Evening star., 1896-07-10

get nothing. Our explanation does not ex-
plain. 1t is in some sense an insult to the
Holy Spirit 1t is the equivalent Of saying
that he does not indict the petitions Of his
people, or that he made a mistake and In
dicted the wrong petition. The only proper
way to do is to say that we have prayed
petition that the Holy Ghost did not sue-
gest. and therefore We will get no answer
to our petition. Now, let us suppose case.
we pray for the conversion OF a friend and
our petition is not answered. Now, bring
in the stock explanation, IF we don't ge.
what we ask for We will get something
better" What would it be, what could 1t
be? The only explanation allowable under
the circumstances is that while the specific
petition for the conversion of person Is In
accordance with the will Of the Holy Ghost,
yet he did not indict such a petition in the
given case on account Of some fault In the
one who prayed. God cannot answer prayer
without due regard for the character Of the
one who prays. Just here let me say that
there Is great need that we so live that the
Holy Ghost can be able to indict for US any
petition that may suit his purpose. We
must not overlook the fact in our discus
sion Of the subject, that prayer under Gods
own conditions is an essential link in the
chain OF causes. Alas, how often is the
chain broken at the prayer link. Jacob got
just what he asked for at Jabbok; Heze-
kiah got just what he asked for when he
prayed God to spare his life: Moses got
what he asked for when he asked the Lord
to spare the children of Israel; John Knox
got what he asked for when he asked for
Scotland; Jesus Christ got what he asked
Tor when In the garden, he asked that the
bitter cup might pass from him. He did
not there pray against the cross, but the
bitterness of that specific hour of suffer-
ing In the garden. In answer to his prayer
1t passed away. for he came to his disciples
finally with words Of victory on his lips,
Sleep on now and take your rest, 1t is
enough" Mark 14:41.) What We all need
most. is to so pray under the direct and
specific direction Of the Holy Ghost that
we will ask for the right thing and get 1t.
am not saved to serve until am so saved
that can prevail with God in prayer Let
us go to our Jabboks and Gethseminas of
prayer. and never give God rest till he an
sWer all our Holy Ghost indicted petitions,
"Ye that make mention OF the Lord keen
not silence and give him no rest till he es-
tablish and till he make Jerusalem a praise
In the earth" Qsa. 62:6 - The drunkard
may pray specifically for deliverance from
his cups, and be contented with nothing less
Tor an answer to his petition. The de-
bauchee may pray for purity and get it;
the liar must pray for truthfulness and get
II; the parent ought to pray for the con-
version Of his child and not be contentod
until he gets exactly what he asks for. 1t
is our privilege to besiege throne of grace
and get what we ask by the teaching and
help of the Holy Ghost.
The Sweet Singer Sankey.
Mr.. Sankey was announced, and there
was applause. He sung ''The Ninety and
Nine," preceding 1t with history of how
the famous hymn, which has had such an
enormous evangeliz!ng effect on the world,
was found on a train in Scotland in a frag-
ment Of a newspaper and how the music
came to him when he sat down at the or
gan to sing 1t.
At the conclusion of the hymn Mr. Sankey
delivered a prayer.
JOY of Soul Winning.
''The Joy Of Soul Winning was the sub
5ect to which Rev. W. F. Wilson of Toron-
to, Ont, addressed himself He is a man