efore I know my prayer
is heard, and still further I know because the prayer is heard that I have
the petition which I have asked of Him, _i. e._, I know I have the baptism
with the Holy Spirit. I may not feel it yet but I have received, and what
I thus count mine resting upon the naked word of God, I shall afterwards
have in actual experience. Some years ago I went to the students'
conference at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, with Mr. F. B. Meyer, of London. Mr.
Meyer spoke that night on the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. At the
conclusion of his address, he said, "If any of you wish to speak with Mr.
Torrey or myself after the meeting is over, we will stay and speak with
you." A young man came to me who had just graduated from one of the
Illinois colleges. He said, "I heard of this blessing thirty days ago and
have been praying for it ever since but do not receive. What is the
trouble?" "Is your will laid down?" I asked. "No," he said, "I am afraid
it is not." "Then," I said, "there is no use praying until your will is
laid down. Will you lay down your will?" He said, "I cannot." "Are you
willing that God should lay it down for you?" "I am." "Let us kneel and
ask Him to do it." We knelt side by side and I placed my Bible open at 1
John v. 14, 15 on the chair before him. He asked God to lay down his will
for him and empty him of his self-will and to bring his will into
conformity with the will of God. When he had finished the prayer, I said,
"Is it done?" He said, "It must be. I have asked something according to
His will and I know He hears me and I know I have the petition I have
asked. Yes, my will is laid down." "What is it you desire?" "The baptism
with the Holy Spirit." "Ask for it." Looking up to God he said, "Heavenly
Father, baptize me with the Holy Spirit now." "Did you get what you
asked?" I asked. "I don't feel it," he replied. "That is not what I asked
you," I said. "Read the verse before you," and he read, "This is the
boldness which we have towards Him that if we ask anything according to
His will He heareth us." "What do you know?" I asked. He said, "I know if
I ask anything according to His will He hears me." "What did you ask?" "I
asked for the baptism with the Holy Spirit." "Is that according to His
will?" "Yes, Acts ii. 39 says so." "What do you know then?" "I know He has
heard me." "Read on." "And if we know that if He heareth us whatsoever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of Him.