ly and so definite, as could only have come from Himself, so that no
room was left for the shadow of a doubt that God was the Hearer and
Answerer of prayer. Once the answer came the same day, and at another
time, whilst we were yet speaking. My friend often spoke of our
agreement, to the glory of Him who fulfilled to us His promise, and I
refer to it, to encourage others." This is but one leaf out of the
great library of prayers, intercessions, and supplications for all
saints, which stand recorded before God.

We naturally turn to our Lord's last utterances in which His
instructions about prevailing prayer are fuller than those of the
Sermon on the Mount; and than those given in the mid-passage of His
earthly life, which depict the importunity of the widow with the unjust
judge, and of the friend with his friend at midnight. The words spoken
in the chapter we are now considering are particularly pertinent to our
purpose, because they deal exclusively with the age to which our Lord
frequently referred as "that day," the day of Pentecost, the age of the
Holy Ghost, the day of this dispensation.

OUR LORD TEACHES THAT ANY PRAYER WHICH IS TO PREVAIL WITH GOD MUST PASS
FIVE TESTS, though these are but different phases of the same attitude.

(1) _The glory of the Father._--"That the Father may be glorified in
the Son" (John xiv. 13). The one purpose of Christ on earth was to
glorify the Father; and at the close of His life here He was conscious
that He had not striven in vain. "Now," said He, "is the Son of Man
glorified, and God is glorified in Him." This was the purpose of His
earthly career, and it was perfectly consistent with that of His
eternal being; for each person of the Holy Trinity is ever intent on
unfolding and displaying the moral beauty of the other twain. Having
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Christ still pursues
His cherished purpose of making His Father known, loved, and adored.
No prayer, therefore, can hope to succeed with Him, or can claim His
concurrent intercession, which is out of harmony with this sublime
intent.

Whatever petition we offer should be submitted to this standard. Can
we establish it in the presence of Christ, that our request will
promote the glory of the Father? Bring in your evidence--establish
your pleas--adduce your strong reasons. If you can make good your
claim, your prayer is already granted. But be sure that it is
impossible to seek the glo