nishes, for diligent and constant prayer; and secondly the sense in which we should understand the moral of the parable, “ that men ought always to pray and not to faint."

I. With regard to the first point; what are the arguments furnished by the parable to encourage us in diligent and constant prayer?

The end of our prayers undoubtedly is that we may gain the things we pray for. Now consider the parable; and see, what assurances it gives us, that we shall receive what we pray for, if we pray and faint

66

“There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, nor regarded man:" a man of such a character as this; without religion or humanity; without fear of what might happen to him either in this world or in another;-such a man, I say, might not be thought likely to exert himself in behalf of a poor destitute suppliant. Nei

M 4

ther a sense of justice nor of compassion could be expected to affect him. But who now is the judge, with whom we have to do? It is God; a most merciful Judge, and a most tender and affectionate Father: who is not only just and good, but is justice and goodness itself: and who must therefore be as much, nay infinitely more disposed, to grant our petitions, than the unjust judge could have been to reject those offered to him.

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary." The person represented as applying to the judge for relief, was a widow and oppressed and was therefore the less likely to engage an unprincipled man in her favour. We too are destitute and unable to protect ourselves: but our weak and distressed state, so far from being an obstacle to the success of our petitions, is indeed a passport and a recommendation of us to God," whose eyes consider the poor, and who loves to help the meek upon earth."

"And the judge would not for a while :" it was not agreeable to his selfish disposition to relieve the poor widow; it might have given him some trouble to relieve her; and so he refused to interfere in her cause. But the poor widow was not to be thus rejected. She felt her distress and weakness too nearly to submit to be repulsed so easily: she therefore persevered and was earnest in urging her suit; and at length" the judge said within himself, Though I fear not God nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."

See now what was the conduct of the widow! and "hear what the unjust judge saith!" She was rejected; yet she persevered, and at length her petition was granted.

And shall not we persevere, and will not God grant our petitions? Is he not so kind that he is always willing to do it; though for wise purposes he may for a time seem to refuse? Is he not so power

ful, that it is as easy for him to grant as to deny them? Instead of casting us from him, does he not invite us to him? Instead of saying that he will not relieve us, does he not promise that he will, and that he will" give all good things to them that ask him" in his Son's name?

Many words here would be unnecessary; for a few will sufficiently express the sum of what is to be said upon this part of the subject. We all know that we want many things, which we feel that we are too weak to be able to procure for ourselves. We know that God is all-powerful; and that he alone therefore can supply our wants: -that he is good and full of compassion, and is therefore willing to supply them :that he has accordingly promised to supply them, as far as may be for our benefit; and that he is faithful and just and true, and therefore will supply them.

We know on the other hand that he has appointed a condition, which we must ob

Matt. vii. 11. John xvi. 23.

:

serve, if we would have our wants supplied by him and that the same truth and justice, upon which we ground our confidence that he will fulfil his promise, and grant what we want, if we observe the condition; will also prevent him from assisting us, if we do not observe it. The condition is that we " always pray and faint not.'

Now, knowing these things, (and it is to be presumed that we all do know them,) it must be folly in us to expect that we shall have what we want from God, if we do not ask him as he has appointed; and it must be something worse than folly, a stupid blindness to our own interest, and a certain mad contempt of him and of his power, if we refuse or neglect to ask him.

Such was not the conduct of the poor widow. She felt that she was distressed, and was not able to help herself; she knew that the unjust judge was able to help her; she thought that by perseverance she should prevail upon him to help her; she persevered therefore, beseeching him, we may be sure, with all her heart; and at length