Copyright©MonergismBooks

TheHiddenLifeofPrayer

byDavidM'Intyre

TableofContents

Chapter1,TheLifeofPrayerChapter2,TheEquipmentChapter3,TheDirectionoftheMindChapter4,TheEngagement:WorshipChapter5,TheEngagement:ConfessionChapter6,TheEngagement:RequestChapter7,TheHiddenRichesoftheSecretPlaceChapter8,TheOpenRecompenseFootnotes,Footnotestoallchapters.

Copyright

CHAPTER1

TheLifeofPrayer

"MyGod.Thycreatureanswers,Thee."-AlfreddeMusset.

'TheloveofChristismyprayer-book."

-GerhardTersteegen.

"Prayeristhekeyofheaven;theSpirithelpsfaithtoturnthiskey."-ThomasWatson.

Inoneof thecathedralsofNorthernEuropeanexquisitegroup inhighreliefrepresentstheprayerlife.Itisdisposedinthreepanels.Thefirstoftheseremindsusoftheapostolicprecept,"Praywithoutceasing."Weseethe front of a spacious temple which opens on the market-place. Thegreat square is strewn with crowds of eager men, gesticulating,bargaining-all evidently intent ongain.ButOne,whowears a circlet ofthorn, and is clothed in a garment woven without seam from the topthroughout,moves silently through theclamorouscrowds,andsubduestoholyfearthemostcovetousheart.

The second panel displays the precincts of the temple, and serves toillustrate the common worship of the Church. White-robed ministershasten here and there. They carry oil for the lamp, and water for thelaver, and blood from the altar; with pure intention, their eyes turnedtowardstheunseenglory,theyfulfillthedutiesoftheirsacredcalling.

The third panel introduces us to the inner sanctuary. A solitaryworshipper has entered within the veil, and hushed and lowly in thepresenceofGod,bendsbeforetheglancingShekinah.Thisrepresentsthehidden life of prayer of which theMaster spoke in the familiar words,"Butthou,whenthouprayest,enterintothineinnerchamber,andhavingshutthydoor,praytothyFatherwhichisinsecret,andthyFatherwhichseethinsecretshallrecompensethee"(Matt.6:6,R.V.).

Our Lord takes it for granted thatHis peoplewill pray. And indeed inScripture generally the outward obligation of prayer is implied ratherthan asserted.Moved by a divinely-implanted instinct, our natures cryoutforGod,forthelivingGod.Andhoweverthisinstinctmaybecrushedby sin, it awakes to power in the consciousness of redemption.Theologians of all schools, and Christians of every type, agree in theirrecognition of this principle of the new life. Chrysostomhas said, "Thejustman does not desist from praying until he ceases to be just;" andAugustine, "He that loveth littleprayeth little, andhe that lovethmuch

prayethmuch;"andRichardHooker,"Prayeristhefirstthingwherewitharighteouslifebeginneth,andthelastwherewithitdothend;"andPrelaCombe, "Hewhohasapureheartwillnevercease topray,andhewhowillbeconstantinprayershallknowwhatitistohaveapureheart;"andBunyan,"Ifthouartnotaprayingperson,thouartnotaChristian;"andRichardBaxter, "Prayer is thebreath of thenew creature;" andGeorgeHerbert,"Prayer...thesoul'sblood."

And yet, instinctive as is our dependence upon God, no duty is moreearnestly impressed upon us in Scripture than the duty of continualcommunionwithHim.Themainreason for thisunceasing insistence isthearduousnessofprayer.Initsnatureitisalaboriousundertaking,andinourendeavortomaintainthespiritofprayerwearecalledtowrestleagainstprincipalitiesandpowersofdarkness.

"Dear Christian reader," says Jacob Boehme, "to pray aright is rightearnestwork."Prayer is themost sublime energyofwhich the spirit ofmaniscapable.1Itisinoneaspectgloryandblessedness;inanother,itistoil and travail, battle and agony. Uplifted hands grow tremulous longbeforethefieldiswon;strainingsinewsandpantingbreathproclaimtheexhaustion of the "heavenly footman." The weight that falls upon anachingheart fills thebrowwithanguish, evenwhen themidnightair ischill. Prayer is the uplift of the earth-bound soul into the heaven, theentrance of the purified spirit into the holiest; the rending of theluminousveilthatshutsin,asbehindcurtains,thegloryofGod.Itisthevision of things unseen; the recognition of the mind of the Spirit; theeffort to framewordswhichmanmaynotutter.Amanthat trulypraysoneprayer,"saysBunyan,"shallafterthatneverbeabletoexpresswithhismouth or pen the unutterable desires, sense, affection, and longingthatwenttoGodinthatprayer."ThesaintsoftheJewishChurchhadaprincely energy in intercession: "Battering the gates of heaven withstormsofprayer,"theytookthekingdomofheavenbyviolence.ThefirstChristiansprovedinthewilderness,inthedungeon,inthearena,andatthestakethetruthoftheirMaster'swords,"Heshallhavewhatsoeverhesaith." Their souls ascended toGod in supplication as the flame of thealtarmounts heavenward. The Talmudists affirm that in the divine lifefour things call for fortitude; of these prayer is one. One who met

TersteegenatKronenbergremarked,"Itseemedtomeasifhehadgonestraightintoheaven,andhadlosthimselfinGod;butoftenwhenhehaddoneprayinghewasaswhiteasthewall."DavidBrainerdnotesthatonone occasion, when he found his soul "exceedingly enlarged" insupplication, he was "in such anguish, and pleaded with so muchearnestnessand importunity," thatwhenhe rose fromhiskneeshe felt"extremelyweakandovercome.""Icouldscarcelywalkstraight,"hegoesontosay,"myjointswereloosed,thesweatrandownmyfaceandbody,andnatureseemedasifitwoulddissolve."AlivingwriterhasremindedusofJohnFoster,whousedtospendlongnightsinhischapel,absorbedin spiritual exercises, pacing to and fro in the disquietude of his spirit,untilhisrestlessfeethadwornalittletrackintheaisle.2

Onemight easilymultiply examples, but there isnoneed to gobeyondScripture to find either precept or example to impress us with thearduousnessofthatprayerwhichprevails.ShouldnotthesupplicationofthePsalmist,"QuickenThoume,accordingtoThyword...quickenmeinThy righteousness...quicken me after Thy loving-kindness...quicken meaccordingtoThyjudgments...quickenme,OLord,forThyname'ssake;"andthecomplaintoftheEvangelicalProphet,"ThereisnonethatcallethuponThyname, that stirreth uphimself to take hold of Thee," find anechoinourexperience?Doweknowwhatitisto"labour,"to"wrestle,"to"agonize"inprayer?3

Anotherexplanationofthearduousnessofprayerliesinthefactthatweare spiritually hindered: there is "the noise of archers in the places ofdrawingwater." St. Paul assures us thatwe shall have tomaintain ourprayer energy "against the rulers of the darkness of thisworld, againstspiritualwickednessinhighplaces."Dr.AndrewBonarusedtosaythat,astheKingofSyriacommandedhiscaptainstofightneitherwithsmallnorgreat,butonlywiththeKingofIsrael,sotheprinceofthepowerofthe air seems to bend all the force of his attack against the spirit ofprayer. If he should prove victorious there, he has won the day.Sometimeswe are conscious of a satanic impulse directed immediatelyagainst the life of prayer in our souls; sometimeswe are led into "dry"and wilderness-experiences, and the face of God grows dark above us;sometimes, when we strive most earnestly to bring every thought and

imagination under obedience to Christ, we seem to be given over todisorder and unrest; sometimes the inbred slothfulness of our naturelends itself to the evil one as an instrument bywhich hemay turn ourminds back from the exercise of prayer. Because of all these things,therefore, wemust be diligent and resolved, watching as a sentry whoremembers that the lives of men are lying at the hazard of hiswakefulness,resourcefulness,andcourage.4"AndwhatIsayuntoyou,"saidtheLordtoHisdisciples,"Isayuntoall,Watch!"

TherearetimeswheneventhesoldiersofChristbecomeheedlessoftheirtrust, andno longer guardwith vigilance the gift of prayer. Should anyonewhoreadsthesepagesbeconsciousoflossofpowerinintercession,lack of joy in communion, hardness and impenitence in confession,"Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the firstworks."5

"Oh,starsofheaventhatfadeandflame,Oh,whisperingwavesbelow!Wasearth,orheaven.orIthesame,Ayear,ayearago!

"Thestarshavekepttheirhomeonhigh,Thewavestheirwontedflow;TheloveislostthatoncewasI,Ayear,ayearago."6

Theonlyremedy for thissluggishmood is thatweshould"rekindleourlove,"asPolycarpwrotetotheChurchinEphesus,"inthebloodofGod."LetusaskforafreshgiftoftheHolySpirittoquickenoursluggishhearts,anewdisclosureofthecharityofGod.TheSpiritwillhelpourinfirmities,andtheverycompassionoftheSonofGodwillfalluponus,clothinguswithzealaswithagarment,stirringouraffectionsintoamostvehementflame,andfillingoursoulswithheaven.

"Menoughtalwaystopray,and"-althoughfaintnessofspiritattendsonprayer like a shadow-"not faint." The soil in which the prayer of faithtakesrootisalifeofunbrokencommunionwithGod,alifeinwhichthewindowsofthesoularealwaysopentowardstheCityofRest.Wedonot

know the true potency of prayer until our hearts are so steadfastlyinclined toGod that our thoughts turn toHim, as by aDivine instinct,whenevertheyaresetfreefromtheconsiderationofearthlythings.IthasbeensaidofOrigen(inhisownwords) thathis lifewas"oneunceasingsupplication." By this means above all others the perfect idea of theChristian life is realized. Intercoursebetween thebeliever andhisLordoughtnevertobeinterrupted.7

"The vision of God," says Bishop Westcott, "makes life a continuousprayer." And in that vision all fleeting things resolve themselves, andappearinrelationtothingsunseen.Inabroaduseoftheterm,prayeristhesumofalltheservicethatwerendertoGod,8sothatallfulfillmentofdutyis,inonesense,theperformanceofDivineservice,andthefamiliarsaying,"Workisworship,"isjustified."Iamprayer,"saidaPsalmist(Psa.cix. 4). "In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,"saidanApostle.

In the Old Testament that life which is steeped in prayer is oftendescribed as awalkwithGod.Enochwalked in assurance,Abraham inperfectness,Elijahinfidelity,thesonsofLeviinpeaceandequity.OritisspokenofasadwellingwithGod,evenasJoshuadepartednotfromtheTabernacle;orascertaincraftsmenoftheoldentimeabodewithakingforhiswork.Again,itisdefinedastheascentofthesoulintotheSacredPresence;astheplanets,"withopenfacebeholding,"climbintothelightof the sun's countenance, or as a flower, lit with beauty and dipped infragrance, reaches upwards towards the light. At other times, prayer issaid tobe thegatheringupofall the faculties inanardorof reverence,and love, and praise. As one clear strain may succeed in reducing toharmony a number of mutually-discordant voices, so the reigningimpulses of the spiritualnatureunite theheart to fear thenameof theLord.

But themost familiar, andperhaps themost impressive, description ofprayerintheOldTestament,isfoundinthosenumerouspassageswherethe lifeof communionwithGod is spokenofasawaitinguponHim.Agreat scholar has given a beautiful definition ofwaiting uponGod: "Towait is notmerely to remain impassive. It is to expect-to look forwithpatience,andalsowithsubmission.Itistolongfor,butnotimpatiently;

tolookfor,butnottofretatthedelay;towatchfor,butnotrestlessly;tofeelthatifHedoesnotcomewewillacquiesce,andyettorefusetoletthemindacquiesceinthefeelingthatHewillnotcome."9

Now,donotletanyonesaythatsuchalifeisvisionaryandunprofitable.Therealworldisnotthiscoveringveilofsense;realitybelongstothoseheavenly things of which the earthly are mere "patterns" andcorrespondences.WhoissopracticalasGod?WhoamongmensowiselydirectedHiseffortstothecircumstancesandtheoccasionswhichHewascalledtoface,as"theSonofManwhoisinheaven?"Thosewhopraywell,workwell.Thosewhopraymost,achievethegrandestresults.10TousethestrikingphraseofTauler,"InGodnothingishindered."

The cultivation of the habit of prayer will secure its expression on allsuitableoccasions.

In times of need, in the first instance; almost everyonewill pray then.MosesstoodontheshoresoftheRedSea,surveyingthepanicintowhichthe children of Israel were cast when they realized that the chariots ofPharaohwerethunderingdownuponthem."WhereforecriestthouuntoMe?" said the Lord. Nehemiah stood before King Artaxerxes. Themonarchnotedhisinwardgrief,andsaid,"Whyisthycountenancesad,seeingthouartnotsick?This isnothingelsebutsorrowofheart."Thatquestionopenedthedoortoadmittheanswertothreemonths'praying;andthehotdesirethathadrisentoGodinthoseslowmonthsgathereditselfintooneferventejaculation,"SoIprayedtotheGodofheaven."

Again,onewhoselifeisspentinfellowshipwithGodwillconstantlyseekand findopportunities for swift and frequently-recurring approaches tothethroneofgrace.Theapostlesbringeverydutyunderthecross;atthename of Jesus their loyal souls soar heavenward in adoration and inpraise. The early Christians nevermet without invoking a benediction;theyneverpartedwithoutprayer.ThesaintsoftheMiddleAgesallowedeachpassingincidenttosummonthemtointercession-theshadowonthedial, thechurch-bell, the flightof theswallow, therisingof thesun, thefalling of a leaf. The covenant which Sir Thomas Browne made withhimselfiswell-known,butonemayventuretorefertoitoncemore:"Topray in all places where quietness inviteth; in any house, highway, or

street;andtoknownostreetinthiscitythatmaynotwitnessthatIhavenotforgottenGodandmySaviourinit;andthatnoparishortownwhereIhavebeenmaynot say the like.To takeoccasionofprayingupon thesightofanychurchwhichIsee,orpassby,asIrideabout.Topraydaily,andparticularlyformysickpatients,andforallsickpeopleunderwhosecare soever.Andat theentrance into thehouseof the sick to say, "ThepeaceandthemercyofGodbeuponthishouse."Afterasermontomakeaprayeranddesireablessing,andtopray for theminister."Andmuchmoreofalikenature.

Oncemore,onewholivesinthespiritofprayerwillspendmuchtimeinretired and intimate communion with God. It is by such a deliberateengagement of prayer that the fresh springs of devotion which flowthroughthedayare fed.For,althoughcommunionwithGodis the life-energyoftherenewednature,oursouls"cleavetothedust,"anddevotiontends to grow formal-it becomes emptied of its spiritual content, andexhaustsitselfinoutwardacts.TheMasterremindsusofthisgraveperil,andinformsusthatthetruedefenseagainstinsincerityinourapproachtoGodliesinthediligentexerciseofprivateprayer.11

InthedaysoftheCommonwealth,oneoftheearlyFriends,"aservantofthe Lord, but a stranger outwardly," came into an assembly of seriouspeople,whohadmetforworship."AndaftersometimehehadwaitedontheLordinspirithehadanopportunitytospeak,allbeingsilent;hesaidby way of exhortation, 'Keep to the Lord's watch.' These words, beingspake in the power of God, had its operation upon all or most of themeeting, so that they felt some great dread and fear upon their spirits.Afteralittletimehespakeagain,saying,'WhatIsayuntoyou,Isayuntoall,Watch.'Thenhewassilentagainalittletime,butthewholemeeting,beingsensiblethatthismanwasinsomeextraordinaryspiritandpower,were allmusingwhatmanner of teaching this should be, being such avoicethatmostofthehearersneverheardbefore,thatcarriedsuchgreatauthority with it that they were all necessitated to be subject to thepower."12

Soldier of Christ, you are in an enemy's country; "Keep to the Lord'swatch."

CHAPTER2

TheEquipment

"RememberthatintheLeviticalLawthereisafrequentcommemorationandchargegivenof the twodaily sacrifices, theone tobeofferedup inthemorningandtheotherintheevening.Theseofferingsbyincenseourholy,harmless,andundefiledHighPriesthathtakenaway,andinsteadofthem every devout Christian is at the appointed times to offer up aspiritual sacrifice, namely, that of prayer: for 'God is a Spirit, and theythat worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.' At theseprescribedtimes, if thouwilthavethyprayerstoascendupbeforeGod,thou must withdraw from all outward occupations, to prepare for theinwardanddivine."-HenryVaughan,Silurist.

"Godcomestomeinsilenthours,Asmorningdewtosummerflowers."'-MechthildvonMagdeburg.

"Itwillneverbealtogetherwellwithustillweconverttheuniverseintoaprayer room, and continue in the Spirit as we go from place toplace....The prayer-hour is left standing beforeGod till the other hourscome and stand beside it; then, If they are found to be a harmonioussisterhood,theprayerisgranted."-GeorgeBowen.

"Butthou,whenthouprayest,enterintothineinnerchamber,andhavingshutthydoor,pray."

"Ofthismannerofprayer,"saysWalterHiltonofThurgarton,"speakethourLord ina figure, thus: 'Fireshallalwaysburnuponthealtar,whichthepriest shallnourish,puttingwoodunderneath in themorningeveryday,thatsothefiremaynotgoout.'Thatis,thefireofloveshalleverbe

lighted in the soul of a devout and cleanman or woman, thewhich isGod's altar. And the priest shall every morning lay to it sticks, andnourish the fire; that is, thisman shall byholy psalms, clean thoughts,andferventdesire,nourishthefireofloveinhisheart,thatitmaynotgooutatanytime."13

Theequipmentfortheinner lifeofprayer issimple, ifnotalwayseasilysecured.Itconsistsparticularlyofaquietplace,aquiethour,andaquietheart.

1.AQuietPlaceWithregardtomanyofusthefirstofthese,aquietplace,iswellwithinour reach. But there are tens of thousands of our fellow-believers whofinditgenerallyimpossibletowithdrawintothedesiredseclusionofthesecret place. A house-mother in a crowded tenement, an apprentice incitylodgings,aploughmaninhislivingquarters,asoldierinbarracks,aboy living at school, these and many more may not be able always tocommand quiet and solitude. But, "your Father knoweth." And it iscomforting to reflect that the very Prince of the pilgrims shared theexperienceofsuchasthese.Inthecarpenter'scottageinNazareththerewere, it appears, no fewer than nine persons who lived under the oneroof. There were theHoly Child,MaryHismother, and Joseph. Therewere also the Lord's "brothers"-four of them-and at least two "sisters."The cottage consisted, let us suppose, principally of a living room, theworkshop,andaninnerchamber-astore-closetinwhichtheprovisionfortheday, thekitchenutensils, the firewood, etc.,were laid.That gloomyrecess had a latch on the inner side, placed there, it may be, by thecarpenter'sSon, for thatdarkchamberwasHisoratory,not less sacredthanthecloud-wraptshrineofthePresenceintheTemple.14

Afterwards, when our Lord had entered on His public ministry, therewere occasions when He found it difficult to secure the privilege ofsolitude.He frequently received entertainment from thosewho showedHimthescantiestcourtesy,andaffordedHimnofacility forretirement.WhenHis spirit hungered for communion with His Father, He was tobendHisstepstowardtheroughuplands:

"Coldmountainsandthemidnightair

WitnessedthefervorofHisprayer."

Andwhen, ahomelessman,He cameup to Jerusalem to theFeasts, itwasHiscustomto"resort"totheolive-gardenofGethsemane.Undertheladen branches of some gnarled tree, which was old when Isaiah wasyoung, our Lord must often through the soft summer night haveoutwatchedthestars.

Anyplacemaybecomeanoratory,providedthatoneisabletofindinitseclusion. Isaacwent into the fields tomeditate. Jacob lingered on theeasternbankoftheBrookJabbok,afterallhiscompanyhadpassedover;there he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed. Moses, hidden in theclefts of Horeb, beheld the vanishing glory which marked the way bywhichJehovahhadgone.ElijahsentAhabdowntoeatanddrink,whilehehimselfwithdrewtothelonelycrestofCarmel.Danielspentweeksinan ecstasy of intercession on the banks of Hiddekel, which once hadwateredParadise.

And Paul, no doubt in order that he might have an opportunity forundisturbedmeditationandprayer,"wasmindedtogoafoot"fromTroastoAssos.

And if no better place presents itself, the soulwhich turns toGodmayclothe itself in quietness even in the crowded concourse or in thehurryingstreets.Apoorwomaninagreatcity,neverabletofreeherselffromtheinsistentclamorofherlittleones,madeforherselfasanctuaryin the simplest way. "I threwmy apron overmy head," she said, "andthereismycloset."15

2.AQuietHourFormostofus itmaybeharder to findaquiethour. Idonotmeanan"hour"ofexactlysixtyminutes,butaportionoftimewithdrawnfromtheengagements of the day, fenced round from the encroachments ofbusiness or pleasure, and dedicated to God. The "world's gray fathers"might linger in the fields in meditation on the covenant-name untildarknesswraptthemround.Butwewholivewiththeclangofmachineryand the roar of traffic always in our ears, whose crowding obligationsjostle against each other as the hours fly on, are often tempted to

withdrawtootherusesthosemomentswhichweoughttoholdsacredtocommunionwithheaven.Dr.Dalesayssomewherethat ifeachdayhadforty-eight hours, and every week had fourteen days, we mightconceivablygetthroughourwork,butthat,asthingsare,itisimpossible.Thereisatleastanedgeoftruthinthiswhimsicalutterance.Certainly,ifwearetohaveaquiethoursetdowninthemidstofahurryofduties,andkeptsacred,wemustexercisebothforethoughtandself-denial.Wemustbepreparedtoforgomanythingsthatarepleasant,andsomethingsthatareprofitable.16Weshallhavetoredeemtime,itmaybefromrecreation,orfromsocialinteraction,orfromstudy,orfromworksofbenevolence,ifweareto find leisuredaily toenter intoourcloset,andhavingshut thedoor,topraytoourFatherwhoisinsecret.17

Oneistemptedtolingerhere,and,withallhumilityandearnestness,topress the consideration of this point. One sometimes hears it said, "IconfessthatIdonotspendmuchtimeinthesecretchamber,butItrytocultivatethehabitofcontinualprayer.Anditisimpliedthatthisismoreandbetter than that. The two things ought not to be set in opposition.Eachisnecessarytoawell-orderedChristianlife;andeachwasperfectlymaintainedinthepracticeoftheLordJesus.HewasalwaysenfoldedintheDivinelove;HiscommunionwiththeFatherwasunbroken;Hewasthe Son ofManwho is in heaven.But St. Luke tells us that itwasHishabittowithdrawHimselfintothewildernessandpray(Lukev.16).OurAuthorizedVersiondoesnotatallgiveustheforceoftheoriginalinthisverse.DeanVaughancommentson it thus: "Itwasnotonewithdrawal,nor one wilderness, nor one prayer, all is plural in the original-thewithdrawals were repeated; the wildernesses were more than one, theprayerswerehabitual."CrowdswerethrongingandpressingHim;greatmultitudes came together to hear and to be healed of their infirmities;andHehadnoleisuresomuchastoeat.ButHefoundtimetopray.Andthis one who sought retirement with somuch solitude was the Son ofGod,havingnosintoconfess,noshortcomingtodeplore,nounbelieftosubdue,nolanguoroflovetoovercome.NorarewetoimaginethatHisprayers were merely peaceful meditations, or rapturous acts ofcommunion. They were strenuous and warlike, from that hour in thewilderness when angels came to minister to the prostrate Man ofSorrows, on to that awful "agony" in whichHis sweat was, as it were,

greatdropsofblood.Hisprayersweresacrifices,offeredupwithstrongcryingandtears.

Now,if itwaspartofthesacreddisciplineoftheIncarnateSonthatHeshould observe frequent seasons of retirement, how much more is itincumbentonus,brokenasweareanddisabledbymanifoldsin, tobediligentintheexerciseofprivateprayer!

Tohurryover thisdutywouldbe torobourselvesof thebenefitswhichproceedfromit.Weknow,ofcourse,thatprayercannotbemeasuredbydivisionsoftime.Buttheadvantagestobederivedfromsecretprayerarenottobeobtainedunlessweenteronitwithdeliberation.Wemust"shutthe door," enclosing and securing a sufficient portion of time for thefittingdischargeoftheengagementbeforeus.

In the morning we should look forward to the duties of the day,anticipating those situations in which temptation may lurk, andpreparingourselvestoembracesuchopportunitiesofusefulnessasmaybe presented to us. In the evening we ought to remark upon theprovidenceswhichhavebefallenus,considerourattainmentinholiness,and endeavor to profit by the lessons which Godwould have us learn.And, always,wemust acknowledge and forsake sin.Then there are thenumberlessthemesofprayerwhichourdesiresforthegoodestateoftheChurchofGod, for theconversionandsanctificationofour friendsandacquaintances, for the furtherance of missionary effort, and for thecomingofthekingdomofChristmaysuggest.Allthiscannotbepressedintoa fewcrowdedmoments.Wemustbeat leisurewhenweenter thesecretplace.Atone timeat least inhis life, the lateMr.HudsonTaylorwassofullyoccupiedduringthehoursofthedaywiththedirectionoftheChina Inland Mission that he found it difficult to gain the requisitefreedomforprivateprayer.Accordingly,hemadeithisruletoriseeachnightattwoo'clock,watchwithGodtillfour,thenliedowntosleepuntilthemorning.

In the JewishChurch itwas customary to set apart a space of time formeditationandprayerthreetimesdaily-inthemorning,atnoon,andintheevening(Psa.55:17;Dan.6:10).ButinBiblelandsthereisanaturalpause at mid-day which we, in our cooler climate, do not generally

observe.Whereitispossibletohallowafewmomentsinthemid-streamoftheday'sdutiesitoughtsurelytobedone.18AndnatureitselfteachesusthatmorningandeveningaresuitableoccasionsofapproachtoGod.Aquestionwhichhasbeenfrequentlydiscussed,andisnotwithoutinterestis:Whetherweshouldemploy themorningor theeveninghour forourmore deliberate and prolonged period of waiting upon God? It isprobable that eachperson can answer this questionmostprofitably forhimself orherself.But it shouldalwaysbeunderstood thatwegiveourbesttoGod.

3.AQuietHeartFormostofus,perhaps, it is still harder to secure thequietheart.Thecontemplationists of the Middle Ages desired to present themselvesbeforeGod in silence, thatHemight teach themwhat their lips shouldutter,andtheirheartsexpect.StephenGurnallacknowledgesthatitisfarmoredifficulttohangupthebigbellthanitistoringitwhenithasbeenhung.Mc'Cheyneusedtosaythatverymuchofhisprayertimewasspentinpreparingtopray.19AnewEnglandPuritanwrites:"WhileIwasattheWord, I saw I had awild heart,whichwas as hard to stand and abidebefore the presence ofGod in an ordinance, as a bird before anyman.AndBunyan remarks from his own deep experience: "O ! the starting-holes that theheart hath in the timeof prayer; none knowshowmanybye-waysthehearthathandback-lanes,toslipawayfromthepresenceofGod."20

Thereare, inparticular, threegreat,but simpleactsof faith,whichwillservetostaythemindonGod.

(a)Letus,inthefirstplace,recognizeouracceptancebeforeGodthroughthedyingoftheLordJesus.Whenapilgrim,eitheroftheGreekoroftheLatin Church, arrives in Jerusalem, his first act, before ever he seeksrefreshment or rest, is to visit the traditional scene of the Redeemer'spassion.Ourfirstactinprayeroughttobetheyieldingofoursoulstothepower of the blood ofChrist. Itwas in the power of the ritual sacrificethat the high priest in Israel passed through the veil on the day ofatonement. It is in the power of the accepted offering of the Lamb ofDivineappointment thatweareprivileged tocome into thepresenceofGod."Havingtherefore,brethren,boldnesstoenterintotheholyplaceby

the blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us, a new andlivingway,throughtheveil,thatistosay,Hisflesh;andhavingaGreatHighPriestoverthehouseofGod;letusdrawnearwithatrueheart,infullnessoffaith,havingourheartssprinkledfromanevilconscience,andourbodywashedwithpurewater: letushold fast theconfessionofourhopethatitwavernot;forHeisfaithfulthatpromised"(Heb.10:19-23,R.V.).

"WereIwiththetrespassladenOfathousandworldsbeside,YetbythatpathIenter-ThebloodoftheLambwhodied."

(b)ItisimportantalsothatweconfessandreceivetheenablinggraceoftheDivineSpirit,withoutwhomnothing isholy,nothinggood.For it isHewhoteachesus tocry, "Abba,Father,"whosearches forus thedeepthingsofGod,whodisclosestousthemindandwillofChrist,whohelpsour infirmities,and intercedesonourbehalf"accordingtoGod."21Andweall,"withopenfacebeholdingasinaglassthegloryoftheLord,arechangedintothesameimagefromglorytoglory,evenasbytheSpiritofthe Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). When we enter the inner chamber we shouldpresentourselvesbeforeGodinmeeknessandtrust,andopenourheartstotheincomingandinfillingoftheHolyGhost.Soweshallreceivefromthe praying Spirit, and commit to the praying Christ, those petitionswhich are of Divine birth, and express themselves, through our finitehearts and sin-stained lips, in "groanings which cannot be uttered."Without the support of the Holy Spirit, prayer becomes a matter ofincredibledifficulty."Asformyheart,"saidonewhowasdeeplyexercisedinthisengagement,"whenIgotopray,IfinditsoloathtogotoGod,andwhen it is withHim, so loath to staywithHim, thatmany times I amforcedinmyprayers,firsttobegofGodthatHewouldtakemineheart,andsetitonHimselfinChrist,andwhenitisthere,thatHewouldkeepitthere.Nay,many timesIknownotwhat topray for, Iamsoblind,norhowtopray,Iamsoignorant;only,blessedbegrace,theSpirithelpsourinfirmities."

(c) Once more, as "the Spirit rides most triumphantly in His ownchariot,"His chosenmeansof enlightenment, comfort, quickening, and

rebukebeing theWordofGod, it iswell forus in thebeginningof oursupplications to direct our hearts towards the Holy Scriptures. It willgreatly help to calm the "contrary"mind ifwe open the sacred volumeand read it as in the presence ofGod, until there shall come to us outfromtheprintedpageawordfromtheEternal.GeorgeMullerconfessedthatoftenhecouldnotprayuntilhehadsteadiedhisminduponatext.22IsitnottheprerogativeofGodtobreakthesilence?"WhenThousaidst,Seek yemy face;my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord,will I seek"(Psa.27:8).Is itnot fittingthatHiswillshouldorderall theactsofourprayerwithHimself?LetusbesilenttoGod,thatHemayfashionus.

"SoshallIkeepForeverinmyheartonesilentspace;Alittlesacredspotofloneliness,WheretosetupthememoryofThyCross,Alittlequietgarden,wherenomanMaypassorrestforever,sacredstillTovisionsofThysorrowandThylove."

CHAPTER3

TheDirectionoftheMind

"Thououghtesttogotoprayer,thatthoumayestdeliverthyselfwhollyupinto thehandsofGod,withperfectresignation,exertinganactof faith,believingthatthouartintheDivinePresence,afterwardssettlinginthatholyrepose,withquietness,silence,andtranquillity;andendeavoringforawholeday,awholeyear,andthywholelife,tocontinuethatfirstactofcontemplation,byfaithandlove."-Molinos.

"Satanstrikeseitherattherootoffaithorattherootofdiligence."-JohnLivingstone.

"Thesumis:rememberalwaysthepresenceofGod;rejoicealwaysinthewillofGod;anddirectalltothegloryofGod."-ArchbishopLeighton.

In Essex, in the year 1550, a number of religious persons who hadreceivedtheWordofGodastheironlyruleoffaithandconduct,andwhothereforediffered in certainparticulars from thedominantparty in theChurch, met to confer on the ordering of worship. The chief point indebate related to the attitude which one ought to observe in prayer-whether it were better to stand or kneel, to have the head covered oruncovered. The decision arrived at was that thematerial question hadreferencenot to thebodilyposture, but to thedirectionof themind. Itwasagreed that that attitude ismost seemlywhichmost fitly expressesthedesiresandemotionsofthesoul.

ThosewordsofourLordwhichwehaveprefixedtothisvolumeindicatenotobscurelythatattitudeofspiritwhichbefitsourapproachtoGod.

1.RealizethePresenceofGodIn the first place, it is necessary thatwe should realize the presence ofGod.23Hewhofillsearthandheaven"is," inasingularandimpressivesense, in the secret place. As the electric fluid which is diffused in theatmosphereisconcentratedinthelightningflash,sothepresenceofGodbecomes vivid and powerful in the prayer-chamber. Bishop JeremyTaylor enforces this rule with stately and affluent speech: "In thebeginning of actions of religion, make an act of adoration; that is,solemnlyworshipGod,andplace thyself inGod'spresence, andbeholdHimwiththeeyeof faith;andlet thydesiresactually fixonHimastheobjectofthyworship,andthereasonofthyhope,andthefountainofthyblessing.ForwhenthouhastplacedthyselfbeforeHim,andkneelest inHispresence,itismostlikelyallthefollowingpartsofthydevotionwillbeanswerable to thewisdomofsuchanapprehension,andthegloryofsuchapresence."

Our Father "is" in the secret place. Then we shall find Him in theinwardness of a "recollected" spirit, in the stillness of a heart united tofearHis name. The dew fallsmost copiouslywhen the night-winds arehushed.Thegreattidesliftthemselves"toofullforsoundorfoam."Thesuppliantwhoprayswithatruedirectionofspirit,"OurFather,whoart

inheaven," is oftentimes takenup intoheavenbefore everhe is aware."But, oh how rare it is !" cries F�nelon, "How rare it is to find a soulquietenoughtohearGodspeak !"Somanyofushavemistrainedears.Weare like the IndianhuntersofwhomWhittier speaks,whocanhearthecrackleofatwigfaroffinthedimforest,butaredeaftothethunderofNiagaraonlyafewrodsaway.BrotherLawrence,wholivedtopracticethepresenceofGod,speaksthus:"Asformysethoursofprayer,theyareonly a continuation of the same exercise. Sometimes I considermyselfthere as a stone before a carver, whereof he is to make a statue;presentingmyselfbeforeGodIdesireHimtoformHisperfectimageinmysoul,andmakemeentirelylikeHimself.Atothertimes,whenIapplymyselftoprayer,Ifeelallmyspiritandallmysoulliftitselfupwithoutany care or effort ofmine, and it continues as it were suspended and,firmlyfixedinGod,asinitscenterandplaceofrest.

TherealizationoftheDivinepresenceistheinflexibleconditionofarightengagementofspiritintheexerciseofprivateprayer.

JohnSpilsburyofBromgrove,whowasconfinedinWorcesterjailforthetestimony of Christ, bore thiswitness: "I shall not henceforward fear aprison as formerly, because I had so much of my Heavenly Father'scompanyasmadeitapalacetome."Another,insimilarcase,testified:"IthoughtofJesusuntileverystoneinmycellshonelikearuby."Andforus, too, in ourmeasure, thedull room inwhichwe talkwithGod, as amanmayspeakwithhis friend,willburnat times likeasapphireandasardiusstone,andbetousas thecleftrock inSinai, throughwhichtheun-createdglorypoured,untiltheprophet'ssteadfastgazewasdimmed,andhiscountenancekindledasaflame.

Our realization of the presence of Godmay, however, be accompaniedwithlittleornoemotion.OurspiritsmaylieasifdeadunderthehandofGod. Vision and rapture may alike be withdrawn. But we ought notthereforetogrowsluggishinprayer.Sofarfrominteruptingtheexerciseat such times,weought to redoubleourenergy.And itmaybe that theprayerwhichgoesupthroughdarknesstoGodwillbringtousablessingsuchaswehavenotreceivedinourmostfavoredhours.Theprayerwhichrisesfrom"thelandofforgetfulness,""theplaceofdarkness,""thebellyofhell,"mayhaveanabundantandgloriousreturn.

Atthesametime,thereareseasonsofspecialprivilegewhenthewindsofGod are unbound about the throne of grace, and the breath of springbegins tostir in theKing'sgardens.TheScottishpreachersused to talkmuchofgainingaccess.AnditisrelatedofRobertBrucethatwhentwovisitorspresentedthemselvesbeforehimonacertainmorning,hesaidtothem, "Youmust go and leave me for some time. I thought last nightwhenIlaydownIhadagoodmeasureoftheLord'spresence,andnowIhavewrestled thishouror two,andhavenotyetgotaccess." Itmaybethat in his solitude there was a disproportionate subjectivity, yet theeagernessofhisdesirewassurelycommendable.Towhatprofitisitthatwe dwell in Jerusalem, ifwe do not see theKing's face?AndwhenHecomesforthfromHisroyalchambers,accompaniedwithblessing,aretoholdourselvesat leisure thatwemayyieldHimworshipandofferHimservice? Jonathan Edwards resolved that whenever he should findhimself "inagood frame fordivinecontemplation,"hewouldnotalloweven the recurrence of the mid-day meal to interrupt his engagementwithHis Lord. "Iwill forgomydinner," he said, "rather thanbe brokeoff."WhenthefireofGodgleameduponCarmel,itwasAhabwhowentdowntoeatanddrink:itwasElijahwhowentuptopray.

2.HonestyinPrayerAgain, He who "is" in the secret place "seeth" in secret, and honestdealingbecomesuswhenwekneelinHispurepresence.

Inouraddress toGodwe like tospeakofHimaswe thinkweought tospeak,andtherearetimeswhenourwordsfaroutrunourfeelings.ButitisbestthatweshouldbeperfectlyfrankbeforeHim.Hewillallowustosayanythingwewill,solongaswesayittoHimself."IwillsayuntoGod,my rock," exclaims the psalmist, "Why hast Thou forgottenme?" (Psa.42:9).Ifhehadsaid,"Lord,Thoucanstnotforget:ThouhastgravenmynameonthepalmsofThyhands,"hewouldhavespokenmoreworthily,but less truly.OnoneoccasionJeremiah failed to interpretGodaright.He cried, as if in anger, "O Lord, Thou hast deceived me, and I wasdeceived:ThouartstrongerthanI,andhastprevailed"(Jer.20:7).Theseare terriblewords toutterbeforeHimwho is changeless truth.But theprophet spokeashe felt, and theLordnotonlypardonedhim,Hemetandblessedhimthere.

It is possible that some who read these words may have a complaintagainstGod.AcontroversyoflongstandinghascomebetweenyoursoulandHisgrace.Ifyouweretoutterthewordthatistremblingonyourlips,youwouldsaytohim,"WhyhastThoudealtthuswithme?"Thendaretosay,withreverenceandwithboldness,allthatisinyourheart."Produceyourcause,saiththeLord;bringforthyourstrongreasons,saiththeKingof Jacob" (Isa. 41.21). Carry your grievance into the light of Hiscountenance; charge your complaint home. Then listen to His answer.Forsurely,ingentlenessandtruth,HewillclearHimselfofthechargeofunkindness that you bring againstHim. And inHis light you shall seelight.But,remember,thatthisisaprivatematterbetweenyouandyourLord, and youmust not defameHim to any one. "If I say, Iwill speakthus; behold, I should offend against the generation of Thy children"(Psa.73:15).JohnLivingstoneofAncrum, inadayofdarkness,madeamostexcellentresolution:"Findingmyself,asIthought,surelydeserted,andsomewhathardlydealtwithinmyparticularstate,ImadeapromisetoGodnottotellittoanybutHimself,lestIshouldseemtocomplainorfostermisbeliefinmyselforothers."

But there is another region in which honesty in prayer must operate.Therehavebeentimes,nodoubt,inthelifeofeachoneofus,whentheSpiritofGodgrantedusenlargementofaffectionanddesire.Ourprayerssoared through heavenly distances, and were about to fold their wingsbefore the throne. When, suddenly, there was brought to ourremembrancesomedutyunfulfilled,someharmfulindulgencetolerated,somesinunrepentedof.Itwasinorderthatwemightforsakethatwhichisevil,andfollowthatwhichisgood,thattheHolySpiritgrantedussoabundantly His assistance in prayer.24 He designed that, in that goodhour of His visitation, we should be enabled to purify ourselves fromeverystain,thathenceforthwemightliveasHis"purchasedpossession."And,perhaps,insuchacase,weshunnedthelight,andturnedbackfromthe solicitation of God. Then darkness fell upon our face; the DivineComforter, "whohelpethour infirmities," beinggrieved,withdrew.Andto thathour, itmaybe,wecan traceourpresent feebleness in theholyexerciseofprayer."IfIregardiniquityinmyheart,theLordwillnothearme" (Psa. 66:18). "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination" (Prov. 28:9, R.V.). "Your iniquitieshave separatedbetween you and yourGod, and your sinshavehidHisface fromyou, thatHewill not hear" (Isa. 59:2). "Andwhen ye spreadforth your hands, I will hideMine eyes from you; yea, when ye makemany prayers, I will not hear" (Isa. 1:15). In wireless telegraphy if thereceiver isnot attuned to the transmitter communication is impossible.IntrueprayerGodandthesuppliantmustbe"ofoneaccord."Cavalier,aHuguenotleader,whohadlivedforyearsintheenjoymentofunbrokencommunionwithGod,deceivedbyvanity,forsookthecausetowhichhehaddevotedhislife.Finally,hecametoEngland,andenteredtheBritisharmy.WhenhewaspresentedtoQueenAnne,shesaid,"DoesGodvisityounow,MonsieurCavalier?"TheyoungCamisardbowedhisheadandwas silent. Christmas Evans tells of an eclipse of faith which heexperienced.A timeofpowerlessness anddecay followed.But theLordvisitedhiminmercy."LazarushadbeenfourdaysdeadwhenJesuscamethatway."Immediatelyhebegantopleadthatthefervorandgladnessofearlieryearsmightberestored."OntheCaerphillymountain,"herelated,"thespiritofprayerfelluponmeasithadonceinAnglesea.Iweptandsupplicated, and gavemyself toChrist. Iwept long andbesought JesusChrist, and my heart poured forth its requests before Him on themountain."Thenfollowedaperiodofmarvelousblessing.

On the other hand, "If our heart condemn us not, we have boldnesstowardGod;andwhatsoeverweask,wereceiveofHim,becausewekeepHiscommandments,anddothethingsthatarepleasinginHissight"(IJohn3:21,22,R.V.).

The devotional writers of the Middle Ages were accustomed todistinguish between "a pure intention" and "a right intention." Theformer, they said, was the fruit of sanctification; the latter was theconditionofsanctification.Theformerimpliedatrainedanddisciplinedwill, the latter awill laid down inmeek surrender at theMaster's feet.Now,whatGodrequiresofthosewhoseekHisfaceis"arightintention"-adeliberate,aresigned,ajoyfulacceptanceofHisgoodandperfectwill.All true prayermust fall back upon the great atonement, in which theManofSorrows translated into "activepassion" the supplicationofHisagony, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me;

nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt" (Matt. 26:39). He hastransmittedtousHisownprayer:weofferitinthepowerofHissacrifice."Whenyepray,say,OurFather...Thywillbedone"(Luke11:2).

Lord,hereIholdwithinmytremblinghand,Thiswillofmine-athingwhichseemethsmall;AndonlyThou,OChrist,canstunderstandHow,whenIyieldTheethis,Iyieldmineall.

Ithathbeenwetwithtears,andstainedwithsighs,Clenchedinmygrasptillbeautyhathitnone;Now,fromThyfootstoolwhereitprostrateliesTheprayerascendeth,LetThywillbedone.

3.FaithOncemore, it is necessary that when we draw near to God we shouldcome in faith: "Pray to thy Father." "When we pray say, Our Father.""Fearnot,littleflock,foritisyourFather'sgoodpleasuretogiveyouthekingdom"(Luke12:32)."YourFatherknowethwhatthingsyehaveneedof"(Matt.6:8)."TheFatherHimselflovethyou"(John16:27).Thewholephilosophy of prayer is contained in words like these. "This word'Father,'"writesLuther,"hathovercomeGod."

(a)LetitbeonceadmittedthatwithGod,nomiracleisimpossible.Letitbe acknowledged that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seekHim, no true prayer will remain unblessed. But faith in God is by nomeansalightortrivialthing.RobertBruceofEdinburghusedsometimestopause inhispreaching, and, bendingover thepulpit, saywithmuchsolemnity,"Ithinkit'sagreatmattertobelievethereisaGod."Onceheconfessedthatduringthreeyearshehadneversaid,"MyGod,"withoutbeing"challengedanddisquietedforthesame.""Thesewords,'MyGod,'"saidEbenezerErskine,"arethemarrowoftheGospel."Tobeabletoholdthe living God within our feeble grasp, and say with assurance, "God,evenourownGod,shallblessus"(Psa.67:6),demandsa faithwhich isnotofnature'sbirth.

But it is comforting to remember that even a feeble faith prevails toovercome. "Is it not a wonder," says Robert Blair, "that our words in

prayer,whichalmostdie in thecomingoutofour lips, shouldclimbsowellastogointoheaven?"Itisindeedawonder,butallthedoingsofGodin grace are wondrous. Like the miner, whose trained eye detects theglitter of the precious metal sown in sparse flakes through the coarsegrain of the rocks, He observes the rare but costly faith which liesimbedded in our unbelief. Standing somewhere on the slopes of thatgoodlymountainHermon,ourLordsaidtoHisdisciples,"Ifyehavefaithasagrainofmustardseed,yeshallsayuntothismountain,removehencetoyonderplace,anditshallremove:andnothingshallbeimpossibleuntoyou"(Matt.17:20).Themountainwhichthewordoffaithwastopluckupandcastintotheseawastheimmeasurablemasswhichfillsthehorizonto the north of Palestine, whose roots run under the whole land ofImmanuel,whosedewsrefreshthecityofGod.

"Faith,mightyfaith,thepromisesees,Andlookstothatalone;Laughsatimpossibilities,Andcries,Itshallbedone."

When the pilgrims came to the Delectable Mountains, the shepherdsshowed themaman standingonMountMarvelwho "tumbled thehillsaboutwithwords." Thatmanwas the son of oneMr. GreatGrace, theKing'schampion,andhewassetthere"toteachpilgrimstobelievedown,ortotumbleoutoftheirwayswhatdifficultiestheyshouldmeetwith,byfaith."

(b)But thisGodwho isours isourFather.OurLordconfersonusHisownrightsandprivileges.Heputs intoourhandthemaster-key,whichunlocksall thedoorsof the treasuryofGod."Forhowevermanybe thepromisesofGod, inHim is theyea:whereforealso throughHim is theAmen"(2Cor.1:20,R.V.).InHimwedrawnightoGod.InHimwepleadwith boldness our requests. Ralph Erskine tells us that, on a certainSabbathevening,hehadunusual liberty inprayer through thenameoftheLordJesus;"Iwashelpedtoprayinsecretwithanoutpouringofthesoul before the Lord, owning my claim to the promise, my claim topardon, my claim to grace, my claim to daily bread, my claim to acomfortable life,my claim to a stingless death,my claim to a gloriousresurrection,andmyclaimtoeverlastinglifeandhappiness:tobe,only,

onlyinChrist,andinGodthroughHimasapromisingGod."

Whenwepray toourFatherweofferourprayers in thenameofJesuswithHisauthority.Wemustnotthink,however,thatthenameofJesusmaybeusedbyusaswelike.GodcaninnowisedealwithHischildrenasAhasuerusdealtwithMordecaiwhenhehandedhimthegreatsealwiththe words, "Write as you like, in the king's name, and seal it with theking'sring:forthewritingwhichiswrittenintheking'sname,andsealedwith the king's ring, may no man reverse" (Esther 8:8). John Bunyanshowshis accustomed spiritual discernmentwhen, inhisHolyWar, hediscoursesofthepetitionswhichthemenofMansoulsenttoEmmanuel,to none of which didHe return any answer. After a time "they agreedtogether to draw up yet another petition, and to send it away toEmmanuelforrelief.ButMr.Godly-Fearstoodup,andansweredthatheknewhisLord, thePrince,neverdid,noreverwould, receiveapetitionforthesemattersfromthehandofanyunlesstheLordSecretary'shandwas to it. 'And this,' quotedhe, 'is the reasonyouprevailednot all thiswhile.' Then they said they would draw up one, and get the LordSecretary'shandtoit.ButMr.Godly-FearansweredagainthatheknewalsothattheLordSecretarywouldnotsetHishandtoanypetitionthatHeHimselfhadnotahandincomposinganddrawingup."25

TheprayeroffaithisamiddletermbetweentheintercessionoftheHolySpiritandtheintercessionofChrist.26Itisthedivinelyappointedmeansbywhichtheunutterablegroaningsof theSpirit,whodwellswithinHispeople as in a temple, are conveyed and committed to the exaltedMediator,who "ever liveth tomake intercession" for us. And thus in apeculiar and especialmanner thosewhomakementionof theLordaregracedtobecomefellow-laborerstogetherwithGod.

CHAPTER4

TheEngagement:Worship

"WepraiseThee...WegivethankstoTheeforThygreatglory,OLordGod."-BookofCommonPrayer."WeretherenothingelseForwhichtopraisetheheavensbutonlylove,Thatonlylovewerecauseenoughforpraise."-Tennyson."PraiseHim,everpraiseHim,Forrememberingdustofearth."-MorganRhys.

"When thouhas shut thy door, PRAY." Theword used here, thatwordwhich is most frequently employed in the New Testament to denoteprayer, implies, a desire towards; and while it suggests petition, it issufficientlygeneraltoincludethewholeofourengagementinthesecretplace-Worship,Confession,Request.Inthischapterweshallspeakofthefirstofthese-Worship.

WhenScipioAfricanus enteredRome, after he hadhumbled the proudcityofCarthage,herodeinprocessionalongtheWayofTriumph,sweptover the slope of theVelia, passed reverently down the ancientWay ofSacrifice,thenclimbedthelongascentoftheCapitol,scatteringwithbothhands"thelargessofthevictor,"whiletheairwastornwiththeapplauseof the crowd. Amid the rejoicingmultitudes there were probably somewhosemostobvioussentimentofgratitudewasstirredbytheliberalityoftheconquerorinthathouroftriumph.Othersexultedintherollingawayoftheterrorofyears,andthoughtwithemotionofthefairfieldsofItaly,nowfreedfromtheyokeofthestranger.Whileothers,forgettingforthemoment personal benefits or national enlargement, acclaimed thepersonalqualitiesof thevictor-his resourcefulness,hisbenevolence,hiscourage,hiscourtesy.

Similarly,thetributeofpraisewhichthesaintsareinstructedtorendertotheLordmayariseeither(a)intheacknowledgmentofdailymercies,or(b)inthanks-givingforthegreatredemption,or(c)incontemplationoftheDivineperfection.

(a)Acknowledgementofdailymercies."Memory,"saysAristotle,"is thescribe of the soul." Let her bring forth her tablets, andwrite. Fraser ofBrea,atonetimeaprisonerforChrist'ssakeontheBassRock,resolvedthathewouldsearchoutandrecordtheloving-kindnessesofGod.Hedidsowithaveryhappyeffectuponhisownspirit.Hesays,"ThecallingtomindandseriouslymeditatingontheLord'sdealingswithmeastosoulandbody,Hismanifoldmercies,hasdonemeverymuchgood, clearedmycase, confirmedmy soul ofGod's love andmy interest inHim, andmademeloveHim.Oh,...whatwellsofwaterhavemineeyesbeenopenedtosee,whichbeforewerehid.Scarceanythinghathdonememoregoodthanthis."LetustaketroubletoobserveandconsidertheLord'sdealingswithus,andweshallsurelyreceivesoul-enrichingviewsofHiskindnessandtruth.Hismerciesareneweverymorning.Hemakestheoutgoingsoftheeveningtorejoice.Histhoughtsconcerningusarefornumberasthesands on the shore, and they are all thoughts of peace. Those benefitswhichrecurwithsomuchregularitythattheyseemtous"common"and"ordinary,"whichpenetratewithgoldenthreadsthehomespunvestureofourdailylife,oughttobemostlovinglycommemorated.For,often,theyare unspeakably great. "I have experienced today the most exquisitepleasurethatIhaveeverhadinmylife,"saidayounginvalid;"Iwasabletobreathefreelyforaboutfiveminutes."InDr.Judson'shouseinBurmasome friendswere speculating on the highest form of happinesswhichcould arise from outward circumstances, and each fortified his ownopinionbythejudgmentofsomeauthority."Pooh,"saidDr.Judson,whohadbeenrecallinghisterribleimprisonmentinAva,"thesemenwerenotqualifiedtojudge.WhatdoyouthinkoffloatingdowntheIrrawadi,onacool,moonlight evening,with yourwifeby your side, and yourbaby inyourarms,free,allfree?Butyoucannotunderstanditeither;itneedsatwenty-onemonths' qualification; and I can scarcely regretmy twenty-onemonthsofmiserywhenIrecallthatonedeliciousthrill.IthinkIhavehad a better appreciation of what heavenmay be ever since." But howoftendowethankGodforthemerejoyoflivinginthefreeandhealthfuluseofallourfaculties?

"Theriverpast,andGodforgotten,"isanEnglishproverbwhichoughtinno case to apply to those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious."Praise iscomelyfortheupright"(Psa.33:1) is the judgmentof theOld

Testament;"Ineverythinggivethanks"(1Thess.5:18) isthedecisionoftheNew.Evenaheathenwasmovedtosay,"WhatcanI,alameoldman,do but sing His praise, and exhort others to do the same?"27 For thebeautyofnature,thefellowshipofthegood,thetenderloveofhome;forsafeconductintemptation,strengthtoovercome,deliverancefromevil;for the generosity, the patience, the sympathy of God; and for tenthousand thousand unobserved or unremembered mercies, let usunweariedlyblessHisHolyName."Oh,givethanksuntotheLord;forHeisgood;forHismercyendurethforever"(Psa.136:1).28

Butifthingsgohardwithus,andtrialsdarkenalloursky,arewestilltogivethanks,andblessourGod?Mostsurely."Trialsmakethepromisesweet;Trialsgivenewlifetoprayer;TrialsbringmetoHisfeet,Laymelow,andkeepmethere."

Let us thank God for our trials. We dwell, perhaps, in a land ofnarrowness.But,likeImmanuelKant'sgarden,itis"endlesslyhigh."Theairisfresh,andthesunisclear.Thewinterisfrosty,butkindly.Withthespringtime comes the singing of birds, and the bloomand fragrance offlowers. And if, even in the summer, there breathes "a nipping and aneager air," there is always thehealth-giving smile ofGod.On the otherhand, how true is the sentence ofAugustine, "Earthly riches are full ofpoverty."Rich stores of corn andwinewill never satisfy ahungry soul.Purpleandfinelinenmayonlymaskathreadbarelife.Theshrillblareoffame's trumpet cannot subdue thediscordsof the spirit.ThebestnightthatJacobeverspentwas that inwhichastonewashispillow,and theskiesthecurtainsofhistent.WhenJacobwasheldinderisionbyyouthswhosefathershewouldhavedisdainedtosetwiththedogsofhisflock,hewasmadeaspectacletoangels,andbecamethethemeoftheirwonderand joy. The defeat which Adam sustained in Paradise, the RedeemerretrievedinthedesolationofthedesertandtheanguishofHispassion.Thecrosswearecalledtobearmaybeheavy,butwehavenottocarryitfar.AndwhenGodbidsuslayitdown,heavenbegins.

Chrysostom,onhiswaytoexile,exclaimed,"ThankGodforeverything."

If we imitate himwe shall never have a bad day. Alexander Simson, afamous Scottish minister of two hundred years ago, once, when outwalking,fell,andbrokehisleg.Hewasfound"sittingwithhisbrokenleginhis arm, andalways cryingout, 'Blessedbe theLord;blessedbeHisname.'"Andtruly,seeingthatallthingsworktogetherforgoodtothosewholoveGod,hewaswise.RichardBaxterfoundreasontoblessGodforadisciplineofpainwhichenduredforfiveandthirtyyears.AndSamuelRutherford exclaims, "Oh, what owe I to the furnace, the file, and thehammerofmyLordJesus!"

(b)Butallourmercies,rightlyviewed,leadusbacktothethoughtofouracceptanceinChrist.Theriverofthewateroflife,whichmakesthedesertglad,flowsfromunderthethroneofGodandtheLamb.Thebenefitsofthatgraciouscovenantthatisorderedandsureareallconfirmedforouruseandpleasurebytheblood-seal.There'snotagiftHishandbestows,ButcostHisheartagroan.

The water may be spent in the bottle, but the Well of the Oath isspringingfreshlyjustathand,sonearthatwemayhearthemusicofitsflow.Thievesmayrobusofourspendingmoney,"butourgoldisinourtrunkathome."Godmaytakeawayfromusmuchthat isdear,buthasHe not given us Christ? And however the prayer of thanksgiving maycircleinandoutamongthegraciousprovidencesofGod,itwillinfalliblycometorestatthefeetoftheLord.

But to praise Christ is a high exercise. What Thomas Boston says ofpreachingisastrueofpraising:"IsawthepreachingofChristtobethemostdifficultthing;forthat, thoughthewholeworldis fullofwonders,yetherearedepthsbeyondall."Andseeingittobesohekeptthis"suit"depending before God for a long time, "That hemight see Christ by aspiritualillumination."Soeagerwashefortheacceptanceofhisplea,andsogrievoustohissoulwashisignoranceofChrist,thathisbodilyhealthbegan tobeaffected.Yet,ashe tellsus, therewere timeswhenhissoulwent out in love to Christ, followed hard after Him, and "saw muchcontent,delight,andsweetinHim.

ThepassoverinIsraelwascelebratedontheeveofthegreatdeliverance,whichwasthencefortha"nighttobemuchobserveduntotheLord."LetusfrequentlycommemorateourredemptionfromabondagemorebitterthanthatofEgypt.JohnBunyanconveysthiswholesomecounseltohis"dearchildren.""Calltomindtheformerdaysandyearsofancienttimes;remember also your songs in the night, and commune with your ownhearts.Yea, lookdiligently,and leavenocorner thereinunsearched, forthattreasurehid,eventhetreasureofyourfirstandsecondexperienceofthegraceofGod towardsyou; remember, I say, theword that first laidhold upon you; remember your terrors of conscience and fear of deathand hell; remember also your tears and prayers to God-yea, how yousighed under every hedge for mercy! Have you never a hill Mizar toremember? Have you forgot the closet, themilk-house, the stable, thebarn, and the like,whereGoddid visit your souls?Remember also theword-theword,Isay,uponwhichtheLordcausedyoutohope."

It is right also that we should search into the riches and glory of theinheritanceofwhichwehavebeenmadepartakers.ThebloodofChrist,the grace of the Spirit, the light of the Divine countenance, are "threejewels worth more than heaven. The name of Christ hath in it tenthousand treasures of joy.29 Perhaps the most acceptable form ofworshipandtheswiftestincitementtopraise,whenwerecallthemercieswhicharemadesuretous"inthebloodofaneternalcovenant,"istheactof appropriation by which we serve ourselves heirs to the purchasedpossession already ours in Christ. Dr. Chalmers was one of those whodiscovered this open secret. In his diary we frequently meet withexpressions such as these: "Began my first waking minutes with aconfidentholdofChristasmySaviour.Adayofgreatquietness.""Letthelaying hold of Christ asmy propitiation be the unvarying initial act ofevery morning." "Began the day with a distinct act of confidence; butshouldrenewitthroughtheday.""Beganagainwithanactofconfidence;but why not a perennial confidence in the Saviour?" "I have recurredmorefrequentlytotheactingsoffaithinChrist,andIcanhavenodoubtofthisbeingthehabitthatistobringmeright.""RecurringtothetopicofalargeconfidenceandbeliefinthepromisesoftheGospel,letmeactontheinjunction,"Openthymouthwide,andIwillfillit."

It is our pleasant duty also to reviewwith thanks-giving all theway bywhichtheLordhasledus.OttoFunckehasbeautifullyentitledhisbriefautobiography,

"TheFootprintsofGodinthePathwayofMyLife."ThewayoftheDivinedirectionmayleadfromthebitterwatersofMarahtothetemperedshadeof Elim's palms. It may pass through the fiery desert, but it reachesonwardstotheMountofGod.Itmaydescendtothevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,butitwillbringusoutandthroughtothepleasantlandofthepromisesofGod-

"Alandofcornandwineandoil,FavoredwithGod'speculiarsmile,Witheveryblessingblest."

And in that "right way" of the Divine conduct there is always thecomforting and adorable presence of our Great God and Saviour. Wecannot recall themercies of theway and not rememberHim.He took,with a hand that was pierced, the bitter cup, and drank, until His lipswerewetwithoursorrowanddoom.Andnowthecupofbitternesshasbecomesweet.WhereHis footsteps fell thewildernessrejoiced,andthewasteplacesofourlifebecamefruitfulasCarmel.Aruggedtrackbeneathourfeetrandarklyintothenight,butthetenderloveofHispresencewasasa lamptoour feetanda lightuponourpath.Hisname is fragrance,His voice is music, His countenance is health. Dr. Judson, in his lastillness, had a wonderful entrance into the land of praise. He wouldsuddenlyexclaim,asthetearsrandownhisface,"Oh,theloveofChrist!the love ofChrist !We cannot understand it now, butwhat a beautifulstudy for eternity."Again and again, thoughhis painwas constant andsevere,hewouldcryinaholyrapture,"Oh,theloveofChrist!theloveofChrist!"

Suchpraisesuplifttheirstrainuntilitmingleswiththegloryofthenewsongwhichfillsthesanctuaryonhigh,"Thouartworthytotakethebook,andtoopenthesealsthereof:forThouwastslain,andhastredeemedustoGodbyThyblood,outofeverykindred,andtongue,andpeople,andnation;andhastmadeusuntoourGodkingsandpriests:andweshallreignontheearth"(Rev.5:9,10).

(c)Andso,praiseaddressedtoGodinnameandmemoryofJesusChristrises inevitably into adoration. And here,most often, "praise is silent."Isaiah, transported by faith into the inner sanctuary, was rapt into theworshipoftheseraphim,andjoinedinspiritintheunendingadorationoftheTriuneGod-"Holy,holy,holy,istheLordofhosts:thewholeearthisfull of His glory" (Isa. 6:3). The herald angels poured forth upon theplains ofBethlehem the song of heaven, "Glory toGod in the highest;"andoursadearthheard,andwascomforted.

"Angels,helpustoadoreHim;YebeholdHimfacetoface!"

But even these bright intelligences are unable to show forth all Hispraise.30

ItisreportedofJohnJanewaythatofteninthehourofsecretprayerhescarcely knew whether he were "in the body, or out of the body."Tersteegensaidtosomefriendswhohadgatheredroundhim,"Isithereand talk with you, but within is the eternal adoration, unceasing andundisturbed."Woodrow relates that on one occasionMr. Carstairswasinvitedto takepart incommunionservicesatCalder,nearGlasgow.Hewas wonderfully assisted, and had "a strange gale through all thesermon."Hishearerswereaffectedinanunusualdegree;gloryseemedtofill the house. "A Christian man that had been at the table, and wasobliged to come out of the church, pressing to get in again, could notsucceed for some time, but stood without the door, wrapt up in thethoughtsofthatglorythatwasinthehouse,fornearlyhalf-an-hour,andcouldthinkofnothingelse."

Dr. A. J. Gordon describes the impression made upon his mind bydialogue with Joseph Rabinowitz, whom Dr. Delitzsch considered themostremarkableJewishconvertsinceSaulofTarsus:"Weshallnotsoonforget the radiance thatwould come into his face as he expounded theMessianicpsalmsatourmorningoreveningworship,andhow,ashereand there he caught a glimpse of the suffering or glorified Christ, hewould suddenly lift his hands and his eyes to heaven in a burst ofadmiration, exclaimingwith Thomas, after he had seen the nail-prints,'MyLord,andmyGod!'"

Withmanyofusemotionmaybefeeble,andraptureofthespiritmayberare. Love to Christmay express itselfmore naturally in right conductthaninatumultofpraise.Butitisprobablethattoeachsincerebelieverthere are granted seasons of communion when, as one turns to theunseen glory, the veil of sense becomes translucent, and one seems tobeholdwithin theHoliest theveryFaceandFormofHimwhodied forour sins,who rose for our justification,whonowawaits us at the righthandofGod.But,evenso,wemustneverforgetthatadorationdoesnotexhaustitselfinpleasingemotions.Bythelawofitsnatureitturnsagainto request: "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name"(Matt.6:9).

CHAPTER5

TheEngagement:Confession

"Thegardenofspicesissprinkledwithredflowers."-HeinrichSeuse."ItisagreatandrarethingtohaveforgivenessinGoddiscovereduntoasinfulsoul....ItisapureGospeltruth,thathathneithershadow,footstep,norintimationelsewhere.Thewholecreationhathnottheleastobscureimpressionofitleftthereon."-JohnOwen.

"BeforeHisbreaththebandsThatheldmefallandshrivelupinflame.HebearsmynameuponHiswoundedhands,UponHisheartmyname.

Iwait,mysouldothwaitForHimwhoonHisshoulderhearsthekey;Isitfastbound,andyetnotdesolate;MymightyLordisfree.

Bethouup-lifted,DoorOfeverlastingstrength!theLordonhighHathgone,andcaptiveledforevermoreMylongcaptivity."-DoraGreenwell.

"Ifweconfessoursins,Heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursins,andtocleanseusfromallunrighteousness"(1John1:9).Confessionofsinisthe first act of an awakened sinner, the firstmark of a gracious spirit.WhenGoddesiresanhabitationinwhichtodwell,Heprepares"abrokenandacontriteheart."ThealtarofreconciliationstandsattheentranceoftheNewTestamenttemple;fromthealtartheworshipperpasseson,byway of the laver, to the appointed place of meeting the blood-stainedmercy-seat.

Butwespeaknowratherof theconfessionof sinwhich isdueby thosewhoarejustified,havingfoundacceptanceinChristJesus.Thoughtheyarechildren,theyaresinnersstill.Andiftheywalkinthelight,theyareconscious-asintheirunregeneratestatetheyneverwere-ofthebasenessof theirguilt, thehatefulnessof their iniquity.Fornowtheybring theirtransgressions and apostasies into the light of God's countenance, andholding them up before Him, cry, "Against Thee, Thee only, have Isinned, anddone this evil inThy sight: thatThoumightest be justifiedwhenThouspeakest,andbeclearwhenThoujudgest"(Psa.51:4).

Confession of sin should be explicit. "The care of Christianity is forparticulars," says Bishop Warburton. The ritual law in Israel whichprovided for the transference of sin on the Day of Atonement pre-supposed definiteness of confession: "Aaron shall lay both his handsupontheheadofthelivegoat,andconfessoverhimalltheiniquitiesofthechildrenofIsrael,andall theirtransgressionsinall theirsins"(Lev.16:21).Inprivatesacrifices,also,whilethehandsoftheofferer(Lev.1:4)were laid on the victim, the following prayerwas recited: "I entreat,OJehovah: I have sinned, I have doneperversely, I have rebelled, I havecommitted_____________;"thenthespecialsin,orsins,werenamed,andtheworshippercontinued,"butIreturninpenitence: letthisbeformy atonement." Standing beside the ruins of Jericho, Joshua said to

Achan, "My son, give, I pray thee, glory to theLordGod of Israel, andmakeconfessionuntoHim"AndAchananswered,"Indeed,Ihavesinnedagainst the LordGod of Israel; and thus and thus have I done" (Josh.7:19,20).ThegreatpromiseoftheNewTestamentisnotlessdefinite:"Ifweconfessoursins,Heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursins,andtocleanseusfromallunrighteousness"(IJohn1:9).Awiseoldwritersays,"AchildofGodwillconfesssin inparticular;anunsoundChristianwillconfess sinbywholesale;hewillacknowledgehe isa sinner ingeneral;whereasDaviddoth,asitwere,pointwithhisfingertothesore: 'Ihavedonethisevil'(Psa.51:4);hedothnotsay,'Ihavedoneevil,'but'thisevil.'Hepointstohisblood-guiltiness."

When,inthecourseoftheday'sengagements,ourconsciencewitnessesagainstusthatwehavesinned,weshouldatonceconfessourguilt,claimby faith the cleansingof thebloodofChrist, and sowashourhands ininnocence.Andafterwards,assoonaswehaveaconvenientopportunity,weoughttoreviewwithdeliberationthewrongthatwehavedone.AsweconsideritwithGodweshallbeimpressedbyitssinfulness,aswewerenot at the time of its committal. And if the sin is one which we havecommittedbefore, one towhichperhapsournature lies open,wemustcastourselvesinutterfaithuponthestrongmercyofGod,pleadingwithHiminthenameofChristthatwemayneveragainsogrieveHim.31

AsourheartsgrowmoretenderinthepresenceofGod,theremembranceof formersinswhichhavealreadybeenacknowledgedand forgivenwillfrom time to time imprint a fresh stainuponour conscience. In suchacasenature itself seems to teachus thatwe ought anew to implore thepardoninggraceofGod.Forwebend,notbeforethejudgmentseatoftheDivineLawgiver,butbeforeourFather,towhomwehavebeenreconciledthroughChrist.Amoreadequateconceptionoftheoffensewhichwehavecommitted ought surely to be followed by a deeper penitence for thewrongdone.UndertheguidanceoftheHolySpiritweshalloftenbeledto pray with the Psalmist, "Remember not the sins ofmy youth" (Psa.25:7),eventhoughthesehavelongsincebeendealtwithanddoneaway.Conviction of sin will naturally prompt to confession. When suchpromptings are disregarded, the Spirit who has wrought in us thatconvictionisgrieved.

"Mysins,mysins,mySaviour,HowsadonTheetheyfall;WhilethroughThygentlepatienceIten-foldfeelthemall.

"Iknowtheyareforgiven;ButstilltheirpaintomeIsallthegriefandanguishTheylaid,myLord,onThee."

Itisofthefirstimportancethatinalltheexercisesofthesecretchamberweshouldyieldourselves to theblessed influencesof theComforter,bywhom alone we are enabled to pray with acceptance. An importantcautioninregardtothishasbeennotedbyRalphErskine.Inhisdiaryhewrites,underthedateJanuary23,1733:"ThismorningIwasquickenedinprayer,andstrengthenedtohopeintheLord.Atthebeginningofmyprayer I discerned a lively frame in asserting aGod inChrist to be thefountainofmylife,thestrengthofmylife,thejoyofmylife;andthatIhadnolifethatdeservedthatname,unlessHeHimselfweremylife.Buthere,checkingmyselfwithreflectionsuponmyownsinfulness,vileness,andcorruption,Ibegantoacknowledgemywickedness;butforthetimethesweetnessof frame failedme,andworeoff.Whence, I think, Imaygather this lesson, that no sweet influence of the Spirit ought to bechecked upon pretense of getting a frame better founded uponhumiliation; otherwise, theLordmaybeprovoked towithdraw."WhenThomasBoston foundhimself indangerofgivingway tovain-glory,hetookalookathisblackfeet.32Wemaywelldothesame,butneversoasto lose our assurance of sonship, or our sense of the preciousness ofChrist. As Rutherford reminds us, "There is no law-music in heaven:there all their song is, 'Worthy is theLamb.'"And thebloodof ransomhasatonedforALLSIN.

Believersofaformerageusedtoobservewiththankfulnesstheoccasionsonwhichtheywereenabledtoshow"akindly,penitentialmourningforsin." At other times they would lament their deadness. Yet it neveroccurredtothemthatthecoldnessoftheiraffectionsshouldinducethemto restrain prayer beforeGod.On the contrary, theywere of onemindwith "a laborious and successful wrestler at the throne of grace," who

determined that "hewouldnevergiveoverenumeratingandconfessinghissins,tillhisheartweremeltedincontritionandpenitentialsorrow."

Forsuchdeadnessofhearttheremaybemanyexplanations.

He who was once as a flame of fire in his Master's service may haveallowedthefervorofhisfirstlovetodeclineforwantoffuel,orwantofwatchfulcare,untilonlyalittleheapofgrayashessmoldersonthealtarofhisaffections.Hisgreatestsorrowisthathehasnosorrowforsin,hisheaviestburdenthatheisunburdened."Oh,thatIwereonceagainundertheterrorsofChrist,"wasthecryofonewhohadhunginagonyoverthebrinkofthepit,butwhohadlearnedthatacoldhearttowardsChristisstillmore insupportable.Thosewhoare in sucha caseareoftennearertheSaviour than theyknow.ShepardofNewEngland, speaking fromawide experience, says: More are drawn to Christ under the sense of adead,blindheart,thanbyallsorrows,humiliations,andterrors."

ThatwhichimpressesusasdeadnessofheartmaybetheoperationoftheHoly Spirit, convincing us of sins hitherto unnoticed. As one looks atsomestar-galaxy, and sees it onlyas awreathofdimmingmist, soonebecomes conscious of innumerable unregarded sins, merely by theshadow which they fling upon the face of the heavens. But when oneobserves through a telescope the nebulous drift, it resolves itself into aclusterofstars,almostinfiniteinnumber.AndwhenoneexaminesinthesecretplaceofcommunionthecloudwhichdarkensthefaceofGod,itisseentoscatterandbreakintoamultitudeofsins.If,then,inthehourofprayer we have no living communion with God, let us plead with thepsalmist,"Searchme,OGod,andknowmyheart;tryme,andknowmythoughts;andseeiftherebeanywayofwickednessinme,andleadmeinthe way everlasting" (Psa. 139:23, 24, R.V.). He who has engaged to"searchJerusalemwithcandles"(Zeph.1:12)willexamineusthroughandthrough,willtestusassilverisproved,willsiftusaswheat.Hewillbringup from theunexploreddepthsof ournature all that is contrary to themind of Christ, and reduce every thought and imagination to theobedienceofHiswill.

Deadnessofheartmayarisealsofromtheconsciousnessofourmanysinsof omission-duties unattempted, opportunities unimproved, grace

disregarded. Often, when we kneel in prayer, "the lost years cry out"behindus.WhatwasrelatedofArchbishopUsshermightbesaidofverymanyof theLord's servants-"Heprayedoften, andwithgreathumility,thatGodwould forgivehimhis sinsofomission, andhis failings inhisduty."Eachday is a vessel to be freightedwith holy deeds and earnestendeavors before it weighs anchor and sets sail for the eternal shores.Howmanyhourswemisspend!Howmanyoccasionswelose!HowmanypreciousgiftsofGodwesquander!Andtheworldpassesaway,andthefashionofitfadeth.

Butthere is thatwhich liesstilldeeper inthesoul thanevensecretsin-there isnativesinfulness, thebodyofdeath.Whenweacknowledge thedepravity of our nature we should endeavor to speak according to themeasureofourexperience.Wecanscarcelyexaggeratethefacts,butwemayeasilyoverstateourappreciationofthem.Asweadvanceingrace,aswebecomeaccustomedtoholdourlightestthoughtorfeelingwithinthepiercing illumination of theDivine purity, aswe open themost hiddenrecessesofourbeingtothegraciousinfluencesofthegoodSpiritofGod,we are led into a profounder understanding of the sinfulness of inbredsin,untilwelamentwithEzra,"Oh,myGod,Iamashamed,andblushtoliftupmyfacetoThee,myGod"(Ezra9:6).ItisreportedofLutherthatfor one long day his inborn sinfulness revealed itself in dreadfulmanifestations,sovehementandterrifyingthat"theveryvenomofthemdrank up his spirits, and his body seemed dead, that neither speech,sense,blood,orheat appeared inhim."Onadayof special fastingandprayer Thomas Shepard, of Cambridge, Connecticut, wrote as follows:"November3rd.Isawsinasmygreatestevil;andthatIwasvile;butGodwasgoodonly,whommysinsdidcross.AndIsawwhatcauseIhadtoloathemyself....The Lord also gaveme some glimpse ofmyself; a gooddayandtimeitwastome....IwenttoGod,andrestedonHim....Ibeganto considerwhether all the country did not fare theworse formy sins.AndIsawitwasso.Andthiswasanhumblingthoughttome."PresidentEdwardshadatonetimeanamazingdiscoveryofthebeautyandgloryofChrist.Afterrecordingitinhisdiary,hecontinues:"Mywickedness,asIaminmyself,haslongappearedtomeperfectlyineffable,andswallowingupallthoughtandimagination,likeaninfinitedeluge,ormountainsovermyhead.Iknownothowtoexpressbetterwhatmysinsappeartometo

be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite byinfinite. Very often for these many years these expressions are in mymind and inmymouth, "Infinite upon infinite! Infinite upon infinite!"When Dr. John Duncan was drawing near to death he remarked withgreatearnestness,"Iamthinkingwithhorrorofthecarnalmind,enmityagainstGod.Inevergetasightof itbut itproduceshorror,evenbodilysickness.

These are solemn experiences. Perhaps God leads few of His childrenthroughwaters sowildanddeep.Normustwe try to follow,unlessHepoints the way. Above all, we dare not, in confessions which areaddressed to a holy God, simulate an experience which we have neverknown.Butletus,asfarasGodhasrevealedittous,confessthedeepsinofournature.Ithasbeensaid33withmuchtruththattheonly"signofone's being in Christ which Satan cannot counterfeit" is the grief andsorrow which true believers undergo when God discloses to them thesinfulnessofinbredsin.

But,ontheotherhand,theloveofChristattimessofillstheheartthat,though the remembrance of sin continues, the sense of sin is lost-swallowed up in a measureless ocean of peace and grace. Such highmomentsofvisitationfromthelivingGodaresurelyapreludetothejoyofheaven.Forthesongoftheredeemedingloryisunlikethepraisesofearth in this, thatwhile italsocelebrates thedeathof theLambofGodthere is in it nomentionof sin.All thepoisonous fruits of our iniquityhavebeenkilled;allthebitterconsequencesofourevildeedshavebeenblottedout.Andtheonlyrelicsofsinwhicharefoundinheavenarethescarred feet and hands and side of the Redeemer. So, when the savedfromearthrecalltheirformertransgressions,theylooktoChrist;andtheremembranceofsindiesintheloveofHimwhoworethethorny-crown,andenduredthecross.

"Thefoulerwastheerror,Thesadderwasthefall,TheamplerarethepraisesOfHimwhopardonedall."

CHAPTER6

TheEngagement:Request

"Makemesensibleof realanswers toactual requests,asevidenceofaninterchangebetweenmyselfonearthandmySaviourinheaven."-ThomasChalmers.

"Obrother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spendhours inprayer; ratherneglectfriendsthannotpray;ratherfast,andlosebreakfast,dinner,tea,and supper-and sleep too-than not pray. And we must not talk aboutprayer,wemustprayinrightearnest.TheLordisnear.Hecomessoftlywhilethevirginsslumber."-A.A.Bonar.

"Themainlessonaboutprayerisjustthis:Doit!Doit!Doit!Youwanttobetaughttopray.Myansweris:prayandneverfaint,andthenyoushallneverfail.Thereisnopossibility.Youcannotfail....Asenseofrealwantistheveryrootofprayer."-JohnLaidlaw.

Once,whenthelateDr.MoodyStuarthappenedtobeinHuntly,DuncanMatheson took him to see some earnest Christian people. He visited,among others, an agedwomanwhowas in her ownway a "character."Beforeleaving,heprayedwithher;andshe,asherhabitwas,emphasizedeachpetitionwithsomeejaculatorycomment,ornoteofassent.Towardsthe close of his prayer, he asked that God, according to His promise,wouldgiveher"allthings."Theoldladyinterjected,"Allthings,na,thatwadbealift."Theminglingofcomfortanddoubtwhichwasrevealedbythe quaint insertion is characteristic of the faith of very many of thechildren of God when they are brought face to face with some greatpromise addressed to believing prayer: "And all things whatsoever yeshallaskinprayer,believing,yeshallreceive"(Matt.21:22);"ThereforeIsayuntoyou,All thingswhatsoeveryeprayandask for,believe thatyehave received them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24,R.V.); "If yeabide inMe,andMywordsabide inyou,askwhatsoeveryewill,and it

shallbedoneuntoyou"(John15:7,R.V.).ItissoreasonabletothinkthatHewhosparednotHisownSonshouldwithHimalsofreelygiveusallthings;anditissohardtobelievethatHewill.AsDr.MoodyStuartsayselsewhere, the controversy is between the mustard-seed and themountain: "The trial is whether themountain shall bury themustard-seed,orthemustard-seedcastthemountainintothesea."Themustard-seedissosmall,andthemountainsogreat,thatfaithisnoteasilycomeby. Indeed, it is literally "the gift of God." It is a divinely-implantedpersuasion, the fruit of much spiritual instruction and discipline. It isvisioninaclearerlightthanthatofearth.

The prayer of faith, like some plant rooted in a fruitful soil, draws itsvirtue from a dispositionwhich has been brought into conformitywiththemindofChrist.

1. It issubject to theDivinewill-"This is theconfidencethatwehave inHim, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us" (1John5:14).

2.ItisrestrainedwithintheinterestofChrist-"WhatsoeveryeshallaskinMy name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son"(John14:13).

3.Itisinstructedinthetruth-"IfyeabideinMe,andMywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,anditshallbedoneuntoyou"(John15:7).

4.ItisenergizedbytheSpirit-"Abletodoexceedingabundantlyaboveallthatwe ask or think, according to thepower thatworketh inus" (Eph.3:20).

5. It is interwoven with love and mercy-"And when ye stand praying,forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father alsowhich is inheavenmayforgiveyouyourtrespasses"(Mark11:25).

6. It is accompaniedwithobedience-"Whatsoeverwe ask,we receive ofHim,becausewekeepHiscommandments,anddothosethingsthatarepleasinginHissight"(1John3:22).

7.Itissoearnestthatitwillnotacceptdenial-"Ask,anditshallbegivenyou; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you"(Luke11:9).

8.Itgoesouttolookfor,andtohastenitsanswer"Thesupplicationofarighteousmanavailethmuchinitsworking"(James5:16,RV).34

But, although the prayer of faith springs from a divinely-implanteddisposition,thereisnothingmysteriousintheactoffaith.Itissimplyanassurancewhichreliesuponasufficientwarning.

(a) In the first instance, the warrant of faith is theWord of God. ThepromisesofGodarelettersofcredit,drawnonthebankofheaven,tobehonouredatsight.SometimeagoabundleofBankofEnglandnoteswasstolen,buttheywereunsigned,andthereforevalueless.ButthepromisesofGodareallwitnessedtobytheeternalveracity,andarecountersignedin the blood of the cross. They are subject to no discount; those whopresent them will receive their full face-value. "I am the Lord; I willspeak,andthewordthatIshallspeakshallbeperformed."

(b) The word of God rests on the Divine character. Therefore we aretaught to pray, "OLord,...doThou it, forThyname's sake."God is ourFather,andHeknowethwhatthingswehaveneedof.HeisourGodincovenant-ourownGod-andHewillblessus.HeistheGodandFatherofour Lord Jesus Christ, andHewill secure toHis well-beloved Son theinheritance which He has purchased in blood. He is the source ofblessing, fromwhom theComforterproceeds, and theprayerwhichHeinspiresHewillfulfill.

IntheintercessionofDanieltheprophetwehaveasignalillustrationofpetitionsfoundedonthistwo-foldwarrant.He"understoodbybooksthenumberoftheyears,whereofthewordoftheLordcametoJeremiahtheprophet, thatHe would accomplish seventy years in the desolations ofJerusalem."ButtheprophetdoesnotrestHistrustonlyonthepromise;heurgesthatwhichisduetotheDivinecharacter:"Now,therefore,OourGod, hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplications,andcauseThyfacetoshineuponThysanctuarythatisdesolate,fortheLord'ssake.OmyGod,inclineThineear,andhear;openThineeyes,and

beholdourdesolations,andthecitywhichiscalledbyThyname:forwedonotpresentoursupplicationsbeforeThee forour righteousness,butforThygreatmercies.OLord,hear;OLordforgive;OLord,hearkenanddo;defernot; forThineownsake,OmyGod,becauseThycityandThypeoplearecalledbyThyname"(Dan.9:17-19).

Butitmaybeobjected,IfourFatherknowethwhatthingswehaveneedof before we ask Him, and if it is His good pleasure to give us thekingdom,isitnecessarythatweshouldpresentourpetitionsdeliberatelybefore Him? The simplest answer to that question is that we areinstructedtodoso.IntheOldTestamentweread,"ThussaiththeLordGod,Iwillyet for thisbe inquiredofbythehouseofIsrael, todo it forthem." And in the New Testament, "In everything by prayer andsupplication,with thanksgiving, let your requests bemade knownuntoGod."WehaveastrikingilluminationoftheworkingofthisDivinelawinthe case ofElijah.He had preserved unhesitating fidelity towardsGod,and so had fulfilled the conditions by which alone fellowship with theHoly One is secured and maintained-"Jehovah liveth, before whom Istand."HehadwonIsraelbacktocovenantallegiance-"Andwhenallthepeoplesawit,theyfellontheirfaces;andtheysaid,TheLord,HeistheGod;theLord,HeistheGod."Hehadreceived,andacteduponadefinitepromise-"Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon theearth"(1Kings18:15,39,1,41).HehadtheinwardassurancethatGod'sanswer to his long-continued importunity of prayer was already on itsway, "There is a soundof abundance of rain."Nevertheless, he didnotcease from praying-he could not until the skies grew dark with thegatheringstorm.

It is possible, however, to suggest certain reasons why we should withparticularityand importunity implore thoseblessingswhicharealreadyoursinChrist.

(1)ByprayerourcontinuedandhumbledependenceonthegraceofGodis secured. If the bestowments of the covenant came to us withoutsolicitation, as the gifts of nature do, we might be tempted to holdourselves in independenceofGod, to say, "Mypower,and themightofminehand,bathgottenmethiswealth"35(Deut.8:17).

(2)TheLorddesirestohaveusmuchincommunionwithHimself.36Thereluctanceof thecarnalheart todwell inGod'spresence is terrible.Wewill rather speak ofHim than toHim.HowoftenHe finds occasion toreproveus, saying, "The companionshearken to thyvoice; causeMe tohear it." A father will prize an ill-spelled, blotted-scrawl from his littlechild,becauseitisapledgeandsealoflove.37AndpreciousinthesightoftheLordaretheprayersofHissaints.

(3)Much,verymuch,hasoften tobeaccomplished inusbeforewearefitted to employ worthily the gifts we covet. And God effects thispreparationofheartlargelybydelayingtograntourrequestatonce,andso holding us in the truth of His presence until we are brought into aspiritual understanding of the will of Christ for us in this respect. If afriend, out of his way (Luke 11:6, marg.), comes to us, hungry, andseekingfromusthebreadoflife,andwehavenothingtosetbeforehim,wemustgotoHimwhohasallstoreofblessing.AndifHeshouldseemtodeny our prayer, and say, "Trouble Me not," it is only that we mayunderstandthenatureoftheblessingweseek,andbefittedtodispensearightthebountyofGod.

(4)Oncemore,wearecalledtobefellow-laborerstogetherwithGod,inprayer,asinallotherministries.TheexaltedSavioureverlivestomakeintercession; and toHis redeemed peopleHe says, "Tarry ye here, andwatchwithMe" (Matt. 26:38). There is a greatwork to be done in thehearts of men, there is a fierce battle to be waged with spiritualwickedness inheavenlyplaces.Demonsare tobecastout, thepowerofhelltoberestrained,theworksofthedeviltobedestroyed.Andinthesethings it isbyprayeraboveallothermeans thatweshallbeable toco-operatewiththeCaptainoftheLord'shost.38

"Godspake,andgaveusthewordtokeep;Badeneverfoldthehands,norsleep'Midafaithlessworld-atwatchandward,TillChristattheendrelieveourguard.ByHisservantMosesthewatchwasset;Thoughnearuponcock-crowwekeepityet."

Whenprayerrisestoitstruelevel,self,withitsconcernsandneeds,isfor

the time forgotten, and the interests of Christ fill, and sometimesoverwhelm, the soul. It is then that prayer becomes most urgent andintense.ItwassaidofLutherthatheprayed"withasmuchreverenceasifhewere praying toGod, andwith asmuch boldness as if he had beenspeakingtoafriend."OneremarkedoftheprayersofGuthrieofFenwickthat"everywordwouldfillacornmeasure.LivingstonereportsofRobertBruce that in prayer "every sentence was like a strong bolt shot up toheaven."ThebiographerofRichardBaxtertellsusthatwhenhegatheredhisspirittogethertopray,it"tookwingforheaven."Andit isrelatedinsimilartermsofArchbishopLeightonthat"hismannerofprayingwassoearnest and importunateasproved thathis soulmountedup toGod intheflameofhisownaspirations."HenryMartynnotesinhisdiarythat,havingsetapartaday for fastingandhumiliation,hebegan topray forthe establishment of the Divine kingdom upon earth, with particularmention of India. He received so great an enlargement, and had suchenergy and delight in prayer, as he had never before experienced. Headds, "My whole soul wrestled with God. I knew not how to leave offcrying toHim to fulfillHispromises, chieflypleadingHisowngloriouspower."

Howmuch of the regeneration of Central Africa do we not owe to theprayersofDavidLivingstone?Hedidnot live tosee thehealingof "theopen sore;" it was not given to him to know the advancing Christiancultureof"thedarkcontinent."Buttherecordofhisprayersisonhigh.Hisjournalsgivesomeslightindicationofhislonelyvigils,hisdailyandnightly intercessions.He lived praying for Africa, andwhen he felt thecoldnessofdeathseizinguponhisframe,hecreptoutofbed,andashekneltupontheflooroftherudegrasshutinChitambo'svillageinIlalahissoul took flight to God in prayer. He died, his sympathetic biographerinforms us, "in the act of praying prayer offered in that reverentialattitudeaboutwhichhewasalwayssoparticular; commendinghisownspirit, with all his dear ones, as was his wont, into the hands of hisSaviour,andcommendingAfrica-hisowndearAfrica-withallherwoes,andsins,andwrongs,totheAvengeroftheoppressed,andtheRedeemerofthelost."

CHAPTER7

TheHiddenRichesoftheSecretPlace

"Prayeristhemeansbywhichweobtainallthegraceswhichraindownupon us from the Divine Fountain of Goodness and Love." -LaurenceScupoli."Therewasapoorwidowwomaninthatcountryside,asIcamethrough,thatwasworthmanyofyou.Shewasasked,Howshedidinthiseviltime?Idoverywell,saysshe;IgetmoreofoneverseoftheBiblenowthanIdidof itall langsyne.Hehathcastme thekeysof thepantry-door,andbiddenmetakemyfill."-AlexanderPeden.

"TheconsolationofScripturesconsistethinthis,thatreadinginthemthepromises of God, we do anew confirm, and fortify ourselves in Hope;there promising unto us that which betides to one to whom a LordpromisethbyhisLettersa thousandDucketsof income,whomaintainshimselfintheHopetohavethatrevenewthroughpatience,fortifyinghisheart more and more through hope, when it seems to him that theaccomplishmentof thepromise isdelayed,nowaiesdeparting fromhishope,andcomfortinghimselfwiththeLetteroftheLord."-JuandeValds(NicholasFerrar'sTranslation).

IntheRevisedVersionoftheNewTestamenttheearmissesthefamiliarendingofthetextwhichinthesepageswehavekeptbeforeus.Insteadofthewords "shall reward thee openly," we now read, "shall recompensethee,"Thereturnofprayeris,inthefirstinstance,personalandprivate;itis"thehiddenriches"ofthesecretplace(Isa.45:3).Then,asitpassesoutintolifeandaction,itismademanifest.TheFatherwhoisinsecret,andwhoseethinsecret,rewardsHisservants"openly."

We read that when the Pilgrims had come almost to the end of theenchantedground,"theyperceivedthatalittlebeforethemwasasolemnnoise,asofonethatwasmuchconcerned.Sotheywenton,and looked

before them; and, behold, they saw, as they thought, a man upon hisknees,withhishandsandeyes liftedup,andspeaking,astheythought,earnestlytoonethatwasabove.Theydrewnigh,butcouldnottellwhathesaid;so theywentsoftly tillhehaddone.Whenhehaddone,hegotup,andbegantoruntowardstheCelestialCity.

Thisisthefirstrewardofthesecretplace;throughprayerourgracesarequickened,andholinessiswroughtinus."Holiness,"saysHewitson,"isahabit of mind-a setting of the Lord continually before one's eyes, aconstantwalkingwithGodasonewithwhomweareagreed."Andintheattainment and maintenance of unbroken communion, "Prayer isamongstduties, as faith is amongstgraces."RichardSibbes remindsusthat"PrayerexercisesallthegracesoftheSpirit,"andFlavelconfirmsthesentence:"Youmuststrive,"hewrites,"toexcelinthis,forasmuchasnogracewithin or servicewithout can thrivewithout it." Berridge affirmsthat"alldecaysbegininthecloset;noheartthriveswithoutmuchsecretconversewithGod,andnothingwillmakeamendsforthewantofit."Onthe other hand, he acknowledges, "I never rose from secret prayerwithout some quickening. Even when I set about it with heaviness orreluctance the Lord is pleased in mercy to meet me in it." Similarly,Fraser ofBrea declares, "I findmyself better andworse as I decay andincreaseinprayer.

If prayer is hindered, even though it be hindered by devotion to otherduties of religion, the health of the soul is impaired. Henry Martynlaments in his diary that "want of private devotional reading andshortness of prayer, through incessant sermon-making, had producedmuch strangeness"betweenGodandhis soul.CommunionwithGod istheconditionofspiritualgrowth.It is thesoil inwhichall thegracesofthedivine life root themselves. If thevirtueswere theworkofman,wemightperfectthemonebyone,buttheyare"thefruitoftheSpirit,"andgrow together in one common life. When Philip Saphir embracedChristianity, he said, "I have found a religion for my whole nature."Holinessistheharmoniousperfection,the"wholeness"ofthesoul.

While we abide in Christ we ought not to allow ourselves to bediscouraged by the apparent slowness of our advancement in grace. Innature, growth proceeds with varying speed. Sibbes compares the

progressivesanctificationofbelieverstotheincreaseinherbsandtrees,"which"growattherootinwinter,intheleafinsummer,andintheseedin autumn." The first of these forms of increase seems very slow; thesecondismorerapid;thethirdrushesontofullmaturity.Inafewdaysofearly autumna field of grainwill seem to ripenmore than inweeks ofmidsummer.

CommunionwithGoddiscovers theexcellenceofHis character, andbybeholdingHimthesoulistransformed.HolinessisconformitytoChrist,andthisissecuredbyagrowingintimacywithHim.Itisevidentthatthisconsideration opens up a vast field for reflection. We shall merelyindicateoneortwoofthemanydirectionsinwhichitapplies.

(a)And first, the habit of prayerfulness produces a singular serenity ofspirit. To use Bengel's phrase, we are "built up into a recollectedconsciousnessofGod."

WhenonelooksintothequieteyesofHimthatsittethuponthethrone,thetremorsofthespiritarestilled.Pharaoh,kingofEgypt,isbutanoise;and the valley of the shadow of death is tuneful with songs of praise.Stormsmayravebeneathourfeet,buttheskyaboveisblue.WetakeourstationwithChrist inheavenlyplaces;wedwell in theSabbathofGod."HereI lie,"saidThomasHalyburtonwhenhisdeath-hourwasdrawingnear, "pained without pain, without strength yet strong." Seguier, aFrenchProtestant,whowassentencedtodeath,wasmockinglyaskedbyoneofhisguardshowhefelt.Hereplied,"Mysoulisasagarden,fullofshelterandfountains."TherearetownsinEuropewhichwouldbealmostinsupportablyhotinmidsummerwereitnotthatrivers,issuingfromtheice-fields of Switzerland, diffuse a cool and refreshing air even in thesultrynoon.Andsotheriverofthewateroflife,whichflowsfromunderthethroneofGodandtheLamb,makesgladthecityofGod."Prayer isthepeaceofourspirits,thestillnessofourthoughts,theevennessofourrecollection,theseatofourmeditation,therestofourcares,andthecalmofourtempest."39

(b)Again,thosewhocontinuallyexercisethemselvesinprayeraretaughtto rule their lives according to the will of God. This effect followsnaturally upon the former, for "all noble, moral energy roots itself in

moralcalm."

Prayeristheavowalofourcreature-dependence.Forthebelieveralsoitis the acknowledgment that he is not his own, but is, by reason of thegreatatonement,the"purchasedpossession"oftheSonofGod.PiusIV,hearing of Calvin's death, exclaimed: "Ah, the strength of that proudheretic lay in this, that riches andhonourwerenothing tohim."DavidLivingstone, in the heart of darkest Africa, writes in his Journal, "MyJesus,myKing,myLife,myAll,IagaindedicatemywholeselftoThee."Bengelspokeinthenameofallthechildrenoffaithwhenhesaid,"AllIam,andhave,bothinprincipleandpractice,istobesummedupinthisoneexpression-"TheLord'sproperty."Mybelonging totally toChrist asmySaviour is allmy salvation and allmydesire. I haveno other glorythan this,andIwantnoother."Afterwards,whendeathdrewnear, thefollowingwordswerepronouncedoverhim,"LordJesus,toTheeIlive,toTheeIsuffer,toTheeIdie.ThineIamindeathandinlife;saveandblessme,OSaviour,foreverandever.Amen."Atthewords"ThineIam,"helaidhisrighthanduponhisheart,intokenofhisfullandheartyassent.AndsohefellasleepinJesus.

Such is the normal attitude of the redeemed soul, an attitude whichprayeracknowledgesandconfirms.

Further, inprayerwepresent ourselves toGod,holdingourmotives inHis clear light, and estimating themafter the counsel ofHiswill. Thusourthoughtsandfeelingsarrangethemselvesintoclasses(asinaprocessof polishing or smoothing); those that rise towards the honour of Godtakingprecedenceofthosethatdriftdownwardtowardsthegratificationofself.Andso thegreatdecisionsof lifeareprepared. Inprayer,JacobbecameIsrael;inprayer,DanielsawChrist'sday,andwasglad;inprayer,Saul of Tarsus received his commission to go "far hence" among theGentiles; in prayer, the Son of Man accomplished His obedience, andembraced His cross. It does not always happen, however, that thecardinalpointsoflifearerecognizedintheveryplaceandhourofprayer.Helmholtz, the celebrated physicist, used to say that his greatestdiscoveriescametohim,notinthelaboratory,butwhenhewaswalking,perhaps along a country road, in perfect freedom of mind. But hisdiscoveriesmerely registered themselves then; theywere reallybrought

tothebirthinthelaboratory.Andwhetheritbeintheplaceofprayer,orelsewhere,thatlife'sgreatdecisionsframethemselves,undoubtedlyit isinthesilenthourthatcharactersaremoldedandcareersdetermined.

InhisAutobiographyGeorgeMullergivesastrikingtestimony:"Ineverremember, inallmyChristiancourse,aperiodnow(inMarch,1895)ofsixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY andPATIENTLYsoughttoknowthewillofGodbytheteachingoftheHolyGhost,throughtheinstrumentalityoftheWordofGod,butIhavebeenALWAYSdirectedrightly.ButifhonestyofheartanduprightnessbeforeGodwerelacking,orifIdidnotpatientlywaitbeforeGodforinstruction,or ifIpreferredthecounselofmyfellow-mentothedeclarationsof theWordoftheLivingGod,Imadegreatmistakes."AswepresentourselvesbeforetheLordinprayer,weopenourheartstotheHolySpiritwhenweyieldtotheinwardimpulse,andtheDivineenergycommandsourbeing.Our plans, if we have formed them at the dictation of nature, are laidaside,andthepurposeofGodinrelationtoourlivesisaccepted.AsweareSpirit-born,letusbeSpirit-controlled:"IfweliveintheSpirit,letusalsowalkintheSpirit."(c)ThroughtheacceptanceofthewillofGodforus,weareledoutintoaricherinfluenceandawiderusefulness.

MontalembertoncecomplainedtoLacordaire,"Howlittleit isthatmancandoforhisfellows!Ofallhismiseriesthis isthegreatest."It istruethatwe can effect little for one anotherbyordinaryhumanmeans, butmuchmaybedonebyprayer-"MorethingsarewroughtbyprayerThanthisworlddreamsof."

PrayerbringstheDivineomnipotenceintotheoccasionsoflife.Weask,andreceive;andourjoyisfull.

AnEnglishscholarhastoldusthatthosewhohavehelpedhimmostwerenot learned divines nor eloquent preachers, but holy men and womenwhowalkedwith God, andwho revealed unconsciously the unadornedgoodnesswhichtheblessedSpirithadwroughtinthem.

ThosesaintlypersonshadlookedonChristuntiltheywerechangedintoHis likeness; theyhad tarriedon theMountofGoduntil theuncreated

gloryshoneupontheirbrow.TraditionaffirmsthatColumbiatheCelticmissionary, Ruysbroek the recluse ofGroenendaal, JohnWelsh of Ayr,andmanyothers,werewrappedinasoftandtemperedradianceastheyprayed. Such legends, no doubt, were created by the remembrance oflivesthathadbeentransfigured.

"IsawaSaint.HowcanstthoutellthatheThousawestwasaSaint?IsawoneliketoChristsoluminouslyBypatientdeedsoflove,hismortaltaintSeemedmadehisgroundworkforhumility."

ButachangedlifeisnottheonlygiftwhichGodbestowsuponuswhenwestandintheunseenpresence.WhenMosescamefromtheMounthewas,as itwere, transfiguredintheeyesof thechildrenofIsrael;buthealso bore in his hands the tables of testimony-the pledges of thatcovenant,orderedandsure,whichhadbeensealedtohimforthem.Hisprayerhadsavedthepeopleofelection,andthelaw-tabletswerethesign.JohnNelson, hearing one comparing JohnWesley, unfavorably,with apulpitcelebrityofthetime,replied,"ButhehasnottarriedintheUpperRoomasJohnWesleyhasdone." It is this tarrying in theUpperRoomthatsecurestheenduementofpower.

Butthis lineofthought leadsout intothethemeofourclosingchapter-TheOpenRecompense.

CHAPTER8

TheOpenRecompense

"Jesus,LordGodfromalleternity,Whomloveofusbroughtdowntoshame,

IpleadThylifewithThee,IpleadThydeath,IpleadThyname.

Jesus,LordGodofeverylivingsoul,Thyloveexceedsitsutteredfame,Thywillcanmakeuswhole,IpleadThyself.IpleadThyname.-ChristinaRossetti.

"None canbelievehowpowerfulprayer is, andwhat it is able to effect,butthosewhohavelearneditbyexperience.Itisagreatmatterwheninextreme need to take hold on prayer. I know, whenever I have prayedearnestly that Ihavebeenamplyheard,andhaveobtainedmore thanIprayedfor.Godindeedsometimesdelayed,butatlastHecame.-Luther.

"IsoughtHiminmyhourofneed;(LordGodnowhearmyprayer!)FordeathHegavemelifeindeed,Andcomfortfordespair.Forthismythanksshallendlessbe,OhthankHim,thankHimnowwithme,GivetoourGodtheglory!"-J.J.Schutz.

IntheiranxietytomagnifythepersonalbenefitswhicharederivedfromcommunionwithGod, theGreek fathersused to employ the figureof aboatmooredtoaship.Ifoneweretodrawupontherope,theysaid,theshipwouldremainunmoved,buttheboatwouldatoncerespondtothepull.Apparentlytheyforgot,ordidnotknow,that inmechanics"actionandreactionareequalandopposite;"asgreataneffectwouldtakeplaceon the larger vessel as on the smaller, although the greater bulk of theshipwouldmake the displacementmuch less obviouswith regard to itthan as it affected the boat. In prayer also, the influence is reciprocal.There is, as we have seen, a heightened exercise of all the Christiangraces;buttherearealsodirectanswerstopetitionsofferedinfaith.

If we do not expect to receive answers to our requests, our wholeconception of prayer is at fault. "None ask in earnest," says Trail, "but

theywilltryhowtheyspeed.Thereisnosurerandplainermarkoftriflinginprayer thanwhenmenare carelesswhat theygetbyprayer."And tothesameeffectRichardSibbeswrites:"Weshouldwatchdaily,continueinstant in prayer; strengthen our supplications with arguments fromGod'sWord andpromises; andmarkhowourprayers speed.Whenweshootanarrowwelooktoitsfall;whenwesendashiptoseawelookforitsreturn;andwhenwesowwelookforanharvest....Itisatheismtoprayandnottowaitinhope.AsincereChristianwillpray,wait,strengthenhisheartwiththepromises,andneverleaveprayingandlookinguptillGodgiveshimagraciousanswer."

Andiftheanswerisdelayed,weoughttoaskourselvesifthatwhichwedesireistrulyaccordingtothewillofGod;andifwearesatisfiedthatitis,we ought to continue "instant in prayer."Bengel gives his judgmentthat"aChristianshouldnotleaveoffprayingtillhisheavenlyFathergivehim leave,bypermittinghim toobtain something."AndGeorgeMullerdrewencouragementfromthefactthathehadbeenenabledtopersevereinprayerdaily,duringtwenty-nineyears,foracertainspiritualblessinglongwithheld:"Athomeandabroad,inthiscountryandinforeignlands,inhealthandinsickness,howevermuchoccupied,Ihavebeenenabled,daybyday,byGod'shelp,tobringthismatterbeforeHim,andstillIhavenotthefullansweryet.Nevertheless,Ilookforit.Iexpectitconfidently.The very fact that day after day, and year after year, for twenty-nineyears,theLordhasenabledmetocontinuepatiently,believingly,towaitonHim for theblessing, still further encouragesme towait on; and sofullyamIassuredthatGodhearsmeaboutthismatter,thatIhaveoftenbeenenabledtopraiseHimbeforehandforthefullanswerwhichIshallultimatelyreceivetomyprayersonthissubject."40

WeoughtnottodoubtthatthoseprayerswhichareaccordingtotheWillof God shall have a full answer, for with regard to them we rest ourconfidenceontheWordandNameofChrist.Buttherearemanyrequestsconcerning which we do not easily come to full assurance-they do notstandsoclearlyintheDivinewillastoyielduscertainty.Andwithregardtomanyofthemourprayersseemtoreturnempty.

Mosesdesired topassoverJordanwith the tribes;but Jehovah said tohim, "Speak nomore untoMe of thismatter." Paul besought the Lord

thricethatthethornwhichrankledinhisfleshmightbewithdrawn,buttheonlyresponseassuredwas,"Mygraceissufficientforthee."John,thebeloveddisciple,encouragesustoprayforthesalvationofourbrethren,but even as we address ourselves to this holy duty he reminds us that"there isa sinuntodeath," in the faceofwhich,apparently,prayerwillnotprevail.Wemay indeedbe sure that "Whatsoever isgood forGod'schildrentheyshallhaveit;forallistheirstohelpthemtowardsheaven;therefore if povertybe good they shallhave it; if disgraceor crossesbegood they shall have them; for all is ours to promote our greatestprosperity."41

Whenweprayfortemporalblessings,wearesometimesconsciousofthespecialaidoftheSpiritofintercession.Thisis,sofar,awarranttobelievethat our prayer is well-pleasing to God. But wemust be careful not toconfoundtheyearningsofnaturewiththepromptingsoftheSpirit.Onlythose whose eye is single, and whose whole body, therefore, is full oflight,cansafelydistinguishbetweentheimpulsesofthefleshandoftheSpirit.42Subjecttothiscautionwemayveryoftenderiveencouragementfromthefervorofourpetitions.JohnLivingstonemadethisnoteinhisprivate papers: "After prayer, I am to look back and recapitulate whatpetitions God hath put in my mouth, and these I am to account asblessings promised, and to look for the performance." And AugustusToplady speaks with even less reserve: "I can, to the best of myremembranceandbelief,trulysaythatIneveryethavehadonepromise,nor assurance, concerning temporal things, impressed upon mebeforehand in away of communionwithGod,which the event did notrealize.Inever,thatIknowof,knewitfailinanyonesingleinstance."43

What things should form the burden of our request?Maximus of Tyredeclaredthathewouldnotaskthegodsforanythingbutgoodness,peace,andhopeindeath.ButweChristiansmayaskourFatherforallthatweneed.Only, letourdesiresberestrained,andourprayersunselfish.Thepersonalpetitions contained in theLord'sPrayer are verymodest-dailybread,forgiveness,anddeliverancefromsin'spower.Yetthesecompriseallthingsthatpertaintolifeandgodliness.

Breadandwater,andaplaceofshelteramongthemunitionofrocks,areassured to us. Garrison, and garrison fare!44 But we are not often

reduced to such simplicity of supply: God is so much better than Hisword.Hefeedsuswithfoodconvenient;andifeverHeshouldsufferustohunger,itisonlythatourspiritualnaturemaybeenriched.

Butman does not live by bread alone.Health and comfort, the joys ofhome, and the pleasures of knowledge, are blessings which we mayrightfullyask,and theywillnotbewithheldunlessourFather judges itbest that we should be deprived of them. But if He should bar ourrepeated request, and refuse to receive our prayer,wemust then replywith theFirst-bornamongmanybrethren, "Abba,Father,all thingsarepossible unto Thee: howbeit, not what I will, but what Thou wilt."45Whenwereachtheendofourjourney,ifnotbefore,weshallbeabletosay,"Therehathnot failedonewordofallHisgoodpromise,whichHepromised."

Whenwepray for spiritual blessingswe shall never ask in vain. JamesGilmour writes to one who asked his counsel, "All I know about theprocess is just going to God and telling what I want, and asking to beallowed tohave it. "Seek,andye shall find;ask,andyeshall receive." Iknownosecretbutthis.Andagain,"Yousayyouwantreviving-godirectto Jesus, and ask it straight out, and you'll get it straight away. Thisrevived state is not a thing you need towork yourself up into, or needothers to help you to rise into, or need to come to England to haveoperated upon you, Jesus can effect it anywhere, and does effect iteverywhere,wheneveramanorwoman,ormenandwomen,askit."Ask,andyeshallreceive."Mydearbrother,Ihavelearnedthatthesourceofmuch blessing is just to go to Jesus, and tell Him what you need." AScottishCovenanterreportsthathereceivedagreaterincreaseofgraceinoneafternoon,spentinprayer,thanduringayearbefore.Aftertwodays'prayer in the woods of Anwoth, Samuel Rutherford received the whitestoneandthenewname,tobe"agracedministerofJesusChrist."Andhow many kneeling in an upper chamber, have received the heavenlybaptisminto"asenseofallconditions,"andthewitnessofthetongueoffire.AllthestorehousesofGodopenatthevoiceoffaith.

Itisprobablethatanswerstoprayeralwaysbringtheirowntokentothesupplicant; but hemay not always be able to convince others that theeventswhich happen are due to the direct interposition ofGod. Let us

taketwoexamples,chosenalmostatrandom.

"A Christian friend once sprang after his boy, who had fallen into theswollenfloodoftheWupper;andashespranghecried,'Lord,teachmeto swim!' He swam skillfully, though he had never tried it before, andsavedhischild."46

Oncewhenasuddenandterrifichailstormwaspouringdownuponthefields, and likely to occasion serious damage, a person rushed intoBengel'sroom,andexclaimed:'Alas,sir,everythingwillbedestroyed;weshallloseall!'Bengelwentcomposedlytothewindow,openedit,lifteduphis hands to heaven, and said, 'Father, restrain it'; and the tempestactuallyabatedfromthatmoment"47

Often,however,therewardofprayerissoconspicuousthatitisscarcelypossible to ignore the connection between the petition and the answer.Let us take as an example of this the case of charitable institutionsfoundedbytheirpiouspromotersonthepromisesofGod.

The Pietas Hallensis is little else than an enumeration of deliverancesgranted toDr. Francke in connectionwith the orphan-houses atHalle.Here is one: "Another time I stood in need of a great sum of money,insomuch thatanhundredcrownswouldnothaveserved the turn,andyet I saw not the least appearance how I might be supplied with anhundredgroats.Thestewardcame,andsetforththewantwewerein.Ibadehimcomeagainafterdinner,andIresolvedtoputupmyprayerstotheLord forHisassistance.Whenhecame inagainafterdinner, Iwasstill inthesamewant,andsoappointedhimtocomeintheevening.Inthemeantimeafriendofminehadcometoseeme,andwithhimIjoinedinprayers,andfoundmyselfmuchmovedtopraiseandmagnifytheLordforallHisadmirabledealingstowardsmankind,evenfromthebeginningof the world, and the most remarkable instances came readily to myremembrance whilst I was praying. I was so elevated in praising andmagnifying God, that I insisted only on that exercise of my presentdevotion,andfoundnoinclinationtoputupmanyanxiouspetitionstobedeliveredofthepresentnecessity.Atlengthmyfriendtakinghisleave,Iaccompaniedhimtothedoor,whereIfoundthestewardwaitingononesideforthemoneyhewanted,andontheotherapersonwhobroughtan

hundredandfiftycrownsforthesupportofthehospital."

ThehistoryofGeorgeMuller'sHomesatAshleyDowniswrittenvividlyon the conscience of Christendom. Mr. Muller, among many trials tofaith,encounteredonewhichwasespeciallysharp.Lookingbacktoitinlateryears,hecommemoratestheLord'sdeliverance,andadds:"Theonlyinconveniencethatwehadinthiscasewasthatourdinnerwasabouthalfanhourlaterthanusual.Suchathing,asfarasIremember,scarcelyeveroccurredbefore,andhasneveroccurredsince."

WilliamQuarrierbalancedtheaccountsoftheHomesatBridgeofWeireverymonth.Ifatanytimeitappearedprobablethatthebalancewouldfall on the wrong side, he called his fellow-workers to prayer, andinvariably theneeded funds came in.Almost at the close of his life, hetestifiedthathehadneverbeenindebtonehour.

"TheGodthatanswerethbyorphanages,"exclaimedC.H.Spurgeon,"letHimbeGod."

Lesstangible,butnotlessobvious,aretheanswersgrantedtoprayersforthe extension of theRedeemer's kingdomupon earth. To illustrate thispoint suitably itwould benecessary to outline the history of thewholeChurchofChrist.

Onecouldalmostwishthatthiswerethebeginning,andnotthecloseofthissmallvolume.Howthe instancescrowduponthememory,andstirtheimagination!

Byprayerahandfulof"unlearnedandignorantmen,"hard-handedfromtheoarand the rudder, themattockand thepruning-hook, "turned theworldupsidedown,"andspreadthenameofChristbeyondthelimitsoftheRomanpower.

By prayer the tent-maker of Tarsus won the dissolute Corinthians topurityandfaith,48laidtheenduringfoundationsofWesternChristianity,andraisedthenameofJesushighintheverypalaceofNero.

TheruinedcellsonmanybarrenisletsinourScottishseasremindusof

the weeks and months of prayer and fasting by which the Celticmissionaries,inthespaceofonegeneration,wonCaledoniaforChrist.

The prayers of Luther and his colleagues sent the great truths of theGospelflyingacrossEuropeasonthewingsofangels.

ThemoorlandandthemountainsofScotlandaretothishourwitnessesthat"afairmeeting"betweenacovenantingChristandacovenantedlandwere drawn on by the prayers of Welsh and Cargill, Guthrie andBlackadder,PedenandCameron.

Beforethegreatrevival inGallneukirchenbrokeout,MartinBoosspenthours and days, and often nights, in lonely agonies of intercession.Afterwards,whenhepreached,hiswordswereasflame,andtheheartsofthepeopleasgrass.

AsermonpreachedinClynnog,Caernarvonshire,byRobertRoberts,wastheapparentcauseofawidespreadawakeninginWales.Itissaidthatahundred persons were savingly impressed by its delivery. Some dayslater,afriendofthepreacher,JohnWilliams,Dolyddelen,said,"Tellme,Roberts,wheredidyougetthatwonderfulsermon?""Comehere,John,"saidRoberts,asheledhimtoasmallparlor,andcontinued,"ItwashereIfoundthatsermonyouspeakof-onthefloorhere,allnightlong,turningbackwardandforward,withmyfacesometimesontheearth."

Ah! it isalwaysso.Thosewhohave turnedmany torighteousnesshavelaboredearlyandlatewiththeweaponcalled"All-prayer."

Of Joseph Alleine, who "was infinitely and insatiably greedy of theconversionofsouls," it is related: "At the timeofhishealth,hedidriseconstantlyatorbeforefouroftheclock....Fromfourtilleighthespentinprayer, holy contemplation, and Singing of psalms, in which he muchdelighted....Sometimes he would suspend the routine of parochialengagementsanddevotewholedaystothesesecretexercises,inordertowhichhewouldplan tobealone in someemptyhouse,orelse in somebarrenspotintheopenvalley."

OfWilliamGrimshaw, the apostle ofYorkshire, itwas said: "Itwashis

customtoriseearly in themorning-at five in thewinter,andat four inthesummer-thathemightbeginthedaywithGod."

George Whitefield frequently spent whole nights in meditation andprayer,andoftenrosefromhisbedinthenighttointercedeforperishingsouls. He says: "Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on thegroundinsilentorvocalprayer."

The biographer of Payson observes that "prayer was pre-eminently thebusinessofhislife,"andhehimselfusedtostronglyassertthathepitiedthat Christian who could not enter into the meaning of the words,"groaningswhichcannotbeuttered"(Rom.viii.26).It isrelatedofhimthathe"worethehardwoodboardsintogrooveswherehiskneespressedsooftenandsolong."

Inaword,everygraciousworkwhichhasbeenaccomplishedwithinthekingdomofGodhasbeenbegun,fostered,andconsummatedbyprayer.

"What is the secret of this revival?" said one in 1905 to EvanRoberts."Thereisnosecret,"wasthereply,"Itisonly,'Ask,andreceive.'"

Footnotes

1"Believeme, to praywith all your heart and strength,with the reasonandthewill,tobelievevividlythatGodwill listentoyourvoicethroughChrist,and,verily,todothethingHepleaseththereuponthisisthelast,thegreatestachievementoftheChristian'swarfareuponearth.Teachustopray,OLord."Coleridge.

2Dr.Horton,VerbumDei,p.214.

3"It is a tremendously hard thing to pray aright. Yea, it is verily thescienceofallscienceseventopraysothattheheartmayapproachuntoGod with all gracious confidence, and say, 'Our Father, which art inheaven.' For he who can take to himself such confidence of grace isalreadyover thehillDifficulty,andhas laid the foundation-stoneof thetempleofprayer."-Luther,PartingWords(Edin.,1903),p.73.

"Perfect prayer is not attained by the use ofmany words, but through

deepdesire."-CatherineofSiena.

4"Weknowtheutilityofprayerfromtheeffortsof thewickedspirits todistractusduringtheDivineoffice;andweexperiencethefruitofprayerin the defeat of our enemies."-John Climacus, The Holy Ladder ofPerfection,xxviii.64.

"WhenwegotoGodbyprayer. thedevilknowswegoto fetchstrengthagainsthim,andthereforeheopposethusallhecan."-R.Sibbes,DivineMeditations,164.

5"Ifthoufindaweariness inthisduty,suspectthyself,purgeandrefinethyheartfromtheloveofallsin,andendeavortoputitintoaheavenlyandspiritualframe;andthenthouwiltfindthisnounpleasantexercise,butfullofdelightandsatisfaction.Inthemeantime.complainnotofthehardness of the duty, but of the untowardness of thy own heart."-TheWholeDutyofMan(Lond.,1741),p.122.

6F.W.H.Myers,Poems.

7"In our mutual intercourse and conversation-amidst all the busiestscenesofourpilgrimage-wemaybemovingtoandfroontherapidwingofprayer,ofmentalprayer-thatprayerthatlaysthewholeburdenoftheheartonasinglesigh.AsighbreathedintheSpirit.thoughinaudibletoallaroundusbutGod,maysanctifyeveryconversation,everyeventinthehistoryof theday.Wemusthave fellowshipatall timeseitherwith thespiritoftheworldorwiththeSpiritofGod....Prayerwillbefatiguingtoflesh and blood if uttered aloud and sustained long. Oral prayer, andprayermentallyordered inwords thoughnotutteredaloud,nobelievercanengageinwithoutceasing;butthereisanundercurrentofprayerthatmayruncontinuallyunderthestreamofourthoughts,andneverwearyus.SuchprayeristhesilentbreathingoftheSpiritofGod,whodwellsinourhearts(videRom.8:9,and1Col.3:16);itisthetemperandhabitofthe spiritualmind; it is thepulseofour lifewhich ishidwithChrist inGod."-Hewitson'sLife,pp.100,101.

"Mymindwasgreatly fixedonDivine things: almostperpetually in thecontemplation of them. I spentmost ofmy time in thinking of Divine

things, year after year; often walking alone in the woods, and solitaryplaces,formeditation,soliloquy,andprayer,andconversewithGod;anditwasalwaysmymannertosingforthmycontemplations.Iwasalmostconstantly in ejaculatory prayer, wherever I was. Prayer seemed to benatural tome, as thebreathbywhich the inwardburningsofmyhearthadvent."-JonathanEdwards,Memoirs.chap.i.

"IseethatunlessIkeepupshortprayereverydaythroughoutthewholeday,at intervals,I losethespiritofprayer.Iwouldnever losesightanyhouroftheLambinthemidstofthethrone,andifIhavethissightIshallbeabletopray.-AndrewA.Bonar,Diary.7thOctober1860.

8"IsnotthenameofPrayerusualtosignifyevenalltheservicethateverwedoGod?"-Hooker,Eccles.Polity,v.23.

9Dr.A.B.Davidson,WaitinguponGod,p.14.

10Compare the sentence of ThomasHooker, ofHartford-"Prayer is theprincipalworkofaminister,anditisbythishemustcarryontherest."

11"Whoeverisdiligentinpublicprayers,andyetnegligentinprivate.itismuch to be feared he rather seeks to approve himself to men than toGod."TheWholeDutyofMan(Lond.,1741),p.119.

12Harvey'sTheRiseoftheQuakers,pp.73,74.

13TheScaleofPerfection,I.i.1.

14The lateDr.JohnPaton,of theNewHebrides, tellsof suchaprayer-chamberinhisfather'smodestdwelling:-"Ourhomeconsistedofa 'but'anda 'ben,'andamid-room,orchamber,calledthe 'closet.'...Theclosetwasaverysmallapartmentbetwixttheothertwo,havingroomonlyforabed, a little table, and a chair, with a diminutive window shedding adiminutive light on the scene. This was the sanctuary of that cottagehome.Theredaily,andmanytimesaday,generallyaftereachmeal,wesaw our father retire, and-shut to the door;' and we children got tounderstand,byasortofspiritualinstinct(forthethingwastoosacredtobe talkedabout), thatprayerswerebeingpouredout there forus,asof

old by the High Priest within the veil in the Most Holy Place. Weoccasionallyheard thepatheticechoesofa tremblingvoice,pleadingasforlife,andwelearnedtoslipoutandinpastthatdoorontip-toe,nottodisturbtheholychange.Theoutsideworldmightnotknow,butweknew,whence came thathappy light, asof anew-born smile, that alwayswasdawningonmyfather'sface:itwasareflectionfromtheDivinePresence,intheconsciousnessofwhichhelived.Never,intempleorcathedral,inmountainor inglen,canIhopeto feel that theLordGodismorenear,more visibly walking and talking with men, than under that humblecottage roof of thatch and oaken wattles."-Dr. John G. Paton,Autobiography,pp.10,11.

15"On his return from the West Indies to the Clyde, Hewitson wasprivilegedtoleadtoChristoneofthesailors."Iamnotinwantofaclosettoprayin,"saidheoneday,asthevoyagedrewnear itstermination;"Icanjustcovermyfacewithmyhat,andIamasmuchalonewithGodasin a closet." The man had sailed from Antigua a careless sinner.-Hewitson'sLife,p.283.

16"Let noman that can find time to bestow upon his vanities...say hewantsleisureforprayer."-TheWholeDutyofMan(Lond.1741),p.120.

17InallhisjourneyingsJohnWesleyusedtocarryaboutwithhimalittlenote-bookforjottings,thefirstcrudedraftofhisJournals.Onthefrontpage of each successive copy of this memorandum book he alwaysrecorded a resolution to spend two hours daily in private prayer, noevasionorprovisobeingadmitted.Perhapssucharulemayseemtosometoberigideventoformality.Letnooneheboundbyanother'spractice;butineverycaseletdueprovisionbemadeforintercoursewithGod.

18"AndhereIwascounseledtosetuponeothersail,forbeforeIprayedbuttwiceaday,Ihereresolvedtosetsometimeapartatmid-dayforthiseffort,and,obeyingthis,Ifoundtheeffectstobewonderful."-MemoirsoftheRev.JamesFraser(Wodrow),p.208.

19But Fraser of Brea gives a caution respecting this which is worthremembering: __ "Under the pretense of waiting on the Lord forstrength, I have been driven to gaze, and neglect the duty itself, when

therehathbeenanopportunity;soinpreparingforprayerhaveneglectedprayer."Memoirs,p.290.

20"Itwas a saying of themartyr Bradford that bewould never leave adutytillhehadbroughthisheartintotheframeoftheduty;hewouldnotleave confession of sin till his heart was broken for sin; he would notleavepetitioningforgracetillhisheartwasquickenedandenlivenedinahopeful expectationofmoregrace;hewouldnot leave the renderingofthankstillhisheartwasenlargedwiththesenseofthemercieswhichlieenjoyedandquickenedinthereturnofpraise."-Bickersteth,ATreatiseonPrayer,p.93.

21"This helping of the Spirit (Rom. 8:26) is very emphatical in theoriginal; as a man taking up a heavy piece of timber by the one endcannotaloneget itup till someotherman takes itupat theotherend,and sohelpshim; so thepoor soul that is pulling and tuggingwithhisownhearthefindsitheavyanddull,likealoginaditch,andhecandonogoodwithit,tillatlasttheSpiritofGodcomesattheotherend,andtakestheheaviestendoftheburden,andsohelpsthesoultoliftitup."-I.Ambrose, PrimaMedia etUltima, p. 333. PèreLaCombe says: "I havenever found any onewho prayed sowell as thosewho had never beentaught how. They who have no master in man have one in the HolySpirit."-SpiritualMaxims,43.

22The readerwill find a striking passage, hearing on this point, in theAutobiographyofGeorgeMuller(Lond.,1905),pp.152,153.

23"AlwaysenteruponprayerbyputtingyourselfintheDivinePresence"(FrancoisdeSales).GastondeRentydefinesthispostureofthesoulas"astate of modest presence before God, in which you maintain yourself,lookingtoHisSpirittosuggestwhatHepleasestoyou,andreceivingitinsimplicity and confidence, just as if He were uttering words in yourhearing." Avila, a Spanish writer on religion tells us that "we ought toaddressourselvestoprayerratherinordertolistenthantospeak."

24"Prayer discovers to us the true state of our soul, for, according totheologians, it is the mirror which shows us our correct portrait."-St.JohnClimacus,TheHolyLadderofPerfection,xxiii.38.

25"Thepetitionsofbelievers...areechoes,sotospeak,oftheMaster'sownwords.Theirprayer isonly some fragmentofHis teaching transformedintoasupplication.Itmustthenbeheard,foritistheexpressionofHiswill."-BishopWestcott,onJohn15:7.

26"Prayer is heard when it passes from the believer's heart to theRedeemer's heart, and is appropriated by the Redeemer, or made Hisown."-W.H.Hewitson,Life,p.375.

27Epictetus,Eph.1:16.

28RichardBaxter advises that onSabbathdayswe shouldbebriefer inconfession and lamentation, and give ourselves more to praise andthanksgiving(MethodofPeaceandComfort).ItwasGrimshaw'scustomto begin his morning devotions by singing the doxology. Of JosephAlleine it was said, "Such was the vehement heavenliness of his spirit,thathisfavoriteemploymentwaspraise."

29Chrysostom,quotedbyThomasWatson.

30"Nodoubttheangelsthinkthemselvesasinsufficientforthepraisesofthe Lord as we do."-John Livingstone's Diary, 14 Dec., 1634 (WodrowSociety).

31"Thinkoftheguiltofsin,thatyoumaybehumbled.Thinkofthepowerofsin, thatyoumayseekstrengthagainst it.Thinknotof thematterofsin...lestyoubemoreandmoreentangled."JohnOwen.

32ThebiographerofCharlesSimeon,ofCambridge,remarks:"SimeoninhisprivatehourswaspeculiarlybrokenandprostratebeforetheLord."

33ByDr.Payson,Lift,p.79.

34"InprayerwetemptGodifweaskforthatwhichwelabournotfor;ourfaithful endeavorsmust secondourdevotion....Ifwepray for grace andneglectthespringfromwhenceitcomes,howcanwespeed?Itwasarulein ancient times, 'Lay thy hand to the plow, and then pray.' No manshouldpraywithoutplowing,norplowwithoutprayer."-R.Sibbes,DivineMeditations,p.174.

35"Prayer not only obtains mercies; it sweetens and sanctifies them."-Flavel,Works,v.351.

"Goddoesnotdelaytohearourprayers,becauseHehasnomindtogive;but that, by enlarging our desires, Hemay give us the more largely."-AnselmofCanterbury.

36"Wemustdrawofffromprayer,fromrestinginit,ortrustinguponit;amanmaypreachmuch,andinsteadofdrawingnightoGod,orenjoyingsweetcommunionwithChrist,hemaydrawnightoprayer,histhoughtsmaybemoreuponhisprayerthanuponGodtowhomheprays;andhemay live more upon his cushion than upon Christ; but when a manindeeddrawsnigh toGod inprayer, he forgets prayer, and remembersGod, and prayer goes for nothing, but Christ is all."-Isaac Ambrose,PrimaMediaetUltima,p.332.

37"The brief, childlike letters thatwere sent to himby them [his sons]were bound up into a paper volume, which he carried about with himduringhisMongolianwanderings,andinlookingoverthemhefoundanunfailingsolaceandrefreshment."LifeofGilmourofMongolia,pp.241,251.

38"ItwassevenyearsbeforeWilliamCareybaptizedhis firstconvert inIndia; itwassevenyearsbeforeJudsonwonhis firstdisciple inBurma;Morrison toiled seven years before the first Chinaman was brought toChrist;MoffatdeclaresthathewaitedsevenyearstoseethefirstevidentmovingoftheHolySpirituponhisBechuanasofAfrica;HenryRichardswroughtsevenyearsontheCongobeforethefirstconvertwasgainedatBanzaManteka."A.J.Gordon,TheHolySpiritinMissions,pp.139,140.

39Jeremy Taylor, The Return of Prayers. This applies also on a lowerlevel.GeorgeMüllerwrites, "These last threedaysIhavehadvery littlerealcommunionwithGod,andhavethereforebeenveryweakspiritually,andhaveseveraltimesfeltirritabilityoftemper.MayGodinmercyhelpmetohavemoresecretprayer."Autobiography,p.67.

40OnthispointMüllersayselsewhere:"Itisnotenoughtobegintopray,

nortoprayaright;norisitenoughtocontinueforatimetopray;butwemustpatiently,believingly,continueinprayeruntilweobtainananswer;andfurtherwehavenotonlytocontinueinprayeruntotheend,butwehavealsotobelievethatGoddoeshearus,andwillanswerourprayers.Most frequentlywe fail innot continuing inprayeruntil theblessing isobtained,andinnotexpectingtheblessing."-Autobiography,p.320.

41RichardSibbesDivineMeditations,p.5.

42ThefollowingextractfromtheLifeofJohnHowemayservetopointacautionwhichhas sometimesbeen too lightlyheeded: "At that time [inthe days of the English Commonwealth] an erroneous opinion, stillcherishedbysome fewpiouspeople, respecting theefficacyofa specialfaith in prayer, pervaded the religious community. The idea wasentertainedthatifabelieverwasledtoseekafavorinprayer,suchastherecovery or conversion of a child, or victory on the battlefield, withunusualfervor,andwiththestrongpersuasionthattheprayerwouldbefavorably answered, such would certainly be the case. This notion wascarriedbysometostillgreaterlengthsofextravagancy,untilitamountedto a virtual assertion of inspiration. The court of Cromwell was notunfavorable soil for the nourishment of a conceit like this; indeed, itappears to have taken deep hold of themind of the Protector himself.Thoroughly convinced of its erroneous nature and unhallowedtendencies, and having listened to a sermon at Whitehall, the avoweddesignofwhichwastomaintainanddefendit,HowefelthimselfboundinconsciencetoexposeitsabsurditywhennextheshouldpreachbeforeCromwell. This he did...Cromwell's brow furnished indications of hisdispleasureduringthedeliveryofthediscourse,andacertaincoolnessinhis manner afterwards, but the matter was never mentioned betweenthem."

43This"particular faith inprayer"sometimesengages itself inreceivingthe answer to prayers offered for spiritual interests. Speaking of thememorable revival in Kilsyth, of which the first fruits were seen onTuesday,23rdJuly.1839"amorningfixedfromalleternityinJehovah'scounselasanerainthehistoryofredemption"-WilliamBurnswrote:"IhavesinceheardthatsomeofthepeopleofGodinKilsyth,whohadbeenlongingandwrestlingforatimeofrefreshingfromtheLord'spresence,

andwhohad,duringmuchofthepreviousnight,beentravailinginbirthfor souls, came to themeeting," not onlywith the hope, butwithwell-nigh the certain anticipation of God's glorious appearing, from theimpressions they had upon their own souls of Jehovah's approachinggloryandmajesty."

44"Beingaskedbyaladyifhewouldhavebreadandaglassofwine,hereplied, 'Ifyouplease,I'llhavebreadandaglassofwater.' 'Prisonfare,'remarkedthelady.'No,garrisonfare:Heshalldwellonhigh:hisplaceofdefense shall be themunitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; hiswatersshallbesure.'-JohnDuncan,ThePulpitandCommunionTable,p.37.

45Mr.D.L.MoodyusedtosaythathethankedGodwithallhisheartthatmanyofhismostearnestprayershadnotbeengranted.

46F.W.Krummacher,Autobiography(Edin.,1869).p.143.

47MemoirofJ.A.Bengel.byJ.C.F.Burk(Lond.,1837),pp.491,492.

48"'TheChurchofGodinCorinth,'ablessedandastoundingparadox!"-Bengel.

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