rection to settle how far it will be good for my
ministry, and how far evil for my soul, that I may avoid the
latter.

"I am persuaded that nothing is thriving in my soul unless it is
growing. 'Grow in grace.' 'Lord, increase our faith.'
'Forgetting the things that are behind.' ... I am persuaded that
I ought to be inquiring at God and man what grace I want, and
how I may become more like Christ ... I ought to strive for more
purity, humility, meekness, patience under suffering, love.
'Make me Christ-like in all things,' should be my constant
prayer. 'Fill me with the Holy Spirit.'

"2. _Reformation in Secret Prayer._

"I ought not to omit any of the parts of prayer--confession,
adoration, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

"There is a fearful tendency to omit _confession_, proceeding
from low views of God and his law, slight views of my heart and
the sins of my past life. This must be resisted. There is a
constant tendency to omit _adoration_, when I forget to whom I
am speaking--when I rush heedlessly into the presence of
Jehovah, without remembering his awful name and character--when
I have little eyesight for his glory, and little admiration of
his wonders. 'Where are the wise?' I have the native tendency of
the heart to omit _giving thanks_. And yet it is specially
commanded, Phil. 4:6. Often when the heart is selfish, dead to
the salvation of others, I omit _intercession_. And yet it
especially is the spirit of the great Advocate, who has the name
of Israel always on his heart.

"Perhaps every prayer need not have all these; but surely a day
should not pass without some space being devoted to each.

"I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long,
or meet with others early, and then have family prayer, and
breakfast, and forenoon callers, often it is eleven or twelve
o'clock before I begin secret prayer. This is a wretched system.
It is unscriptural. Christ rose before day, and went into a
solitary place. David says, 'Early will I seek Thee; Thou shalt
early hear my voice.' Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre while
it was yet dark. Family prayer loses much of its power and
sweetness; and I can do no good to those who come to seek from
me. The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not
trimmed. Then, when secret prayer comes, the soul is often ou