work of the Holy
Spirit, in considering the relation of the Spirit to prayer. At the
ministerial meetings held at most of the succeeding conventions, we were
led to take up the subject, and everywhere there was the confession: We
pray too little! And with this there appeared to be a fear that, with
the pressure of duty and the force of habit, it was almost impossible to
hope for any great change.

I cannot say what a deep impression was made upon me by these
conversations. Most of all, by the thought that there should be anything
like hopelessness on the part of God's servants as to the prospect of an
entire change being effected, and real deliverance found from a failure
which cannot but hinder our own joy in God, and our power in His
service. And I prayed God to give me words that might not only help to
direct attention to the evil, but, specially, that might stir up faith,
and waken the assurance that God by His Spirit will enable us to pray as
we ought.

Let me begin, for the sake of those who have never had their attention
directed to the matter, by stating some of the facts that prove how
universal is the sense of shortcoming in this respect.

Last year there appeared a report of an address to ministers by Dr.
Whyte, of Free St. George's, Edinburgh. In that he said that, as a young
minister, he had thought that, of the time he had over from pastoral
visitation, he ought to spend as much as possible with his books in his
study. He wanted to feed his people with the very best he could prepare
for them. But he had now learned that prayer was of more importance than
study. He reminded his brethren of the election of deacons to take
charge of the collections, that the twelve might "give themselves to
prayer and the ministry of the word," and said that at times, when the
deacons brought him his salary, he had to ask himself whether he had
been as faithful in his engagement as the deacons had been to theirs.
He felt as if it were almost too late to regain what he had lost, and
urged his brethren to pray more. What a solemn confession and warning
from one of the high places: We pray too little!

During the Regent Square Convention two years ago the subject came up in
conversation with a well-known London minister. He urged that if so much
time must be given to prayer, it would involve the neglect of the
imperative calls of duty "There is the morning post, before breakfast,
with ten or twelve letters which _must_ be an