Much has been said and written on the subject of healing faith. God has said much on that subject for our benefit. “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” Many scriptures might be introduced bearing upon this subject; but the statement above so clear, and emphatic, will suffice. Genuine faith is begotten of the spirit. It is not born of simple desire. Here a great many good people have made great mistakes, they have had great _desires_ for those that were sick, that they should recover--they have prayed to this end, and have gone so far as to make statements very positive that they _knew_ they would recover, because God had told them so, when the facts were very clear--their supposed faith was nothing but desire. This has proved true in a great many cases, the subject of prayer passing into eternity soon after these positive statements were made. If they had had genuine faith, the sick would have recovered. In no case, have we ever discovered the Almighty arrayed against Himself, but in every operation we find it in exact harmony with a “thus saith the Lord.” Take the case of President Garfield. The nation prayed for his recovery. Many said--“He will recover,” but he died. Why did he not recover? good people prayed for him--and thought--and said that he would be spared to the nation. To this I answer,--The prayer offered for him, _was not inspired by the Holy Ghost_; if it had been, God would have raised him up. The word of the Lord is--“The prayer of faith shall save the sick.” _Doubtless_, the inspiration of this class was purely carnal. The word of the Lord is, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.” Now, a great many were united in praying for the President, and they were good people; but they put in an if in every prayer; and that if, in every case sums up a tremendous _doubt_, which reveals as clear as day, the lack of that faith, begotten of the “Spirit,” which brings health immediately to its possessor. Faith begotten of the spirit is very positive: it amounts to a divine assurance--and utters forth its triumphant voice, “_It shall be done_”--and it is done. This kind, has no _ifs_ in it. It makes its possessor bold to move on to the aid of the sick and suffering; and has an intuitive perception, that the “power of the Lord is present to heal.” Good-will was, doubtless, the great incentive in the President’s case. The scriptures very clearly indicate that the power of the Lord is not always present to heal; likewise experience by those that have been healed by faith, and have at times had faith that has brought health immediately to the bodies of others, are not always thus blessed. St. Paul, left his co-laborer, TROPHIMUS, sick at Miletus, which he would not have done, had he been in possession of that _faith_, which so wonderfully characterized his labors on other occasions.