Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/461

 "The Lord  hath  given,"  says  holy  Job,  "and  the Lord  hath  taken  away;  blest  be  the  name  of  the Lord." "We must,"  says  St.  Paul,  "give  thanks alway  for  all  things." The fifth  and  last  part  of prayer  is  petition. Our appeal  to  God  must  include a request  for  light  to  know  our  real  needs,  temporal and spiritual. " Thou  sayest,"  says  St.  John,  "  that thou  art  rich  and  are  made  wealthy  and  have  need of  nothing,  and  thou  knowest  not  that  thou  art wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and naked." Having tried  to  see  our  own  and  our  living and dead  neighbor's  wants  as  God  sees  them,  our prayer for  help  must  be  made;  first,  with  implicit trust in  God's  power  and  willingness  to  relieve  them. " Whatsoever  you  ask  when  you  pray,"  says  Christ, " believe  that  you  shall  receive  and  they  shall  come unto  you." Secondly, with  humility,  for  "  God  resisteth  the  proud  and  giveth  grace  to  the  humble." Thirdly, with  the  perseverance  of  the  widow  seeking justice, of  the  friend  wishing  to  purchase  bread,  of  the woman of  Chanaan,  or  of  St.  Paul,  who  thrice  asked the Lord  for  the  selfsame  favor. Lastly, with  fervor, for unless  the  incense  be  dropped  on  the  fire  it  will not ascend  to  the  Lord. The fiery  chariot  is  the  only vehicle to  heaven. But if,  when  all  is  over,  the  particular object  of  our  prayer  be  still  denied  us,  let  us finish  with  the  words:  "  Thy  will  be  done,"  confident of having  been  heard  by  Him  who  seeth  in  secret what things  are  really  for  our  good,  and  who  in secret  shall  reward  us. The fact  that  He  granted  the devil's request  to  enter  the  swine  and  refused  St.