Ask Him to teach you what to say and how to act. One sentence learned of GOD in prayer will do more for the conversion of a soul than all our poor human endeavors. _That_ sentence will escape our lips involuntarily. We may not remember that we have said it, but it will sink deep into the heart, making a lasting impression, and silently fulfilling its mission. * * * * * You are, perhaps, surprised, after many years, to see such poor results. Ah! how little can you judge!... Do you know what you have gained? In the first place, time--often a physical impossibility to sin, which you may attribute to chance, but which was, in reality, the work of Providence; and is it nothing, one sin the less, in the life of an immortal soul?... Then a vague uneasiness which will soon allow of no rest, a confidence which may enable you to sympathize, more liberty left you for the exercise of religious acts; you no longer see the contemptuous smile at your acts of devotion. Is all this _nothing_? Ah! if, while on your knees praying for the one you would have reconciled to GOD, you could but see what is passing in his soul,--the wrestlings, the remorse he strives vainly to stifle; if you could see the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, gently but firmly triumphing over the will, how earnestly, how incessantly, would you continue to pray! Only have patience to wait--perseverance not to grow weary. It is the want of patience that often makes us exacting towards those we desire to help. More haste, less speed, is an old saying; the more we are exacting, the less likely are we to succeed. Men like to act freely, and to have the credit of their actions. It is because we have not learned to persevere that the work seems never to progress. Courage, then! the ground may seem too dry for cultivation, but each prayer will be as a drop of water; the marble may be very hard, but each prayer is like the hammer's stroke that wears away its roughness. XXVII. The sweet peace of GOD bears the outward token of resignation. When the Holy Spirit dwells within us everything seems bright. Everything may not be exactly as we would wish it, but we accept all with a good grace.... For instance, some change in our household or mode of living upsets us. If GOD is with us, He will whisper, "Yield cheerfully thy will; in a little while all will be forgotten." Some command or employment wounds our pride; if GOD is with us, He will say to us, "Be submissive, and _I_ will come to thine aid." We may dislike a certain neighborhood; the society there may be repulsive to us, and we are about to become morbid: GOD will tell us to continue gracious and smiling, for He will recompense the little annoyances we may experience. If you would discern in whom GOD'S Spirit dwells, watch that person, and notice whether you ever hear him murmur. XXVIII. I WANT TO BE HOLY Heavenly Father, aid Thy child, who longs to become holy!