel!"