consider Adam after the fall as summoned into the presence of his Maker, and as having the same liberty accorded to him as had been vouchsafed to these favoured servants of the Deity ; if we suppose the Almighty saying to him, in like manner as to Solomon, " Ask what I shall give thee," in order to the restoration of thyself and all thy descendants to my favour ; and then as permitting him to offer successive requests in the form of a dialogue with the Deity, after the manner of Abraham ; we shall behold the grace of God in a most astonishing point of view ; and, I may add, in a point of view which will fill all our souls with gratitude and praise. But I must again entreat that my statement may not be misconstrued, as bearing the least appearance of irreverence : for I again say, that I would on no account whatever utter a single expression that should be justly open to such a reproach. But, indeed, my statement shall not be mis-apprehended, if only you will bear in mind what we ourselves, under the New-Testament dispensation, are autho- rized to do in our approaches to God, and to expect at his gracious hands. Our blessed Lord has ex- pressly said to us, " Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto youy." And St. Paul, to encourage our boldness and confidence in prayer, assures us, that " God is able, and doubtless willing too, to do exceeding abundantly for us, above all that we can ask or think2:" so that, in fact, God says to us, " Ask of me all that your necessities require ; and when language fails you, stretch your imagination to the uttermost, in order to comprehend all that can, by any possibility, be desirable for you ; and I will do it ; I will do it all ; I will do above all ; I will do abundantly above all ; I will do exceeding abun- dantly above all, even above all that you can ask or even think :" " open your mouth ever so wide, I will fill itV
Now with this cautious and laboured endeavour to bespeak your candid reception of my statement, I
y John xv. 7. z Eph. iii. 20. a Ps. Ixxxi. 10.