that our asking is the thing that influences God to do.  And further, that many times persistent, continued asking is necessary to induce God to do.  And the usual explanation for this need of persistence is that God is testing our faith, and seeking to make certain changes in us, before granting our requests.  This explanation is without doubt quite true, in part.  Yet the thing to mark is that it explains only in part.  And when the whole circle of truth is brought into view, this explanation is found to cover only a small part of the whole.

We seem to learn best about God by analogies.  The analogy never brings all there is to be learned.  Yet it seems to be the nearest we can get.  From what we know of ourselves we come to know Him.

Will you notice how men give?  Among those who give to benevolent enterprises there are three sorts of givers, with variations in each.

There is the man who gives because he is influenced by others.  If the right man or committee of men call, and deftly present their pleas, playing skillfully upon what may appeal to him; his position; his egotism; the possible advantage to accrue; what men whom he wants to be classed with are doing, and so on through the wide range that such men are familiar with; if they persist, by and by he gives.  At first he seems reluctant, but finally gives with more or less grace.  That is one sort of giver.

There is a second sort:  the man of truly benevolent heart who is desirous of giving that he may be of help to other men.  He listens attentively when pleas come to him, and waits only long enough to satisfy himself of the worth of the cause, and the proper sort of amount to give, and then gives.

There is a third sort, the rarest sort.  This second man a stage farther on, who takes the initiative.  He looks about him, makes inquiries, and thinks over the great need in every direction of his fellow men.  He decides where his money may best be used to help; and then himself offers to give.  But his gift may be abused by some who would get his money if they could, and use it injudiciously, or otherwise than he intends.  So he makes certain conditions which must be met, the purpose of which is to establish sympathetic relations in some particular with those whom he would help.  An Englishman’s heart is strongly moved to get the story of Jesus to the inland millions of Chinese.  He requests the China-Inland Mission to control the expenditure of almost a million dollars of his money in such a way as best to secure the object in his heart.  An American gives a large sum to the Young Men’s Christian Association of his home city to be expended as directed.  His thought is not to build up this particular organization, but to benefit large numbers of the young men of his town who will meet certain conditions which he thinks to be for their good.  He has learned to trust this organization, and so it becomes his trustee.