But in my text we see,
II. To whom we should betake ourselves, under such circumstances — St. James says, " Is any afflicted ? let him pray." Prayer is the great antidote to affliction of every kind. And here we see in what way we should approach our God. We should draw nigh to him,
1. In a way of humble expostulation —
[Expostulation, if devoid of humility, would be most offensive to God : for " God giveth not account of any of his matters :" and to call him to our bar, would be presumption in the extreme. Yet God is pleased to allow us to approach him, and even to expostulate with him, provided we come to him with real humility and contrition. Though he dwells in the high and holy place, yet will he regard the cry of the poor destitute ; and " from the habitation of his holiness and his glory " supply his every want. He has a zeal for his people's good : he has said, that " he will plant them in the heavenly land assuredly, with his whole heart and with his whole soulf." He feels for them, too, as a tender parent for his child under some great calamity. His whole soul is in a state of commo- tion on their account g. But, if we be under circumstances of distress, without any immediate relief from him, he will appear to have " forsaken and forgotten us." On those occasions, therefore, he permits us to address him in the language of ex- postulation : " Look down from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory. "Where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels, and of thy mercies towards me ? Are they restrained?" Yes : not only will he approve of such holy importunity, but he will never suffer such prayers to ascend in vainh.]
2. In a way of confident affiance —
[There are times and seasons when a person, who is on the whole pious, may, by reason of his trials, seem to be aban- doned of his God, and scarcely be recognised as having the divine image enstamped upon him. Thus it was with Job, under his heavy and accumulated calamities. But a person should not, therefore, cast away his confidence ; but rather hold it the faster, that it may afford him consolation and sup- port under the pressure of his troubles. He may, in addition to his expostulations with God, lay hold upon him under the endearing relation of a Father : " Doubtless, thou art our
f Jer. xxxii. 40, 41. B Hos. xi. 8. Jer. xxxi. 20.
h Ps. xlii. 9—11.