but the private's! Does this apply to us? Is not PRAYER to the Church
what the bayonet is to the soldier--that which the private member has to
use? Those who cannot preach or write books, or even teach in the Sunday
School, can pray. We ask the question--Are there as many praying-people
in proportion to our numbers as there used to be? What is the testimony
to those who attend our prayer-meetings? Is not this the weak place in
our army to-day?

The bayonet has won the battle many a time over for England, and if we
are weak here, we are weak where we used to be strong. In the war with
the Arabs in Egypt, the squares were sometimes broken. Was that the
fault of the bayonet? England cannot afford to be weak here; nor can
Methodism bear defeat where she has won so many fights. We have many a
time

WON THE BATTLE OF THE LORD UPON OUR KNEES,

and if we are to be soft there, we may as well retire from the conflict
at once. Many a time, when holding Missions, we have felt that if we
could but get the members of society to be often in secret but earnest
prayer, we should carry the battle to the gate, and more than once we
have felt the tide turn, as we have noticed the people get more and more
in an agony of supplication.

Now that the authorities at the War Office have found out the failing, we
shall soon have the faulty bayonets cast out and perfect ones provided.
We don't want weak-kneed Christians cast out of the church, we want them
improved. And this may be done. Let every one of our readers ask the
question

AM I AS STRONG IN PRAYER AS EVER I WAS?

If not, why not? Or am I one of those who cannot point to direct answers
to pleading prayer, because I never did plead? Is there not a cause?
Look at what James has said in his epistle, iv. 2-4. Is not this
"friendship with the world" the cause of this feebleness in prayer? We
want all that we can get in pleasure and self-indulgence, and to see our
church become a power also. The two things cannot be. This kind goeth
not out but by prayer and fasting, and if we wish to see England won to
Christ we must become reliable in prayer.

We shall be glad to know that what we have said leads to

AN INSPECTION OF ARMS.

Let our Class-leaders ask the question of their members--Do you pray in
secret? Do you wrestle with God? How long is it since you had a direct
answer to prayer? This is our weak place. May we soon be strong where
we are now weak, that th