ut giveth grace unto the humble."
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
"Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted." Hence, if our hearts are proud, and we refuse
to humble ourselves deeply before God, he will not answer our prayers.
3. We may not desire the things we ask, that God may be glorified, but
that it may minister to our own gratification. "Ye ask, and receive not,
because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." When we
ask with such motives, we have no right to expect that God will hear our
prayers. 4. We may not be asking in faith. "But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering. For he that wavereth, is like a wave of the sea,
driven with the wind and tossed. For _let not that man think that he
shall receive_ anything of the Lord." "Without faith, it is impossible
to please God." 5. We may be exercising an unforgiving-temper; and, if
so, the Lord has declared that he will not hear our prayers. Mark 11:25,
26. Mat. 18:35.

When, therefore, you have been for some time praying for any particular
object without receiving an answer, carefully examine yourself, with
reference to these points; and wherein you find yourself deficient,
endeavor, in the strength of Christ, immediately to reform. If your
circumstances will permit, set apart a day of fasting and prayer for
this object. And, if the answer is still delayed, repeat the
examination, until you are certain that you have complied with all the
conditions of the promises.

III. _Another object of self-examination is, to ascertain the cause of
afflictions, whether spiritual or temporal._ If the Lord sends distress
upon us, or hides from us the light of his countenance, he has some good
reason for it. By reading the book of Haggai, you will discover the
principles upon which God deals with his people. If, therefore, the work
of your hands does not prosper, or, if the Lord has withdrawn from you
his special presence, be sure that something is wrong; it is time for
you to "consider your ways." In this book the Lord informs the Jews of
the cause of their poverty and distress. They had not built the house of
God. He also tells them that the silver and the gold are his; and that
he will bless them as soon as they do their duty. We are as dependent
upon God's blessing now as his people were then. If we withhold from him
what he requires of us for advancing the interests