What multitudes of prayers we have put up from the first moment when
we learned to pray. Our first prayer was a prayer for ourselves; we asked
that God would have mercy upon us, and blot out our sin. He heard us. But
when He had blotted out our sins like a cloud, then we had more prayers
for ourselves. We have had to pray for sanctifying grace, for constraining
and restraining grace; we have been led to crave for a fresh assurance
of faith, for the comfortable application of the promise, for deliverance
in the hour of temptation, for help in the time of duty, and for succour
in the day of trial. We have been compelled to go to God for our souls,
as constant beggars asking for everything. Bear witness, children of God,
you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All
the bread your soul has eaten has come down from heaven, and all the water
of which it has drank has flowed from the living rock--Christ Jesus the
Lord. Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner
upon the daily bounty of God; and hence your prayers have ascended to heaven
for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were innumerable,
and therefore the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers
have been as varied as the mercies have been countless. Then have you not
cause to say, "I love the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my supplication"?
For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God's answers to
them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and
helped you, even when you dishonoured Him by trembling and doubting at
the mercy-seat. Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude
to God, who has thus graciously heard your poor weak prayers. "Bless the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."
