s her importunity. But he
did this only to get rid of her. It, however, shows what earnestness
will do even with an unfeeling man. Here the comparison comes in. If
an unfeeling man, who has no reverence for God and no regard for the
welfare of others, can be influenced to regard the petition of a poor
widow, though from a selfish motive, because she will not be put off,
what may we not expect to do by prayer when our Father in heaven is
ever ready to hear and answer prayer? He invites us to pray. He says:
"Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in
secret, shall reward thee openly." We must by no means lose sight of
the one great point in the comparison, and that point is the widow's
EARNESTNESS. Prayer, without earnest feelings of want and dependence
upon God, is but a form of words, and no prayer at all.

But let us notice the point in her prayer: "Avenge me of mine
adversary." Who her adversary was we have no means of knowing, nor how
he became her adversary. But we are told who the Christian's adversary
is. Peter tells us in these words: "Your adversary, the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The word
AVENGE means to conquer or destroy an enemy, for the purpose of
securing tranquility to the party avenged. In this sense Moses
_avenged_ the children of Israel on the Midianites. In the same sense
Ahimaaz said: "Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the
Lord hath avenged the king of his enemies." I think you are now
prepared to understand what the Lord means by the words: "And will not
God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him? I tell you
that he will avenge them speedily."

It is now understood that the DEVIL, the very vilest and worst of all
tramps, is the Christian's adversary. But God has promised to avenge
him, if he will call upon him in that spirit of earnestness which is
deaf to denial, such as the widow had. We must not forget, however,
that God, in all he has ever done for man in the way of avenging him
of his enemies or adversaries, required man's assistance. As Paul puts
it, we are coworkers with God, and so must we ever be.

Let us now test this matter a little. God is willing to bruise Satan's
head under your feet, and thus avenge you of the worst adversary you
have ever known. He is at hand, ready, with more than twelve legions
of angels at his service, if needed. You are sorely tried. You are
tempted to commi