as such from God. The conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls virtually contain all the works of our spiritual ministry, and they are so distinctly divine in their origin and supernatural in their instruments that we ask them as gifts, not as results of our own agency. There can he little doubt that the fertility of the lives of some pastors and the barrenness of others depend upon, and are measured by, their prayers. They who pray most will receive most; they who pray little will receive less. But of all this I need not speak. There is nothing we may not ask, either absolutely or conditionally; and there is nothing good that He will not give us: for to pour out His gifts upon us is His bliss. But it is the reaction of prayer upon ourselves that gives us a prompt and certain measure. We are what we are before God, and nothing else, neither better nor worse. And we are what our communion with God makes us. Our faces shine, or are dim or darkened, as we are nearer or farther from God in prayer. A calm, recollected, joyous, hopeful mind is the reward of prayer. A restless, wandering, sad, and timid mind is the consequence of not praying as we ought. In truth, prayer measures our state; and what we are our work will be. A priest who prays much will do in
