(2) But not only does prayer in the hour of temptation call the power of God to our succour, but the bare fact that we pray at such a time completely overreaches Satan. The primary reason {137} of his temptation is to draw us away from God. If the invariable result of temptation is thus to draw us the more surely and closely to His feet in prayer, the tempter will not be slow to realize that he is being used as the instrument, and his assault as the occasion, of accomplishing this very thing that his labour is directed against. When he realizes this, baffled and discouraged, he will have no alternative but to withdraw. We must say a word about ejaculatory prayer, for in the hour of temptation this method of prayer is to be our chief source of strength. Most frequently, perhaps, in temptation there is no time or occasion for formal prayer. Our appeal to God in such times must be instant. These prayers of ejaculation have been described as "short, sharp, and swift darts [Latin, jaculum, a dart], and desires, shot by our burning hearts, and reaching heaven in an instant. Our forefathers, the Saints, frequently used them, for being short, they trouble not the memory; being fervent, they rouse our dulness and dryness to affection and devotion; being frequent, they still renew our attention to God's presence, and put us perpetually in mind of our duties."[12] To this, it may be added that ejaculatory {138} prayer is apt to be a measurably perfect prayer, because, being so quickly finished, the devil has not time to chill its fervour by distractions, such as we invariably suffer from in longer forms of prayer. Even were it so disposed, the average mind cannot act with sufficient quickness to perceive the distraction ere the prayer be finished. Those who study God's word piously will find numberless prayers in the very language of the Holy Ghost, which will be most effective in the moment of danger. The briefer these are, the better. The Psalter is full of them, and there is no better military exercise for the Christian soldier than to spend his time when not actually in battle, in learning as many of them as possible by heart, so that they may be ready at hand when the battle begins. Short, quick prayers like the following will be found of great profit: "O Lord, my God, in Thee have I put my trust; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me."[13] "Save, Lord, and hear us, O King of Heaven."[14] "Save me, O God, for Thy Name's sake, and avenge me in Thy strength."[15] "Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness."[16] {139} "Lord, he whom Thou lovest is sick."[17] "Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks, so longeth my soul after Thee, O Lord."[18] "Why art thou so heavy, O my soul, and why art thou so disquieted within me? O put thy trust in God, for I will yet give Him thanks which is the help of my countenance and my God."[19] "O God, Thou art my God, early will I seek Thee."[20]