sufficient to convince us of this most interesting truth, he appeals to
the tenderest sympathies of our natures. He asks if any father would
insult the hungry cries of his beloved son, when fainting for a morsel
of bread, by giving him a stone; or, if he ask an egg, to gratify his
appetite, will he give him a venomous scorpion, to sting him to
death?[B] He then argues, that if sinful men exercise tender compassion
towards their children, how much more shall our heavenly Father, whose
very nature is love, regard the wants of his children who cry unto him.
Is it possible to conceive a stronger expression of the willingness of
God to answer the prayers of his people?

[Footnote B: The scorpion is a little animal, of the shape of an egg,
whose sting is deadly poison.]

And these precious promises are confirmed by striking examples, in every
age of the church. Thus, Abraham prayed for Sodom; and, through his
intercession, Lot was saved. His servant, when sent to obtain a wife for
Isaac, received a direct answer to prayer. When Jacob heard that his
brother Esau was coming against him, with an army of four hundred men,
he wrestled all night in prayer, and prevailed; so that Esau became
reconciled to him. Moses prayed for the plagues to come upon Egypt, and
they came; again, he prayed for them to be removed, and they were
removed. It was through his prayers that the Red Sea was divided, the
manna and the quails were sent, and the waters gushed out of the rock
And through his prayers, many times, the arm of the Lord was stayed,
which had been uplifted to destroy his rebellious people. Samuel, that
lovely example of early piety, and the judge and deliverer of Israel,
was given in answer to the prayer of his mother. When the children of
Israel were in danger of being overthrown by the Philistines, Samuel
prayed, and God sent thunder and lightning, and destroyed the armies of