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There are two classes of men, the men of fire and the men of calculation. The former seem to shake the world's dust off their fist, and to move towards heaven. All the little cares and troubles of this world are forgotten in the brilliancy of the ascent. The latter class are always considering what will be the best thing to do or say so as to make both ends meet in the present system of things. Paul combines both. He brings down the wings of prayer to the level of the common understanding. He refuses to allow that mighty bird of Paradise to soar beyond the limit of common sense. His combination of fire and prudence is the most wonderful thing in literature. There are three senses in which prayer is limited by the understanding.

I. NO PRAYER SHOULD EVER BE UTTERED AS AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF TRUTH. We have no right to make God a magician. The mills of God grind silently as well as slowly. Even when experimental prayers are offered by good people they are wrong. What if Elijah's sacrifice had not been consumed by fire? Would that have proved that there was no God? I decline all tests, and am content to await the slow grinding of the mills of God. They will grind out the pure corn, which will prove in the end to be the old corn of the land.

II. NO PRAYER SHOULD ASK FOR A VIOLATION OF MORAL LAW, FOR THAT WHICH WOULD HURT ANOTHER. I do not say of physical law, for we do not know what physical law is. I have often thought how it would be if there existed an island of blind men, say if the island of Bute were inhabited by men, women, and children who had never seen. What would be the relation of these people to the mainland? I suspect there would be three classes there — believers, agnostics, and unbelievers. The believer would say, "I heard a bird come in last night, and it must have come from somewhere." The agnostic would say, "But perhaps it belonged to our own shores, and had left us for a while." But whether these blind men believed, or whether they believed not, the shore would stand firm, having this to its seal, the Lord knoweth the hills of Argyll hire. We need not fear physical law; it is moral law we have to do with. When you ask any joy that cannot be shared by another, draw back from the door of prayer. Thou white-winged bird of prayer, I will not let thee fly whithersoever thou wilt. Thou shalt not fly over my brother's ground, not though thy soaring be up to the clouds of God.

III. NO PRAYER SHOULD EVER BE UTTERED WITHOUT THE USE OF MEANS. My experience is that God never comes except through a chariot, that is, except through means. The prayer for strength is answered by a kind word from a human friend, or it may be by a dumb agency, by a light from the Pentland Hills or by a wind changing suddenly to mildness. We say we are uplifted by the weather. No, it is God's Spirit that has entered in, and brought the Balm of Gilead and the Bright and Morning Star. God works through sacraments, and through the vicarious sacraments of human souls. Still He works in our Galilees, and our prayers are answered not directly, but through the ministry of the angels. Do you ask me to give you a prayer that will stand all tests in these days of science, one that will never be superannuated though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the seas? The Gethsemane prayer of our Lord is such a prayer. Let us make it our own, and the prayer of our spirit shall be the prayer of our understanding also.

(G. Matheson, D. D.)

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KJV: What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

WEB: What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.