_You have still much to meet_. Duties—decisions—disappointments—cares—troubles. The pressure will be great both from within and from without. You have to learn better how to refer all things to a spiritual standard—how to commit everything to the guidance of a faithful and present God—how to endure as seeing Him who is invisible. For all this faith must be increased. It is the only secret of power. If you aim at this, suffer me to remind you of that in our departed friend which tended to make his faith what it was. No plant of righteousness can grow without being nourished in secret. No Christian soul can thrive unless it be fed from hidden sources. Our friend knew this, and therefore largely used those “nether springs” of the Word of God and prayer. He loved both. With both his hand was diligent, and by this diligence he was made rich. But it is of his _habit of prayer_ that I would more particularly speak. The flame of his faith was fed by the oil of prayer. He had “the gift of the knees.” Of him it might be truly said that he gave himself unto prayer. Late at night and early in the morning was he known to be pleading before the Throne. His voice was indeed that of Jacob, and so the faith and the walk were those of Enoch. Oh, brethren—one great spring of sure and successful believing lies in sustained secret prayer. When the one wanes, the other withers. When the hands droop Amalek prevails. Many a lost jewel of assurance—of comfort—of usefulness, must be looked for in the place where you dropped it—your place of prayer. If, then, you would believe more, pray more. Gird yourselves afresh to His work. Open your mouth wide and God will fill it. Why remain poor with a boundless treasury to draw upon? II. I pass now from what God would have us follow, to _what He would have us to consider_, viz.:— I. _The conversation_ of those who are guides. II. _The end of that conversation_. If the faith of God’s people is to be marked, so also is the fruit of it. We have seen the principle. We have now to see the practice which followed from it. I. Let me notice however that the word “conversation” does not mean merely “speech” or “talk.” It refers to the whole character, life, and walk: to the ‘ins’ and ‘outs;’ the turnings and windings of the life. So that in these words we are called upon to act as if we had to survey a country from a height—to trace a line of coast, and to mark it until it passes off, and is lost to sight in the distance. Now I am bold to say that, through God’s abounding grace and power, the conversation we are this day called to consider is a fair prospect indeed. Taking a rapid general view of his character, I would say, that _to him to live was Christ_. Christ was the principle, the power, the pattern, of his life.