The mother does not cast off her sick or feeble child. Its very weakness and weariness is an additional argument for her care and love, and draws her heart closer than ever to the bed of the tiny sufferer! David knew well that God, who had ever dealt with him "as one whom his mother comforteth," would not (unless for some wise reason) leave him to despondency. Looking to this immutable Covenant-Jehovah, and lifting his voice high above the water-floods, he thus, in impassioned prayer, pleads "the causes of his soul:"--"_In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Thy righteousness. Bow down Thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be Thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for Thou art my strength. Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth._"[93] [93] Psalm xxxi. 1-5. 3. The Psalmist _takes his_ SPECIAL TROUBLE _to God, and makes it the subject of prayer_. He names in the Divine presence the cause of his deepest perplexity. "_As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me, while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?_"[94] [94] Verse 10. "Generalities," says a good man, "are the death of prayer." The loftiest privilege the believer can enjoy is the confidential unburdening of his wants into the ear of a _Father_. Just as a child can freely unbosom to a parent what he can do to no one else, so are we permitted to tell into the ear of our Father in heaven whatever may be the heart-sorrow with which a stranger (often a friend) dare not intermeddle. See the _speciality_ in the Psalmist's confession of his sin. It is not the _general_ acknowledgment of a sinner. It is rather an humbled penitent carrying _one_ deep crimson-stain to the mercy-seat; bringing _it_, and _it alone_, as if for the moment he had to deal respecting _it_ only with the great Heart-searcher. "MY _sin_ is ever before me." "I have done _this_ evil in Thy sight." "Wash me from _mine iniquity_, and cleanse me from _my sin_." "I said, I will confess _my transgressions_, and Thou forgavest the iniquity of _my sin_."[95] [95] Psalms li. and xxxii. Let us not think that we can ever have comfort in merging individual sins in a _general_ confession. This is the great and pre-eminent advantage of secret closet-prayer. Social prayer and public prayer are eminently means of securing the Divine blessing; but it is in the quiet of the chamber, when no eye and ear are on us but that of "our Father that seeth in secret," that we can bring our secret burdens to His altar,--crucify our secret sins, acknowledge the peculiar sources of our weakness and temptation, and get special grace to help us in our times of need.