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?"

We may use the same argument when interceding for the grace which we
need to