_The prayer of faith is the only power in the universe to which the Great Jehovah yields. Prayer is the sovereign remedy._ —ROBERT HALL. _An hour of solitude passed in sincere and earnest prayer, or the conflict with and conquest over a single passion or subtle bosom sin will teach us more of thought, will more effectually awaken the faculty and form the habit of reflection than a year’s study in the schools without them._ —COLERIDGE. _A man may pray night and day and deceive himself, but no man can be assured of his sincerity who does not pray. Prayer is faith passing into act. A union of the will and intellect realising in an intellectual act. It is the whole man that prays. Less than this is wishing or lip work, a sham or a mummery._ _If God should restore me again to health I have determined to study nothing but the Bible. Literature is inimical to spirituality if it be not kept under with a firm hand._ —RICHARD CECIL. _Our sanctification does not depend upon changing our works, but in doing that for God’s sake which we commonly do for our own. The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer. Prayer is nothing else but a sense of the presence of God._ —BROTHER LAWRENCE. _Let me burn out for God. After all, whatever God may appoint, prayer is the great thing. Oh that I may be a man of prayer._ —HENRY MARTYN. II The possibilities and necessity of prayer, its power and results are manifested in arresting and changing the purposes of God and in relieving the stroke of His power. Abimelech was smitten by God: So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare _children_. For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife. Job’s miserable mistaken comforters had so deported themselves in their controversy with Job that God’s wrath was kindled against them. “My servant Job shall pray for you,” said God, “for him will I accept.” “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.” Jonah was in dire condition when “the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest.” When lots were cast, “the lot fell upon Jonah.” He was cast overboard into the sea, but “the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.... Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly ... and the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” When the disobedient prophet lifted up his voice in prayer, God heard and sent deliverance.