PART II. FAITH'S HINDRANCES IN FULLY REALIZING GOD "is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." §1. "Requiring to See1; which is Earthiness 2." THE shortcoming of Thomas's faith,-"Except I shall see I will not believe," finds more apt imitators than the fulness of his confession, "My LORD, and my GOD." The sense of sonship and of heirdom is dimmed and overlooked in the weight of cares and hopes of earth. And that it is thus practically, while the theory of Belief so widely differs, is much to be attributed to the habit of adopting verbally "the form of sound words" without examining the personal application thereof. 1 John xx. 29. 2 Mark iv. 19. The same lips which unhesitatingly join in the public petition of "general supplication,' "We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord God, and that it may please Thee to rule and govern Thy Holy Church universal in the right way," 66 in the varied tribulations which form the counted steps by which each is led "in the right way," more easily frame the prayer of anguish, "Bring my soul out of trouble"," than the acknowledgment of Faith, "Thou which hast showed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me again *." The low earthly estimate so frequently attached to the term "Happiness," is, indubitably, a great cause of fitfulness in "joy and peace in believing;" true faith should "hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope" through every phase of the mortal pathway. But when earthly gladness is looked for,-nay, as it were, demanded, as the result and reward of Faith, in Mercy and in Wisdom "with clouds He covereth the light"." 3 Ps. cxliii. 11. 4 Ps. lxxi. 20. 5 Job xxxvi. 32. Still, while GOD renders earth, as touching the hopes of earth, "the land of the shadow of death," the very depth of that shadow betokens the ineffable brightness of "His marvellous Light." The promise of JEHOVAH is ever fulfilled". "We know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him"," if we have asked in prayer, believing. But forget not the solemn and important heed required, for of him that wavereth it is written, "Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the LORD"." And even as it is recorded of the Israelites for our warning and instruction 10, "He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul "," so we are divinely taught "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth ';" "he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the SPIRIT, shall of the SPIRIT reap life everlasting. What is it to ask in prayer, believing? To "ask" implies and involves a sense of need in the petitioner, and a conviction that help is sought from "One that is Mighty." The trust exemplified in real prayer is described by the Psalmist as he speaks of prayer made unto GOD in an acceptable time, thus evincing confidence of receiving that which he asked of the LORD; and when he beseeches GOD to hear the prayer which thus ascends in faith, nothing wavering, because the multitude of God's mercy and the Truth of His Salvation are entirely believed". The necessity for such conviction of need and of succour is very obvious, since the earnestness and the sincerity of prayer must accord with the petitioner's recognition of his wants, and of the Power and Beneficence of the Divine Being to whom prayer is addressed. St. John serviceably guards us from exercising confidence of the acceptance of our prayers unless that we ask be "according to His Will':" and these words, according to His Will, should induce earnest consideration as to what requests we may make known unto GoD, "by prayer and 3 Ps. lxxxix. 19. 4 Ps. lxix. 13. 7 1 John v. 14. supplication, with thanksgiving"." "Man doth 9 99 .2 99 not live by bread only '.' 'They shall praise the LORD that seek Him"." "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly', yet ever must the prayer of Faith be controlled by the belief that God alone "knoweth what is good for man"." Thus will true prayer recognize and rest in that fundamental Truth, the Perfection and the certain Fulfilment of the Will of GOD. And the effect of this unreserved trust will be the maintenance of a joyful assurance, that "Godliness is profitable unto all things; having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come "." 4 It is however needful to guard against attaching too earthy an interpretation of the "promise" here spoken of. That it will never fail in entire fulfilment Holy Scripture distinctly teaches us 5. That GOD never has forsaken His trusting people, all who have truly sought Him testify. But the "profitable" result of Godliness is not to be judged by apparent earthly advantage. It is very true that oftentimes we 8 Phil. iv. 6. 5 Isa. lv. 11. 9 Deut. viii. 3. 6 Ps. ix. 10. |