Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

thence that it is wifhed all fet forms fhould be thrown atide as ufelefs: on the contrary it is believed that to fome perfons they may be highly useful, and to others absolutely neceffary.

Various are the natural talents and capacities of men: Some there are who poffefs from nature, as it were, a fluency of speech and the agreeable talent of expreffing their thoughts with eafe; while others (perhaps their fuperiors in capacity and understanding) give utterance to their feelings with confiderable difficulty. In thefe cafes, however, as in all others, the proportion of gifts received, is the measure of duty to be performed. To perfons of the latter defcription, the adoption of fome fuch plan as the following, is recommended.

Once a month I would draw up a new morning and evening prayer for my own or family use, according to the method already advised; h always making it one of my pe

(g) The reader may find the fubject of prayer more

largely treated on by Dr. Watts, in his "Guide to Prayer," from which feveral of the hints contained in thefe obfervations are taken.

titions, that God would aflift me with his Holy Spirit, and bestow upon me the gift of prayer. These I would use conftantly for the whole of that month, not confining myfelf, however, to the ufe cf those very words, but giving myself liberty to put in or leave out, to enlarge or contract, according to the then ftate of my heart, and dictates of my feelings. Thus, by degrees, I would write less and lefs, at laft fetting down little more than heads, or hints of thought or expreffion. By this means the difficulty of praying without the affistance of a set form of prayer would, by the bleffing of God, in the course of time, be furmounted.

Although the use of pre-composed forms of prayer is not recommended to any but, those who really ftand in need of their affiftance; yet fuch is the infirmity of human nature in its prefent ftate, and fo little are we capable of commanding, at all times, the use of our own faculties, that perhaps we should all do well in taking care to have thefe helps at hand. Indeed, were we to make a rule of laying before us at stated hours of devotion, a form of prayer of our

own compofing, not for the purpose of general ufe, but to be used only on thofe unhappy occafions when we experience a heavinefs of fpirit-a coldnefs of heart, and distraction aud imbecility of mind, I should fee no impropriety in the practice.

Though the confining ourselves to the constant use of any fet form of words be by no means expedient, yet the attentive study of pious and well compofed prayers, would be of great ufe in forming our expreffion, and inftructing us in the language proper for prayer. With that view, the careful perufal of the holy fcriptures, particularly Paul's Epiftles and David's Pfalms, have already been recommended, and to these might be added the book of Job.

From what has been faid, it is hoped that fome may be induced to apply themselves feriously to the performance of this truly important duty; and fuch, through the aid of divine Grace, will, no doubt, in a fhort time find that to become eafy and delightful, which at first, perhaps, appeared difficult

and irksome.

The promise is to him that hath, (that is, who hath, and ufeth what he hath) more fhall be given. Although we cannot do what we would, yet let us fail not to do what we can, wherein the Father of Mercies will accept us, according to his everlasting covenant in Christ Jefus-"For he knoweth • whereof we are made, and remembereth 'that we are but duft."

PRAYER S

A Morning Prayer for a Family.i

ALMIGHTY

IGHTY God! Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy fervants present ourfelves with all humility before thy divine majesty, to offer to thee this our morning facrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for all thy goodness and loving kindness vouchfafed to us thy finful creatures. We bless thee for creating us capable of loving and enjoying thee eternally : for preferving us from innumerable accidents and dangers through the whole courfe of our lives until this time; for refreshing us the night paft with com

(i) The Editor has taken the liberty of fubftituting the following Prayers for those referred to in Mr. Me}math's preface.

« ZurückWeiter »