O Lord, look upon mine adversity and
misery, which call aloud to Thee for ease.
O, most gracious God, my pains are extreme;
have pity on me, and lighten them. In
Thine anger, which I have deserved, remem-
ber mercy, and consider my feebleness and
frailty. I have waited for Thy relief,
Father; give me the comforts of it. show
me Thy mercy, and speedily, for my need is
great. Send me seasonable help and strength
now, and everlasting rest with Thee in the
end: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This is God allowing Himself to be God. This is God in His own freewill rightly exercising sovereignty over a creation that belongs exclusively to Him. This is saying God’s sovereignty tops man’s freewill. This is God in His mercy choosing to not allow the whole world to perish, but rather calling some to Himself entirely on the basis of His grace.
Randy Smith