y resignation is final, and now I am free, and my work
unmolested of all denominational differences, dogmas and doctrines,
which in the light of the Ecclesiastical history has always been the
fatal cause of failure, in the Churches, to accomplish their mission in
the Salvation of the world.

CHAPTER IX

_Practical Effects of Practical Truth_

The necessity of faith, as a primary element in all acceptable religious
exercises, has already been noticed. A feeling of entire dependence upon
God for spiritual mercy is the only right feeling, because it is the
only true feeling. It is necessary, according to the foregoing view of
the subject, in order to offer acceptable prayer, that man should
possess a spirit of faith and dependence upon Christ. The principle upon
which Christ acted in relation to this subject, as well as His
instruction concerning the duty of prayer, fully confirm the preceding
thoughts. He seldom performed an act of mercy, by miracle or otherwise,
unless those who received the mercy could see the hand of God in the
blessing:--"If thou canst believe, thou mayest be cleansed," was His
habitual sentiment. As if He had said--Your desire for the blessing is
manifest by your urgent request; now, if you can have faith to see God
in the blessing, so that He will be honored and praised for conferring
it, I will grant it; but if you have no faith, you can receive no favor.

This little book could easily occupy thrice as large a size as its
present volume, had I taken into account all the blessings which God
has bestowed upon my faithful prayers and upon His children, using me as
an instrument of His hand. But I must content myself by referring to
only two cases, which had had exceptional significance and gratifying
joy not only to my own heart, but to every Christian worker.

With the individuals spoken of I am well acquainted, having frequently
conversed with them all on the subjects of which I shall speak. Their
words in these cases may not have been exactly remembered, but the sense
is truly given.

The first case, is a story, told all by itself, and the second case, is
a letter of a dear girl, whose mother was a down to the bone Roman
Catholic. The daughter accidentally came to our meeting and gave her
heart to Jesus. The mother thinking that the worldly pleasures might
drive her newly converted daughter away from Jesus, and being very
anxious to get her daughter back into the Catholic parish, she