The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

IxjlSERMONS.Goc> by reafon of their tafk-mailers, God faw tlieiraffli6lion, and heard their cry. I proceed to the nexthead of difcourfe, which is to fhow,4. That it is the duty and confolation of an afflidledpeople to cry unto God*Prayer is the duty of men at all times, efpeciallyin a time of diftrefs : Affliction fhould bring men toGod ; it ever had, and ever will have, this effect uponthe faithful .; and when they cry to God, they arecomforted. This is manifeft from the hiftory of faintsin holy fcripture ; it is manifeft alfo from the experienceof every devout man. When the righteous cryto God in faith, he either makes affliction to fit lightupon them, or elfe comes to deliver them from it.When the Ifraeiites " fighed and cried by reafon oftheir bondage, God heard their groaning, and rememberedhis covenant." And I may here take notice,that the Ifraeiites in Egypt cried to God, becaufe hehad given them particular ground to expecl deliverance.Good old Jacob had, in his laft moments, affuredthem of it ": Behold," fays ^e/ ^' I die ; butGod fliall be with you, and bring you again unto th6land of your fathers." Alfo the patriarch Jofeph hadfaid unto them, " I die ; and God will furely vifityou, and bring you out of this land." It was faith,founded on thefe aflurances, that difpofed the Ifraeiitesto cry to God in hope of deliverance. You, myfriends, v/ho complain of being in grievous diftrefs,you have no particular prediction from heaven ; norcan you hope, like tlie Ifraeiites, to be delivered in amiraculous manner *, but you have numberlefs promifesof the faithful God, that he " will deliver theneedy v^hen he crieth *,the poor alfo, and him thathath no helper. He will regard the prayer of the