Just outside the town from where I write, a motortruck was stalled on the road. The driver had tried every means to start the engine, without success. Baffled and exasperated, he sent to the town garage for help. The mechanic came, examined the motor, testing its various parts to discover the seat of the trouble, but failed to find anything wrong; everything seemed in order, just as it should be; and there he was, perplexed at the refusal of the motor to work. As a last possibility, he thought of testing the gas, and to the surprise and disgust both of the truck-driver and himself, found the gasoline tank was empty! To add to the chagrin of the two worthies in this instance, they had been working on a gasoline delivery truck with a supply of at least 500 gallons in the tank! This was indeed a most unusual occurrence, and it created no small amount of amusement at the driver's and the mechanic's expense.

Now, if these two men felt mortified in finding they had ready at hand what would instantly have cured the trouble, what shall be said of the Christian who once went along happily and steadily in his Christian course up the "Hill Difficulty" and through the "Valley of Baca" in his journey to the glory, but now is at a sad and dishonorable standstill, whilst the power which had carried him on is at his very door-aye, within himself!

And what is this power which, if used, would prevent the spiritual breakdowns and the haltings in the Christian's course?

Before answering this question, let us take a look at those stalled along the road, while others are speeding by. So frequently do we meet such, that it excites little interest or compassion from the rest. Alas! how much like this are the spiritual breakdowns!-so common are they, that they attract little attention from the others; yet they are precious souls, halting on the heavenward road, whilst they should glorify God, by life and testimony to the power of His grace.

My reader, are you progressing, or at a standstill? In the things of God, a standstill means going back. For the Christian's way to glory is upwards; and in such a case, to stop is to go backwards, for God has provided no brakes to prevent the Christian's falling back when he ceases to progress. If this be your case, and you earnestly desire to return, listen while I tell you what is to be done.

Salvation from such a condition is found just where your breakdown has come about. In some way you have been grieving the Holy Spirit who is the power by whom the child of God is sustained, blest, and strengthened to live to the glory of God, to serve the Lord, and testify for Him in the midst of opposing influences. It is just as our risen Lord said to His disciples in Acts 1:8, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." And if He is grieved, dishonored in our life, and silenced by heedlessness when He testifies in our conscience, notwithstanding He is present, we must be left stranded on the road-side, a sad spectacle to those speeding on their heavenward way. Our power for progress in a holy life and faithful witnessing for the Lord, is by the Holy Spirit. It is only as we "walk in the Spirit" that we do not "fulfil the lusts of the flesh." Therefore the exhortation is given, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30). It does not say "grieved away," as many have mistakenly supposed it to mean, for the sealing of the Holy Spirit is "unto the day of redemption," when even our body shall be made like unto the glorious body of our Lord. But being grieved, it is as if He were away, and the Christian becomes a spectacle by the road-side. Redemption from sin, the world and Satan has been made ours by our blessed Lord, but it is made good to us in a practical way by the Spirit who dwells in us.

So, dear reader, if you are one of those halting on the way, making no heavenward progress, take courage; arise, confess to God your condition, your shame-whether it be worldliness, or sins committed, breaches of the moral law or whatever else:own it frankly to God-not in a lump, but in detail, calling the sins by their names, with resolve by the Spirit's help to cease from evil, and you will find His power actuating you, giving energy and willingness with ability to walk in the way marked out by God for us in His written Word.

See David, in his notable "penitential psalm," the 51st, after making full confession of his sin, he begs for restoration of soul and desires grace to be of service in blessing to others. Notice how three times over in seeking this restoration to God he makes mention of the Spirit (vers. 10-12). And though he knew of the Spirit only as from without, not as from within, as we do since He has come to dwell in the believers (see John 14:17; Rom. 8:11), he looked for restoration and power by the Spirit. One important lesson we may learn from it is, that power to keep us from falling into worldliness and sin is through the Holy Spirit. Let us be careful, then, not to grieve Him that dwells in us, through infinite grace. There is no limit to His power, and no excuse for any believer to fall and remain helpless by the way.