The spirit of prayer and the awakening (continued)

I must mention here the name of a man : Mr. Abel Clary. He was the son of an excellent man and elder of the church in which I was converted. He was a preacher, but his spirit of prayer was such, he was so charged with the burden of souls, that it was not possible for him to preach much, his time and his forces being devoted entirely to prayer. This weight on his heart was often so heavy that he could not stand but writhed and groaned in agony.

I was quite intimate with him and knew a little about this wonderful spirit of prayer. He was a very quiet man, like almost everyone who has a strong spirit of prayer.

I learned that he was in Rochester by a gentleman living about a mile west of the city who came to visit me one day and asked me if I knew a certain Mr. Abel Clary, pastor. I replied that I knew him well.

Well ! he said, he has been at my house for some time, but I do not know what to think of him.

I did not see him at any of our meetings, I noticed.

No, he replied, he says he can not go to meetings. He prays almost all the time, day and night, and in such agony of mind that I do not know what to do. Sometimes he can not even stand on his knees, but lies prostrate on the floor and whines and prays in a way that really surprises me.

I say to this brother : I understand, but please, stay in peace. Everything will be arranged : he will undoubtedly triumph in prayer.

Jeremy Sourdril