While thus stirring up themselves to trust in God, the saints pour out their souls before him in fervent prayer.  This the apostle declares to be the manner of those, whom he terms widows indeed—­they trust in God, and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.

Such was the aged Anna, who met the infant Savior, when he was brought into the temple, to do for him after the custom of the law.  “She departed not from the temple, but served God, with fastings and prayers night and day.”

The child, when in affliction, is wont to run to its parents and tell them the sad tale of its sorrows.  So the child of God, stripped of other supports, spreads its grief before him who possesses all power, and is able to deliver out of all distresses:  And as the child continues its cries and pleadings with its parent, as long as its sorrows continue; so the child of God, while it remains in affliction, perseveres in supplications and prayers to its Father in heaven.

When seeking temporal blessings the good man asks with submission, “Not as I will but as thou wilt”—­teach me to acquiesce in thy dealings and to say “thy will be done.”  But when seeking spiritual blessings, he cannot be too importunate, or persevering.  Respecting these, the divine glory, unites with his interest, in requiring him to “be instant in prayer—­to pray and not faint.”  Or, to use the bold language of the prophet, to resolve to “give God no rest,” till he hears and helps.  In such cases the saints may plead God’s honor and the glory of his great name, as well as their own necessities.

When we come to ask mercy of God, and to pray for grace to love and serve him, we may plead and expostulate for the bestowment.  Is it not thy will, that we should be renewed and sanctified—­that we should repent of sin—­believe the gospel, and follow after holiness?  Is it not thy will that we should become new creatures—­love thee—­love our duty, and resign ourselves to thy disposal?  Is it not thy will, that we should act with propriety under every trial, and discharge with faithfulness every duty—­that we should honor thee in adversity, as well as in prosperity?  Grant us then those divine influences which are necessary for us.  The honor of thy great name is concerned—­it unites with our necessities in requiting the bestowment of the mercies which we ask.

Thus did Moses when pleading for Israel, when God had threatened to destroy them for their rebellions against him.  “Now if thou kill this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the same of thee, shall speak saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore hath he slain them in the wilderness—­pardon, I beseech thee, the sin of this people, according to the greatness of thy mercy”—­So Joshua, on a similar occasion:  His plea in their behalf is urged from this consideration, that the honor of God was concerned, and required the mercy which he implored—­“What wilt thou do unto thy great name?  What?  If Israel turn their backs before their enemies?  If thy people fail to drive out their enemies and possess the land which thou hast sworn to give them?”