We have encouragement to perseverance, first of all, in the assurances which relate to prayer simply considered. Let us read, then, and read as if we believed them, such passages as the following. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of him."* We have here, in the first place, a limitation, or rather, an explanation, respecting the subjects of petition; if we ask any thing according to his will; that is, if we ask in the name of Christ-ask in faith-ask blessings which God has promised to bestow, as bringing real good to men and glory to himself. This is all the limitation; and, properly speaking, it is none; it is only an explanation of what prayer must be in order to accord with the interests of those who present it. In every thing but this, the assurance is absolute and unconditional; if we ask any thing, whatsoever it be, we know both that our Father in heaven hears us, and that we have the petitions which we have desired of him. ances: While this explanation must be kept in view, we find that in most other passages of Scripture-as if to mark that the chief danger is of our not asking or believing unreservedly enough -the language employed has no qualification at all, and promises blessings without any expressed restrictions. Attend to the following assur"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."* These delightful words were spoken by our Lord for the consolation of his * John xiv. 13, 14.—xv. 7, 16.-xvi. 24. disciples in the prospect of his departure; and he has since ascended to that throne of dominion on which he forever reigns, with all power in heaven and in earth, to accomplish the promises on which he has caused us to hope. 66 Further, consider the import of the following passages: Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”* "The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."† "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." The power and * Matt. xviii. 19, 20. † James, v. 16-18. not."* willingness of God to bless in answer to prayer, are mentioned as an encouragement to it. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus."+ Secondly, perseverance in prayer is encouraged by assurances which expressly point to it with commendation and promise. In the passage which forms our text there are two grounds of encouragement that may be more particularly noticed. The first is the very circumstance, that we have a part of the word of God which specially advises us of the temptations to fainting in prayer, and warns us against giving way to them. It affords us encouragement, because it bids us remember, when difficulty meets us, that we are not in circumstances strange and unprovided for, which would argue that he who invited us to pray, spoke without knowledge of the counsels of God, and promised without a + Eph. iii. 20, 21. * Jer. xxxiii. 3. warrant. It intimates the very contrary; it proves Christ's perfect acquaintance with the difficulties of the human spirit in its intercourse with God, and with the aspect which his providential administration would often bear to his people. We have thus the direction and the presence of the Saviour with us when actually placed in circumstances which tempt us to despond; and are encouraged still to pray and not faint, in the assurance that a time when prayer shall be answered shall certainly arrive. The second ground of encouragement is the special promise which the passage with its context contains, of certain success to importunity in asking. Read the parable which the text introduces. Here was a most unpromising case of application: a widow, defenceless and destitute of all means either of persuading or compelling to grant her petition, making request to a judge who feared not God nor regarded man. Yet by dint of mere importunity she prevailed. The parable teaches this lesson, that, taking the lowest possible estimate of the willingness and liberality of God, a persevering suppliant must certainly succeed. And how 1 |