3OO HELPLESSNESS OF MAN. any thing like merit to produce, our only true, and our only acceptable plea, is our utter want both of claim. and merit - is the utter destitution of all that can recommend us ; yet we presume to ask favour, when we deserve nothing but rejection ; we are encouraged to ask for eternal happiness, when we de- serve only eternal punishment. Though we have nothing to produce but dis- loyalty,, we ask for the privileges of subjects ; though nothing but disobe- dience to offer, we plead the privileges of children--we implore the tenderness of a father. In dependence on God there is no- thing abject ; in attendance on Him, no- thing servile. He never, like the great ones of the world, receives the suitor with a petrifying frown, or, what is worse, never dismisses him with a cruel smile and a false promise. Even if the petitioner to human power escape the vexation of being absolutely rejected ; even if his suit be granted,
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