By Dr. DUNCAN (“Rabbi”).
“We are not thirsty yet,” said Dr. Duncan in speaking of prayer for the Holy Spirit. As if somebody had commented, “How do you know?” Dr. Duncan replied: “Because it is written, ‘I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,’ and ‘When the poor and the needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.’ “If our tongue were failing for thirst, we should have water. We live under the Pentecostal economy of the Holy Ghost; what was done that day was but the opening scene. It was a splendid opening no doubt, but it was the splendid entering in of a perpetuity. The Holy Spirit takes this poor feeble humanity of ours; and when we cannot utter a prayer, He strikes out in a groan. You intend to believe in Christ; but if you grieve the Holy Spirit, and He takes His final departure, where will you get your faith? Seeing that Christ’s Bride gets hers in the effectual calling of the Holy Ghost. Oh, tempt Him not; Christ hath dignity, and He is aware of His dignity. ‘His arm is not shortened that He cannot save, neither is His ear heavy that He cannot hear; but your sins have separated between you, and your God.’ Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened you?” When asked if the foregoing invitation was for disciples or for all, and if one not knowing or believing himself yet a disciple or believer could take up the promise or invitation, and plead it in prayer, Dr. Duncan, after a moment of pause, said: “Yes; but only at the footstool of a sovereign God.”
I know whenever I have prayed earnestly, that I have been amply heard, and have obtained more than I prayed for. God indeed sometimes delayed, but at last He came.—Luther.