vermore the Father
Sends radiantly down
All-marvellous responses,
His ministers to crown;
The incense-cloud returning
As golden blessing-showers,
We in each drop discerning
Some feeble prayer of ours,
Transmuted into wealth unpriced,
By Him who giveth thus
The glory all to Jesus Christ,
The gladness all to us!

F. R. HAVERGAL.

_September_ 1877.

INTRODUCTION

I have been asked by a friend, who heard of this book being published,
what the difference would be between it and the previous one on the same
subject, WITH CHRIST IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER. An answer to that question
may be the best introduction I can give to the present volume.

Any acceptance the former work has had must be attributed, as far as the
contents go, to the prominence given to two great truths. The one was,
the certainty that prayer will be answered. There is with some an idea
that to ask and expect an answer is not the highest form of prayer.
Fellowship with God, apart from any request, is more than supplication.
About the petition there is something of selfishness and bargaining--to
worship is more than to beg. With others the thought that prayer is so
often unanswered is so prominent, that they think more of the spiritual
benefit derived from the exercise of prayer than the actual gifts to be
obtained by it. While admitting the measure of truth in these views,
when kept in their true place, THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER points out how our
Lord continually spoke of prayer as a means of obtaining what we desire,
and how He seeks in every possible way to waken in us the confident
expectation of an answer. I was led to show how prayer, in which a man
could enter into the mind of God, could assert the royal power of a
renewed will, and bring down to earth what without prayer would not have
been given, is the highest proof of his having been made in the likeness
of God's Son. He is found worthy of entering into fellowship with Him,
not only in adoration and worship, but in having his will actually taken
up into the rule of the world, and becoming the intelligent channel
through which God can fulfil his eternal purpose. The book sought to
reiterate and enforce the precious truths Christ preaches so
continually: the blessing of prayer is that you can ask and receive what
you will: the highest exercise and the glory of prayer is that
persevering importunity can prevail