despair and death. But if there be, then I can hope that there is a
meaning in my misery; that it comes to me not without cause, even though
that cause be my own fault. I can plead with God like poor Job of old,
even though in wild words like Job; and ask--What is the meaning of this
sorrow? What have I done? What should I do? "I will say unto God, Do
not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Surely I
would speak unto the Almighty, and desire to reason with God."

"I would speak unto the Almighty, and desire to reason with God." Oh my
friends, a man, I believe, can gain courage and wisdom to say that, only
by the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

But when once he has said that from his heart, he begins to be justified
by faith. For he has had faith in God; he has trusted God enough to
speak to God who made him; and so he has put himself, so far at least,
into his just and right place, as a spiritual and rational being, made in
the image of God.

But more, he has justified God. He has confessed that God is not a mere
force or law of nature; nor a mere tyrant and tormentor: but a reasonable
being, who will hear reason, and a just being, who will do justice by the
creatures whom He has made.

And so the very act of prayer justifies God, and honours God, and gives
glory to God; for it confesses that God is what He is, a good God, to
whom the humblest and the most fallen of His creatures dare speak out the
depths of their abasement, and acknowledge that His glory is this--That
in spite of all His majesty, He is one who heareth prayer; a being as
magnificent in His justice, as He is magnificent in His majesty and His
might.