before the persecutions of pagan Rome were at an end, and the religion of Jesus, possessing in triumph the throne of the Cesars, became the religion of the civilized world.

It may be observed again, that God delayed for a long time to answer the prayers of his distressed people, in regard to the reformation from Popery.-It was soon discovered, after the government of Rome had passed into the hands of Christians, that the possession of power was likely to prove far more injurious to them than the want of it. A secular spirit began to discover itself, particularly among the clergy; bishops became princes rather than pastors; and the holy duties of religion were neglected, for the pageantry, pomp, and parade of the world. This wicked spirit continued to increase, and to display itself in the Church of God, till it issued in the creation of an ecclesiastical tyranny, the most astonishing and cruel that the world ever saw. From about the eighth to the sixteenth century, was emphatically a season of spiritual bondage. "Darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people." The professed followers and Ministers of Jesus, were in many instances no better than infuriated bigots, before whom every thing fair, and holy, and lovely, withered and fell. Still there were a few, during the whole of this painful period, who wept in secret places over the desolations of Zion, and waited and prayed for a brighter day. It may be said of them, as it has been

of their Divine Master,

"Cold mountains and the midnight air,

"Witnessed the fervor of their prayer."

In deserts, in dens, and in caves of the earth, they were accustomed to assemble, that they might enjoy

Ramolested the worship of their God, and plead with him for a reformation.-Their prayers were answered; but not till after a long delay. Centuries of suffering and sorrow must elapse; generation after generation went down to the dust; and cruelties innumerable and unparallelled were endured; before the chains of darkness were broken, and the long expected reformation burst upon the world.

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That feature of the Divine administration which the instances here referred to are fitted to illustrate, it may be thought is a very mysterious one. God loves his people with an everlasting love, feels tenderly for them in all their afflictions, and is bound, by promise and by oath, to seek their good. "He that toucheth you," saith he, "toucheth the apple of mine eye." Why then, when they cry to him for help, should he not immediately answer? Why should he delay, age after age, and century after century? Or why should he delay at all?

1. One probable reason for these delays is, that he may try the faith and affection of his people. It is of great importance to the saints that they be pro-perly tried; and in his various dealings with them, God seems to have kept this object specially in view. He detained Israel forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble them, and prove them, to know what was in their heart." And he suffered numbers of the Canaanites to remain in the promised land, "that through them he might prove his people, whether they would keep the way of the Lord or not.". Should God never try the faith of, his saints, how could it be known by creatures that they possessed any real faith? Or should he never put their love to the test, how could it appear that their affection was genuine? The trial of their graces is also necessary

to their growth in grace. It is in this way usually that the dross and tin are purged from their charac ters, and the heavenly treasure is made to shine. "The trial of their faith is more precious there fore than that of gold that perisheth, that it might be found unto praise and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ."-Here then we discover a good reason why God should delay for a time, and in particular instances for a long time, to answer the requests of his praying people. It is that he may try their faith, prove their love, exhibit them to the created universe in the most lovely attitude, and promote their highest spiritual good.

2. God may delay for a time to hear and answer the prayers of his people, in order to impress upon them more deeply their dependence. A deep and has bitual sense of this is of the utmost importance to the saints, and may be regarded indeed as one of the first and most efficient principles of the spiritual life. But should God uniformly bestow particular favors in the very time and manner which his people desire, would there be no reason to apprehend that their sense of dependence on him might be diminished, if not lost? Would it not ultimately come to this, that creatures would exalt themselves higher than God; would regard him as their servant, rather than their sovereign; and feel that the blessings they received from him were their own, and of their own procuring ?-It is doubtless important, that God should in many instances delay to answer the requests of his people, that he might the more deeply impress upon them his sovereignty, and their dependence; and shew them effectually, that they must come to him for all they need, and be grateful to him for all they receive.

3. God may delay for a time to answer the prayers of his people, that he may by this means excite them to more prayer.-Though prayer is of all services the most delightful, and honourable, and, perhaps important; still, it is one which proud and sinful men are strangely backward to perform. They need to be quickened to it by various motives, and by the continual pressure of their wants. Were the prayers of God's people immediately answered; were their wants at once supplied and their desires gratified; there would be danger at least that prayer with them would be restrained. How many prayers were probably offered up by the Israelites in Egypt, which never would have been offered up, had their first cry for deliverance been heard? And what a spirit of prayer must have been at times excited, in regard to the expected coming of Christ, which never could have been excited, had he made his appearance the moment he was desired? By delaying for a time the requests of his people now, God excites in them a spirit of prayer, and leads them to a humble and persevering practice of this inportant duty. I add,

4. God may delay for a time to answer the requests of his children, that he may the better prepare them to receive his favors.-When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they were expecting and praying to enter directly into Canaan; but they were far from being prepared to enter there. Had that generation, with all their evil and idolatrous propensities, been ushered directly into Canaan, they would soon have become as corrupt as the Canaanites themselves.-And so it is very frequently with Christians now. They pray and plead for a particular favor, when their heavenly Father sees they are not prepared to receive it; and when, should he be

stow it in the manner they desire, it would be a means of injuring if not destroying them. He must first try and prove them with difficulties and delay, and thus prepare them for a blessing. He must so chasten and humble them', promote their experience, and establish their hearts with heavenly grace, that his favors may not lift them up to their own destruction.

The important lesson, friends and brethren, which I hope we may all learn from this discourse, is that suggested by our Saviour in the text;-"We ought always to pray and not to faint." We should learn to be fervent and persevering in our prayers.-We may perhaps have children, relatives, or friends, for whose spiritual welfare we feel sincerely desirous, and for whose conversion we have often prayed. But God has seen fit to delay an answer.-Or we may have felt our need of a general revival of religion; and may have gone to God, day after day, to plead his promises and grace, and to implore that he would visit us with the special influences of his Holy Spirit Still these influences are withholden, and no symptoms of life or motion are witnessed among the spir itually dead.-But we ought not to feel under such circumstances as though any strange thing had happened unto us, or allow ourselves to become discouraged and negligent in prayer. This is the way, we have seen, in which God has dealt with his people in other ages, and in respect to other things. He has for wise and holy reasons delayed to answer their requests; and for such reasons, no doubt, he is delaying to answer ours. He is purposing to try our faith, and prove the sincerity and ardor of our love; or to teach us more effectually our dependence, and bring us nearer to himself; or to humble and establish our wayward hearts, and thus prepare us for the