cannot by searching find out God1;" who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto ; whom no man hath seen, or can seem:" and if we attempt to speak of him, we only " darken counsel by words without knowledge11."]
Having shewn in what cases this argument is valid, I proceed to mark,
II. The force of it, as here applied —
Our blessed Lord here institutes a comparison be- tween God and man, as moved by importunity to exercise kindness towards a suppliant friend. Hear,
1. His statement —
[Who amongst us, if a friend came to him, even at mid- night, for bread to set before one who had unexpectedly come from a great distance to take up his abode with him, would refuse his request? We might, probably enough, express reluctance at first, on account of the disturbance it would occa- sion to our family ; but, on his urging his request, we should grant it: though the feelings of friendship should not suffice in the first instance to produce an acquiescence in his wish, his importunity would be sure to prevail. The parallel between God and us is here so obvious, that our Lord forbears to state it ; because every one will naturally draw it for himself. For instance : will an earthly friend act thus ? What then will not our heavenly Friend do, whose love so infinitely transcends all that ever existed in a mortal bosom ? And will an earthly friend do this with such inconvenience to himself and family ; and shall his reluctance be overcome by dint of importunity ? What then will not He do, who, at whatever hour he be applied to, can experience no inconvenience, and who delights in im- portunity, as the best possible expression of our love to him ? Here the argument is clear and strong ; and such as must carry conviction to every mind. Hear then,]
2. His conclusion —
[Justly does our blessed Lord found on this statement an exhortation to us, to be in supplication urgent, and in expec- tation confident. Let us " ask" whatsoever our necessities require : let us " seek" it, too, in every way that we can devise : and, if our heavenly Friend appear inattentive to our suit, let us stand " knocking " at his door, till he come to our aid. Let us take no refusal. Of his sufficiency we can entertain no doubt ; nor should we for a moment call in question his will- ingness to help us. Delays, instead of discouraging us, should only increase the ardour of our suit : for, succeed we must.
' Job xi. 7. m 1 Tim. vi. 16. ■ Job xxxviii. 2.