__1__ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1 (A Psalm of David.) LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? Answers to Prayer The best answers to prayer are those we have to wait and trust for. If we are answered quickly, let us be thankful; but let us be assured that by-and-by God will change His method with us, and that we shall be often made to wait. "I will cry unto God... that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 62:2). Every such prayer must be answered; but we must wait God's time and way. The finest fruit of the Spirit ripens the latest; the longer we have to wait for answers to our prayers, the richer the blessing we are blessed while we continue to pray; faith grows by waiting; the blessing is full when it comes, and the time of the answer is seen to be the right time. Asking of God what is most precious in His sight, we surely obtain all inferior good. Thus did Solomon. (1 Kings 3:6-14.) All mercies are bound up with God's gift of Christ. It is not good for us to obtain deliverance and gifts from God, until we fully justify Him in His way of dealing with us. (Psalm 22) The answer to prayer will sometimes come when our patience is spent. "Let patience have her perfect work" (James 1:4), that such rebukes of God's love may not be needful. Many of God's people pray without waiting for God to work in His own time and manner. Let us not quiet conscience by praying, and then, in fleshly haste, take our own way. The way wherein it pleases God to answer our prayer, if we have a right mind, will always please us well. Holiness As is our faith in Jesus, so will be the holiness of our walk. Where there is much dealing by faith with the blood of atonement, there will be sure and even walking in the path of obedience to the precepts of Christ. How careful should we be to keep clean the house that is the dwelling of the King of Glory! Holiness first and pardon after, says the blind Pharisee; but God's way is, Pardon and peace with God first: holiness the fruit of pardon. The deep engraving of "Thou art holy" (Psalm 22:3), on the heart of a believer, is necessary to his wise and prudent walk. Neglected hearts become like dwellings with slovenly occupants -- void of comfort. Every saint is a vessel of mercy, but not every saint a vessel unto honour: yet it is his obligation to be such; lack of obedience gains nothing but harm and loss. The Secret Life and the Daily Path The soul that aims high, in point of obedience to God, will account that a transgression, which may not seem to be a fault to the eyes of others. So soon as we behave and quiet ourselves, and become as a weaned child, our troubles vanish: take away self-will, and the sorrows that remain in our cup are made sweet. Be much with God in secret, so will you bring profit into the saints' assemblies, and bring profit away from them.