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the very individuals for whom we intercede shall be made partakers of mercy. And still, in this, as in every case of intercession, the principle already laid down applies, that the question is not, does God hear and answer prayer-but, is the particular blessing asked in accordance with his will; there is absolute certainty with respect to the one; there are only degrees of probability in regard to the other.

3. But further, blessings in themselves properly spiritual, whether asked for ourselves or for others, are often, perhaps generally, associated in our petitions with circumstances which do not belong to the essence of the blessings, or which are even in actual opposition to God's method in bestowing them. In this case too, a fulfilment of our requests to the letter is not to be looked for.

There may be error in our conceptions of spiritual good, either considered in its general nature, or in its application to our own condition. Even here we must say that we know not what to pray for as we ought; we understand not fully what constitutes the real perfection of Christian character, privilege, and duty;

nor the connexions and proportions in which it is best for us that the fruits of the Spirit should be accomplished in us. We may, for example, ask for courage in situations where we have more need of humility, or for joy where we should rather be humbled on account of sin, We may earnestly desire the speedy subjugation of some ensnaring passion, while it is the purpose of God to lead us by a way which we thought not of, to discoveries which will terminate in still higher benefit to us. And thus it may be that our particular request is denied, while yet the prayer of faith that has been presented receives its return of good, and possibly by means of the very evil which we have most earnestly deprecated.

Thus Paul besought the Lord thrice that the thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan sent to buffet him, might depart from him. But it was the purpose of the Saviour to shew him, that his grace was sufficient for him, and his strength was made perfect in weakness; and this was a discovery whose value amply compensated for the disappointment given to his desires of immediate relief. Most gladly, therefore, says he, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon

me.

We may ask for spiritual blessings without respect to the connexion which God has established between means and end; we may overlook the first either in our views or in our conduct; while God in his word and providence has declared them to be indispensable to the attainment of the second. In our own salvation we seek deliverance from sin, and advancement in knowledge and holiness; but God has told us, that watchfulness, prayer, dependence, the study of his word, and other means, are necessary in order to our spiritual advancement. Now prayer does not take from us our free agency; and if, after presenting our petitions, we proceed to follow our own ways, and indulge in negligence, presumption, and worldliness of mind, our prayers shall certainly be frustrated, but the disappointment must be attributed solely to ourselves. Again; a certain order of instrumentality is necessary to the advancement of religion in the world; but if a Christian, while he prays for this object, neglect

the use of that instrumentality which God has pointed out, or employs means to promote his cause, of which God has actually marked his disapproportion in his word, he need not wonder if his prayers do not issue in the result which he desires. To deficiencies of this kind much of that want of success which is complained of, in the family, in the church, and in the various operations of Christian benevolence in the world, must, we apprehend, be attribu

ted.

Once more, it may be most in accordance with the will of God, to answer our petitions, in a manner, and at a time, different from that which it seems natural for us to specify. With regard to these circumstances it becomes us to remember always the incapacity of creatures to judge of what is best. In asking spiritual good for ourselves or advancement to the cause of God, we must not dictate to God the method or time he is to adopt in fulfilling our wishes. We must not, for example, insist upon it, as that without which our prayers are rejected, that we or others shall be benefited by means of sucha sermon or such a book, or such an individual-nor

link the cause of God with a particular ministry or a particular institution. As to the substance of our requests, God will fulfil all that he has promised us; and our petitions shall avail much even as to the special circumstances; but not beyond the limits which God may have fixed in his wider plans. When we consider our own extreme ignorance and perversity, we must reasonably expect that God's methods will often be exceedingly different from ours. We may expect that our prayers for ourselves will be answered in many cases by methods of instruction of which we never thought, but far better adapted to accomplish the results desired than those on which we calculated. Our prayers for the progress of Christ's kingdom may be answered by occurrences the most unlooked for-by times of change, and fear, and tribulation, in which our wishes may seem to be strangely thwarted, but out of which the Almighty Governor at last evolves, by the wonderful working of his power, glory to his name, and signal triumph to his cause. It must be, also, that the times which God chooses for the fulfilment of our requests should often be very different from

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