Nor, if in his wisdom He did do so, can I think that men's prayers would hinder that which his wisdom had seen to be good and right.
But though I do not believe in exhibitions of God's anger, I do believe in exhibitions of his mercy.

When men by their folly and by the shortness of their vision have brought upon themselves penalties which seem to be overwhelming, to which no end can be seen, which would be overwhelming were no aid coming to us but our own, then God raises his hand, not in anger, but in mercy, and by his wisdom does for us that for which our own wisdom has been insufficient.
But on no Christian basis can I understand the justice or acknowledge the propriety of asking our Lord to abate his wrath in detail, or to alter his settled purpose.

If He be wise, would we change his wisdom?
If He be merciful, would we limit his mercy?
There comes upon us some strange disease, and we bid Him to stay his hand.

But the disease, when it has passed by, has taught us lessons of cleanliness, which no master less stern would have made acceptable.

A famine strikes us, and we again beg that that hand may be stayed;--beg as the Greeks were said to beg when they thought that the anger of Phoebus was hot against them because his priest had been dishonoured.