on his grace. He may choose this way of weaning us from the world, of quickening us in all our duties, of advancing our attainments in the divine life, and of fitting us for greater usefulness to our fellow-sinners. He may delay his answers, so long as to make us doubt whether he has not " forgotten to be gracious unto us, and shut up his loving-kindness from us in displeasure." But, knowing his character, we should never abandon ourselves to despair, but " tarry his leisure ;" and determine, if we perish, to perish at the foot of the cross, crying for mercy in Jesu's name. However long " the vision may tarry, we should wait for it," in a full and perfect con- fidence that " it shall not tarry " one single moment beyond what God in his wisdom sees to be the fittest time s. Of this we may assure ourselves, that " none shall ever seek his face in vain."]
Application —
1. Let none of us, then, neglect the duty of prayer —
[Prayer is indispensably required, in order to our ob- taining of the Divine favour* And " if we have not,
it is either because we ask not, or because we ask amiss u." Brethren, remember, I pray you, what you have at stake; and trifle not in your approaches to the Most High God, as if he could be deceived by formal and heartless petitions. Could it once be said of you, " Behold, he prayeth !" we should have a good hope respecting you : but if you live not nigh to God, in the exercise of fervent prayer, we must declare to you, that God's goodness, so far as it respects you, will speedily come to an end, and be turned into wrathful indignation : for he has said, that " he will pour out his fury upon all who restrain prayer before him, and call not on his name*."]
2. Let us, in particular, exercise faith in prayer — [A man " who asks with a wavering mind, can receive
nothing of the Lordy." Believe that " he is good," according as he has said, to all who " call upon him in spirit and in truth." You are authorized to expect at his hands whatever you ask, provided the conferring of it will tend to your wel- fare, and to the honour of his name z. His promise to you is, " All things, whatsoever ye shall ask, believing, ye shall re- ceivea." " Be strong, then, in faith, giving glory to him;" and " never be straitened in yourselves, since you need never fear that ye shall be straitened in him :" for, as he is able, so is he also willing, to give you exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or even think."]
s Hab. ii. 3. ' Matt. vii. 7, 8. » Jam. iv. 2, 3.
x Jer. x. 25. v Jam. i. 6, 7. z 1 John v. 14, 15.
a Matt. xxi. 22.