Answer to Plea 1

That you prayed for your children before you had them was your duty. If you prayed not submissively — referring it to the pleasure of God to give or deny them, to continue or remove them, as should seem good to him — that was your sin. You ought not to limit the Holy One of Israel, nor prescribe to him, nor bargain with him for what term you shall enjoy your outward comforts. If you did so, it was your error, and God has justly rebuked it by this stroke. If you did pray conditionally and submissively, referring both the mercy asked and the continuance of it to the will of God as you ought to do — then there is nothing in the death of your child that crosses the true intent of your prayer.