deep waters, will be our gratitude for deliverance from them'^: in proj)ortion as we have passed through the afflictive scenes
of David, will be the zeal and ardour with which we
shall henceforth make boast of our great Deliverer : " Who is so great a God as our God^ ? " When we feel that we have " had much forgiven us, we shall love much."]
The Bride however used not her exertions in vain; as we see by,
II. The successful issue of them —
[In her search after her Beloved, she inquired of the watchmen, whether they had seen him, or could give her any intelligence respecting him. And, soon after she had parted with them, she found him. By " the watchmen," we under- stand the ministers of God, who " watch for souls," whose special commission is, to "strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, and to say to the fearful heart, Fear not; your God will come and save you"^." And it should seem that it was in following her directions she attained her end. But, however this might be, we see clearly from her example, that persevering endeavours shall be crowned with success.]
This is expressly promised by God himself —
[Exceeding strong is that declaration of our blessed Lord ; " Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you : for every one that asketh, re- ceiveth; andhe that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened'." It is not said indeed that the answer shall be given, as it was to Daniel, in the very act of prayer : but it is secured from the first moment that we ask in faith ; and it shall be given in the best manner, and at the fittest time ; according as the Prophet Hosea has said ; " Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord : his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and the former rain, unto the earth™." " The vision is for an appointed time : and if we wait for it, it shall come, and not tarry an instant beyond the time" fixed in the counsels of unerring wisdom".]
It is also confirmed by actual experience —
[The poor Canaanitess who was so urgent in her suppli- cations to Christ to come and heal her daughter, met with a denial ; and such a denial as seemed to preclude any hope of ultimate success; " He answered her not a word." The Dis- ciples then interceded for her, and requested, that she mio-ht
^ Ps. xl. 1—3. i Ps. Ixxvii. 1—4, 13. ^ is^j^ ^xxv. 3, 4.
1 Matt. vii. 7, 8. m Hos. vi. 3. " Hab. ii. 3. and Heb. x.37.