inistering the alms of the Church here on earth, others had
to be set free for that steadfast continuance in prayer which would
uninterruptedly secure the downflow of the powers of the heavenly world.
The minister of Christ is set apart to give himself as much to prayer as
to the ministry of the word. In faithful obedience to this law is the
secret of the Church's power and success. As before, so _after
Pentecost_, the apostles were men given up to prayer.

In chapter viii. we have the intimate connection between the Pentecostal
gift and prayer, from another point of view. At Samaria, Philip had
preached with great blessing, and many had believed. But the Holy Ghost
was, as yet, fallen on none of them. The apostles sent down Peter and
John to pray for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. The power
for such prayer was a higher gift than preaching--the work of the men
who had been in closest contact with the Lord in glory, the work that
was essential to the perfection of the life that preaching and baptism,
faith and conversion had only begun. Surely of all the gifts of the
early Church for which we should long there is none more needed than the
gift of prayer--prayer that brings down the Holy Ghost on believers.
This power is given to the men who say: "We will give ourselves to
prayer."

In the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in the house of Cornelius at
Caesarea, we have another testimony to the wondrous interdependence of
the action of prayer and the Spirit, and another proof of what will come
to a man who has given himself to prayer. Peter went up at midday to
pray on the housetop. And what happened? He saw heaven opened, and there
came the vision that revealed to him the cleansing of the Gentiles; with
that came the message of the three men from Cornelius, a man who "prayed
alway," and had heard from an angel, "Thy prayers are come up before
God"; and then the voice of the Spirit was heard saying, "Go with them."
It is Peter praying, to whom the will of God is revealed, to whom
guidance is given as to going to Caesarea, and who is brought into
contact with a praying and prepared company of hearers. No wonder that
in answer to all this prayer a blessing comes beyond all expectation,
and the Holy Ghost is poured out upon the Gentiles. A much-praying
minister will receive an entrance into God's will he would otherwise
know nothing of; will be brought to praying people where he does not
expect them; will receive