heathen, what pains and penances do not they undergo to ob- tain the favour of their gods ! Yet no such things are required of us: we have nothing to do, but to ^' ask, and seek, and knock." Surely we should rejoice in so great a privilege, and determine to " take the kingdom of heaven by the holy violence " of faith and prayer.
But some are discouraged, because they cannot pray with any fluency or enlargement of heart. Let not this however distress the minds of any. It is humility, and not fluency, that makes our prayers acceptable : and many a person who can only seek the Lord with sighs, and groans, and tears, will find acceptance with him, whilst others, who are admired by men, or filled with self-complacency, will be rejected. Never, from the foundation of the world, was there a better prayer than that of the publican, " God be merciful to me a sinner!"
But some are discouraged because they have prayed long without receiving any answer to their prayers. Let not, how- ever, any despond on this account. God may have answered them, though not precisely in the way that they expected : and the very continuance of their prayers is an evidence that they have not prayed in vain. It is evident at least that God has given them his Holy Spirit, as a Spirit of grace and of suppli- cation ; and this is a pledge and earnest of other blessings which they stand in need of. Let them " tarry the Lord's leisure, and he will comfort their hearts;" "let them Wciit, I say, upon the Lord^"]
1 See Isai. xl. 30, 31. exemplified by Luke xi. 1 — 4. and xviii. 1—7.