e told me the diagnosis of the disease had been
correct. He admitted grace must do all. And yet, so deep was the thought
that we must do something, that we must at least bring our faithfulness
to secure the work of grace, he feared that his life would not be very
different; he would not be equal to the strain of new difficulties into
which he was now going. There was, amid all the intense earnestness, an
undertone of despair; he could not live as he knew he ought to. I have
already said, in the opening chapter, that in some of our meetings I had
noticed this tone of hopelessness. And no minister who has come into
close contact with souls seeking to live wholly for God, to "walk
worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing," but knows that this renders
true progress impossible. To speak specially of the lack of prayer, and
the desire of living a fuller prayer-life, how many are the difficulties
to be met! We have so often resolved to pray more and better, and have
failed. We have not the strength of will some have, with one resolve to
turn round and change our habits. The press of duty is as great as ever
it was; it is so difficult to find time for more prayer; real enjoyment
in prayer, which would enable us to persevere, is what we do not feel;
we do not possess the power to supplicate and to plead, as we should;
our prayers, instead of being a joy and a strength, are a source of
continual self-condemnation and doubt. We have at times mourned and
confessed and resolved; but, to tell the honest truth, we do not expect,
for we do not see the way to, any great change.

It is evident that as long as this spirit prevails, there can be very
little prospect of improvement. Discouragement must bring defeat. One of
the first objects of a physician is ever to waken hope; without this he
knows his medicines will often profit little. No teaching from God's
Word as to the duty, the urgent need, the blessed privilege of more
prayer, of effectual prayer, will avail, while the secret whisper is
heard: There is no hope. Our first care must be to find out the hidden
cause of the failure and despair, and then to show how divinely sure
deliverance is. We must, unless we are to rest content with our state,
listen to and join in the question, "Is there no balm in Gilead; is
there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of
my people restored?" We must listen, and receive into our heart, the
Divine promise with the response