“The preacher that we had last Sunday did not preach very well.” Why? did not he use good language? did not he tell the truth? “O! yes, what he said was good enough, but it did not come with any force and power. I really do not know what was the matter with him. I have heard him at other times, and in other places, and he did first rate.” “Did you pray for him before you went to meeting? and at meeting did you lift your heart in prayer to God for his aid at that time?” “No, I do not know that I did especially; I was watching him to see what he was going to say.” That is the trouble. When a preacher stands up before a congregation, he can and will feel the influence there is in the meeting. If his hearers’ hearts (a portion of them at least) are lifted up in prayer to God, he will feel that he is carried up on their arms of faith, and it will be easy work for him to speak, and easy for you to hear; and he is enabled to bring from the store-house treasures new and old; and you will be fed, and go away and say, “What a good meeting we have had; how well he did talk.” Now you see that the fault was not so much in the preacher as it was in his hearers. Brethren and sisters, when a preacher comes among you, pray for him; and if he is tinctured with error, or has a hobby to ride, you can keep him right if you pray. Pray often for yourselves, and others around you, and do not forget to pray for the preacher.—Ex.