CALLING TOGETHER FOR GENERAL PRAYER

^[p. 85] CALLING TOGETHER FOR GENERAL PRAYER

I return dear ————’s letter. I quite go with his feelings, that it is very desirable that brethren should be awakened to the responsibility which rests on us, to share with others the light and truth which in God’s goodness have been given to us. This is as far as I can go. I do not think you can get up a prayer meeting. For real prayer there must be agreement. I cannot propose a meeting to pray for things, even the most desired, unless there be a real sense in the heart of those who join in it — first, of the pressing importance of them, and secondly, that God only can help; like the man going to his friend at midnight for bread. But, having said this much, I feel that it is our bounden duty to press our responsibility on one another, and therefore I should, the Lord leading me, pray that there might be more waiting on God, that each one may, like the bee, work for the hive — the common good. Though I may not feel free to ask the company to come together to pray, yet I should feel it my duty to seek their co-operation in prayer, by praying for the things which ———— proposes, as they were laid on my heart; and as hearts were really moved, they would not only join, but they would be impressed before the Lord with the importance of the things they had joined in praying for. In a word, I should pray as the Lord led me, and thus I should expect to promote it in a true way in others....

The Lord increase in many the feelings for His glory which have led dear ———— to write.