ding to the will of God" (Rom. 8: 26, 27, R. V.). These passages,
read together, clearly show the Spirit doing the same thing _in_ us
which Christ in heaven {149} is doing _for_ us. And, moreover, they
reveal to us the method of the glorified Christ in helping those who
know not what to pray for as they ought, teaching them, not by an
outward form, but by an inward guidance. Indeed, the prayer inspired
by the Holy Spirit is often so deep that it cannot be expressed in
formal words, but reaches the ear of the Father only in unspeakable
yearnings, in unuttered groanings. The keynote of all true
intercession is the will of God. In the disciples' prayer, as taught
them by the Master, this note is distinctly sounded: "Thy will be done
on earth as in heaven." In the Saviour's garden-prayer it is heard
again, as with strong crying and tears the Son of God exclaims: "Not my
will but thine be done"; and in the revelation of the doctrine of
prayer through an inspired apostle we read: "If we ask anything
according to his will he heareth us." It is the Spirit's deepest work
in the believer to attune his mind to this exalted key, as he "maketh
intercession for the saints _according to the will of God_." There is
a promise which all disciples love to quote for their assurance in
prayer: "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that
they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in
heaven" (Matt. 18: 19). The word translated "agree" is a very
suggestive one. It is, _sympsonesosin_, from which our word "symphony"
comes. If two shall _accord_ {150} or _symphonize_ in what they ask,
they have the promise of being heard. But, as in tuning an organ all
the notes must be keyed to the standard pitch, else harmony were
impossible, so in prayer. It is not enough that two disciples agree
with each other; they must both accord with a Third--the righteous and
holy Lord--before in the scriptural sense they can agree in
intercession. There may be agreement which is in most sinful conflict
with the divine will: "How is it that ye have agreed together
[_synepsonethe_, the same word] to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?" asks
Peter (Acts 5: 9). Here is mutual accord, but guilty discord with the
Holy Ghost. On the contrary it is the Spirit's ministry to attune our
wills to the Divine; thus only can there be praying in the Holy Ghost.

We cannot therefore emphasize too strongly the administration of the
Spiri