When there are but few gathered at a meeting, remember there may be really as much blessing as with larger numbers. God will bring together those whom He purposes to bless; and if we remember this it will keep our eyes upon Him; and that is one condition of blessing.

If we look for power or acceptance from what is of man-from manner, learning, eloquence, etc.- we are at once off the ground of dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit, because our dependence is in that which is of man – his abilities or natural gifts.

A preacher is not to be anxious of results:that belongs to God. He has only to be anxious about three things:(1) the state of his own soul; (2) to be in communion with the mind of God as to those whom he addresses; and (3) fidelity in delivering his message.

The Lord always sought to deepen exercise of soul of His hearers. In the Syrophenician woman's case, He refused to grant her request till she took the proper place, was in the proper state, to receive it. We often seek to shorten them, as, for example, when we press souls to an immediate decision for Christ, without considering whether they have been brought to that point by the work of the Holy Spirit in them. E. D.