well know that persons pretend to found their doubts on their own unworthiness : but this is a mere fallacy : for every man is unworthy : and, if unworthiness be such a disqualification as deprives a man of all right to expect the blessing in answer to his prayers, then no man living has any right to expect the blessing ; and the promise of God is a mere nullity. Our need of wisdom is supposed in the very petition that is offered for it : and the more deeply we feel our need of it, the more willingly and more largely will God confer it upon us. In praying for it therefore, we are to ask, not on the ground of any fancied worthiness in us, but on the sole ground of its having been freely promised to us : and, in that view, we must lift up our hands, " as without wrath, so also without doubting0."]
2. Its certain efficiency to the desired end —
[In some circumstances, the fulfilment of the promise seems to exceed all reasonable hope, if not the limits of pos- sibility itself. But in proportion as it seems to exceed hope, we are to " believe in hope," just as Abraham did, when the promise was given to him of a posterity as numerous as the stars of heavenp. Our blessed Lord has taught us this in a very striking manner. To his disciples, who expressed their surprise that the fig-tree, which he had cursed, should wither away in one single night, he said, " Have faith in God: for verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this moun- tain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea ; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto, " What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have themq." The truth is, that God, if I may so say, feels his own honour implicated in fulfilling his own word : and therefore, if not for our sakes, yet for his own name's sake, " he will ac- complish the thing which hath gone out of his mouth." Yet not for his own sake only will he do it, but for our sakes also: for, " them that honour him he will honour."]
Address —
1. Those who are unconscious of their need of wisdom —
[Though men are sensible enough of their ignorance in relation to human sciences, they almost universally fancy them- selves competent to decide every thing relating to their faith or practice. But very pointed is that declaration of Solomon, " He that trusteth in his own heart is a foolr." Respecting
0 1 Tim. ii. 8. p Rom. iv. 18—20.
i Mark xi. 22 — 24. r Prov. xxviii. 26.