1. The benefit of prayer —
[See how successful she was, though she uttered no words, but only importuned God in her heart''! And what will God
refuse to those who seek him in sincerity and truth?
The Saviour's promise to us all is this, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, I will do it ;" " Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
Let all the sons and daughters of affliction bear this in mind. Here is a sure remedy for all their griefs, and an infallible supply for all their wants^.]
2. The blessedness of true religion —
[Exceeding hea\y were Hannah's trials^: and they were not a little aggravated by the uncharitable surmises of Eli himself^. But into what holy joy were they turned at last ! Thus, when true religion occupies the soul, will even the most afflictive dispensations be overruled for good : our night of sorrow may appear long ; but the morning of joy shall soon arise : our seed-time of tears shall be followed with a blessed harvest. Only let us delight in heavenly contemplations, and every perfection of God's nature, every dispensation of his providence, and every purpose of his grace, shall swell, as it were, our tide of joy, till it becomes " unspeakable and glorified."]
e 1 Sam. i. 10, 12, 13. f Ps. xl. 1—3.
g 1 Sam. i. 6, 7. '' 1 Sam. i. 13—16.
1 Sam. ii. 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: hut if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him ?
THE consideration of an earthly tribunal is of great use to restrain the wickedness of ungodly men. But as there are innumerable offences which can neither be proved by human testimony, nor defined by human laws, it is necessary that men should be reminded of another tribunal, to which they shall be shortly sum- moned, and before which they shall be called to a strict account. Long before the deluge this was a topic much enforced by the preachers of religion ^ ;
a Jude, ver. 14, 15. VOL. III. I