Page:Query in the Gospel Magazine for October M.DCC.LXXI (1783).pdf/9

( 9 ) mouth for thirſt, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Jacob will not forſake them. This evidently proves, that ſuch afflictions are not to be underſtood as judgements; for, in caſe of judgements, God would not hear, and would certainly forſake, contrary to that gracious declaration, "I the Lord will hear them, even when they cannot cry to me." When the tongue of prayer cleaves to the roof of their mouths, the Lord will hear their wants and diſtreſſes. Thoſe afflictions muſt need be ſalutary which ſtir up our beloved to come to our aſſiſtance. Moreover, there appears the ſame neceſſity of our being caught our incapacity for prayer as for believing, as the power and ſpirit of both are equally from God, and ſolely dependent on divine influences. But how ſhall a man know this experimentally, without being left in the greateſt neceſſity, ſometimes incapable of the exerciſe of prayer? for a man who never felt an abſolute incapacity for prayer in the time of need, to confeſs, "That we know not how to pray as we ought that we are not ſufficient of ourſelves to think any thing as of ourſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God," approaches too near to hypocriſy, for God to allow it in his own children. Although baſtards and heathens may be ſuffered to go on with their vain unmeaning repetitions, it will not be ſo with the children; for the great Prophet will teach them their total incapacity for prayer and every thing that is good.

Whatſoever, therefore, brings us to a ſenſe of our own ignorance, folly, incapacity, ſin, and wretchedneſs; whatſoever tends to break every bruiſed reed, upon which we are apt to lean, to pull down every lying refuge, in which we are prone to truſt; whatſoever tends to raze every ſandy