the more numerous offences we have committed, which it is incumbent on us to confess in humble prostration at his feet; and the still more great and numerous blessings which we need, and without which we are undone for time and eternity; we shall find inducements in abundance from these sources, to continue instant and carnest in prayer. At the same

time, the numberless necessities of our fellow men are pressing upon us, and all urging us to the mercy seat. The world is lying in wickedness around us. Many portions are literally covered with darkness, and filled with misery and death. The strong man armed keeps his palace, and his goods are in peace. The cruel god of this world reigns almost without a rival, and his infatuated servants choose to have it so. What then can be done? God alone can dispossess him, and he will be inquired of by his children to do this for them. Let them then approach his throne, in humble, fervent, persevering prayer. From the high encouragement which he has granted them let them take encouragement, and literally give him no more rest, until he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the whole earth.

"It shan't be said that praying breath
"Was ever spent in vain."

8*

DISCOURSE VIII.

ON PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER.

Luke xviii. 1.

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to fuint."

ONE of the greatest hindrances to prayer is the disposition so often manifested to become discouraged in it. Christians feel their need perhaps of a particular favor; feel that it must come from God; and go to him with humility and earnestness. But because for wise reasons he does not see fit immediately to grant their requests, and is pleased to try them with difficulties and delay; they become discouraged, lose their engagedness, and give way to the false and paralizing impressions that prayer is a vain service.

Our Saviour was well acquainted with this propensity of our fallen natures, and to counteract it, uttered the parable alluded to in the text. Under the similitude of an unjust judge, who was overcome by the importunity of a disregarded but injured widow, and induced to do her justice, he shews the certainty that the just Judge of all the earth will not be deaf to the importunate cries of his beloved people. "Shall not God avenge his own elect which cry unto him day and night, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily."

In my remarks on this subject, I propose,

I. To shew, that God has in numerous instances delayed for a time to answer the requests of his praying people. And

II. To exhibit the probable reasons for this particular feature of his administration.

The first instance I shall mention, in which God has delayed the requests of his people, is that of the Israelites in Egypt. No doubt there were pious, praying souls in the land of Egypt, during the whole residence of the children of Israel in that country. These were aware, probably, that their present bondage had been foretold, and their deliverance promised, unto their father Abraham; and they were waiting with many prayers, and tears, and groans, for the fulfillment of the precious promise. Prayer after prayer was offered up, and prayer meeting after prayer meeting perhaps attended, to plead the faithfulness of their covenant God, and implore deliverance at his hands. Yet, how long he was pleased to try them with delay ? It was not till four dismal centuries had moved slowly away, in the course of which innumerable distresses and hardships were endured, and generation after generation went weeping to the dust, that their all powerful Deliverer was heard to declare, "I have seen, I have seen-the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning and their cry, and am come down to deliver them."

We have a similar instance in the descendants of this same people, during their captivity at Babylon. Among the captives at Babylon, there were certainly a considerable number who were truly and eminently pious. Here was Daniel; here was Ezekiel ;) here were the youths who passed through the fiery furnace; here were Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel,

Jeshua, and doubtless many others of a similar character. It was no secret to these persons, that God had delivered them into the hand of the king of Babylon for their sins, and had expressly promised their restoration; and they were much in prayer to him for this desirable event. The prayers of Daniel and Nehemiah relative to this subject, we find recorded in the volume of inspiration.* These should probably be regarded as no more than specimens of the humble confessions and fervent cries of the people of God in those distressing times. Yet, to no less than sevent y years, could their painful captivity be limited.

One

long age, with all its incidents and woes, must pass over their desolate land and ruined temple, before their prayers could be answered, and their deliverance effected.

God delayed for a long time to answer the prayers of his waiting people, in regard to the coming of the Messiah. Soon after the fall of our first parents, a Saviour was promised. This promise in subsequent ages was often repeated, and clearer and brighter intimations of his future appearing and kingdom were given. On this expected Saviour, the eyes and hearts of all the ancient believers were fixed; and his coming was with them an object, not only of faith, but of fervent desire and unceasing prayer. Who can tell, how many holy desires were felt, and how many prayers were offered up, that the expected Messenger might come speedily to his temple, and that the Lord would visit and redeem his people ?> Yet how long this promised Saviour was delayed? Four thousand years must roll over the waiting earth -more than twice the period which has elapsed since the commencement of the Christian era-before the

* See Dan. ix. and Neh. i.

promises could be fulfilled, or the expectations of God's people be realized and their prayers heard, in the actual coming and kingdom of their beloved Lord.

The primitive Christians experienced a distressing delay, in regard to the expected overthrow of idolatry, and the triumphs of the gospel.-At the period of our Savior's advent, the vast Roman empire had extended itself over the civilized world. This was

an idolatrous, persecuting government, under which Christ himself was crucified, and multitudes of his early disciples were slain. It had been revealed to the apostles, and through them to the Church, that this great and bloody empire would at some period "be taken out of the way." It was implied also in numerous predictions and declarations of the sacred books, that the religion of Christ was to take its place and prevail over the civilized earth. Here then was an object of expectation and prayer, presented to the minds of the primitive believers; and when we reflect how much they were exposed, and how much they suffered, from the persecuting power of the Romans, and how deeply they were interested in the promised subversion of this power by the growing kingdom of their Lord, it will be readily conceived that their prayers would be fervent and persevering. Yet these fervent prayers were not soon answered. Century after century passed away, while the flames of persecution continued to rage, and all methods of torture were exhausted upon the bodies of the defenceless saints-while the people of God were crying to him for deliverance, and the very souls under the heavenly altar are represented as pleading, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth,"—and