our own. We have invited a person to come and receive some great benefit : and he no sooner comes into our presence, than he betrays a doubt about our sincerity, and a suspicion that we intend to disappoint him. Should we be pleased with such a person ? Should we feel disposed to extend our benefits tc him in such a state ? In what light God regards such persons, he himself has told us : he interprets all doubts of his power, or willingness to supply the necessities of his people, as a high provocation ; an insult, that kindles his wrath against every person that indulges them s : and he warns us, that every prayer offered in such a spirit shall be disregarded ; and that it will be in vain for such a suppliant to expect any thing at his hands h. Hence the command to all who would find acceptance to their prayers, is, to " lift up holy hands without wrath or doubtingK"]
2. With it, no prayer even for the greatest blessing can fail —
[Faith honours every perfection of the Deity : his power, his love, his faithfulness are all acknowledged, when we go to him in a firm expectation that he will fulfil his promises. Hence to such suppliants he gives a liberty to " ask for what- soever they will," and assures them, that he will fulfil all their petitions k. He does not indeed bind himself to any particular time or manner of answering their prayers : he may see fit to defer his answer for a considerable time ; but he will not delay beyond the best time1. He may also withhold the particular blessing that is asked ; but he will give a better in its stead ; as when he refused Moses his permission to go into the land of Canaan, but gave him a sight of Canaan, and then took him up to heaven™. He may also continue the affliction which we desire to have removed : but he will give us grace to bear it ; and will glorify himself by means of it ; which, in the eyes of every real saint, will be incomparably better than the removal of itn. It is possible enough that his people under particular circumstances may think that he has not answered their prayer ; as for instance, when they have been praying for spiritual benefits, and he has sent them temporal calamities : but the truth is, that he makes their " tribulation to work the very blessings they have sought for, namely, patience, and experi- ence, and hope ;" and it is not till long afterwards that they see how mysteriously, yet how graciously, he has answered their petitions. There is but one limit to their petitions,
e Ps. lxxviii. 19—22, 40, 41. h Jam. i. 5—7.
1 1 Tim. ii. 8. k John xiv. 13, 14. xv. 7. and xvi. 24.
1 Luke xviii. 7. m Deut. hi. 25, 26. with xxxiv. 4, 5.
n 2 Cor. xii. 7— P.