be altogether unavailing, I therefore looked about, and found some Christians who consented to unite in pleading for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  We agreed to pray in private, and also met together frequently during the week for united prayer.  Finding that many of the petitions offered were vague and diffuse, I endeavoured to set before those assembled a definite object of prayer.  I told them that the work was not ours but the Lord’s, and that He was willing and ready to accomplish it, but that He must be inquired of concerning the work of His hands.  Also, in order that our prayers should be intelligent and united, I put before them the fact, that the people we had to work amongst were lost; not that they would be lost by-and-by if they died in their sins; but that they were actually lost now.  It is true that many were quite ignorant of the way of salvation, and were also unconscious of the power of the enemy who held them captive; and besides, they loved their captivity too well; but all this would be overcome in a moment, when they were once enlightened by the Spirit (in answer to prayer) to see and feel themselves lost.  No one could be more ignorant than the jailor at Philippi, but as soon as he was awakened he cried out, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).

I showed them that the work we had to do was clearly set forth in Scripture (Acts 26:18), and that the order in which it was to be done was also made manifest.  We must not begin with giving instruction as if the people were merely ignorant; but rather by awakening or opening their eyes to see that they were in a lost and ruined condition.  Then they would appreciate being turned “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18).  I strove earnestly to show them that until people had received forgiveness of sins, our work was not complete.  We made this our definite aim, and prayed about it with clear expectation.  Under the shadow and influence of this prayer, I began to preach to the people; not to believe, but to awake and see their lost condition; that is, to repent, that they might believe the Gospel.

At first there were very few people in my congregation, but by degrees more came, and listened attentively to the Word.  After preaching for four or five Sundays, I asked the people during my sermon, what in the world they were made of; for I was surprised at them!  They came and listened to God’s truth, and yet did not yield themselves to Him.  “Are you wood, or leather, or stone?  What are your hearts made of, that God’s love cannot touch or His Word break them?” I then invited the anxious to remain for an after-meeting, when I said that I would converse with them more familiarly; but they every one went away.

I returned to the vestry,’ feeling somewhat dejected, but still hoping for better days.  As I opened the door to go home, two men ran away like frightened boys, but it was too dark for me to distinguish who they were.