Page images
PDF
EPUB

er.

circumstances may require.fied for a prayer-hearing God: Much has been said respecting Yet, however, we are not to exthe propriety of written forms, pect that all our requests will and extempore prayer. Ei-be answered. The matter, time, ther, if properly expressed and manner, and temper must be ataccompanied with the heart, tended to, in all our addresses to will doubtless be acceptable to the throne of grace. So far as God. A known and orderly ar- we are deficient in either of rangement is best adapted to so- these, we have cause to fear a cial prayer, because the audi-denial of our requests. This ence can more readily and under-consideration brings us to enstandingly assent to, and joinquire into the requisites of praywith the speaker. Yet, the speaker should not be confined to a form, so but that he may adapt himself with propriety to occasions and special occurrences. In private prayer, the regular arrangement of the several parts is not so necessary. Every one may express his own personal feelings and desires at the time, and as in the presence of the omniscient God. But not to enlarge. The nature and design of prayer are the same, both in public and private: It is a making known our requests unto God, and spreading our joys and sorrows before him, acknowledging his property in us and sovereignty over us.

It is of high importance, that we pay serious attention to what we ask of God in prayer. The matter should be important and solemn, suited to his character and our own; and, our minds seriously attentive to whatever we supplicate of him. We ought not to rush with inattention into the presence of the high and lofty One, who inhabiteth eternity; nor address him with levity, or on trifling subjects. If our prayer does not engage our own attention, we cannot reasonably expect it will engage the attention of the great Jehovah, unless, to punish us for insulting him with solemn trifling.

What then can be said, for the conduct of most people, in their social worship, in the family, and in the house of God? While the master of a family reads a chapter in the Bible, and addres

That God is a proper, and the only proper object of our 'prayers needs no labored proof. As omniscient and omnipresent, he is always with us, knows every thought of our hearts, and hears every word of our lips-ses the throne of grace, how we can never pray unnoticed. many members are permitted to As omnipotent, he can do every be absent? How many are buthing for us, which is fit to be sied in family concerns or amusedone. As infinitely wise, he ments. There is no proper atcan do for us in the best possi- tention to religion in such conble time, and in the best possi-duct-we cannot serve God and ble manner. And, as infinitely mammon. just and good, he can and will hear and answer our requests, so far as will promote his glory and our good.

Thus God is perfectly quali

And no less reprehensible is the conduct of many, when they go to the house of God. With what trifling and inattention do they rush into the Divine pre

[ocr errors]

sence? While the throne of
grace is addressed, how many
indulge wandering thoughts?
And in some places there are
those who allow themselves to
laugh, talk, and gaze on various
objects. Thus, they draw near
to God with their mouths, while
their hearts are afar off. These
things ought not so to be. Lip
worship and formality will never
bring us unto God.

To render our prayers acceptable to God, we must, also, entertain an unwavering trust and confidence in him. We cannot seriously ask of God things, for which, we trust in ourselves; or which, we believe he is unwilling to grant us; nor, so long as we continue wavering and undetermined in our minds, can we pray acceptably. Want of confidence in the divine goodness, is want of sincerity in asking; and bars a probability of receiving. Agreeably to which, St. James writes-If any of you lack wis

and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. It is the will of God that we trust and confide in him; but the fearful, the doubting, and the unbelieving are no friends to him and his cause; they have no love to his character,

As we must pay solemn attention to God, and the things we bring before him in prayer, so must we feel a hearty desire for the things we ask. God de-dom, let him ask of God, and mands the heart; he sees it, it shall be given him. But let him and will not be deceived. Pray-ask in faith, nothing wavering : er without the heart, is solemn | for he that wavereth is like a wave mockery. Should a neighbor, of the sea, driven with the wind in solemn show, importune us for things, we knew he did not desire, we should resent it as a base insult: yet, how many do thus treat the God who made them? How many in prayer, ask for grace to live holy and godly lives for grace to deliver them from evil, and keep them out of temptation; yet, immediately, and even of forethought, allow themselves in the profanest vices? Such persons lie unto God; they do not mean what they say. And did they believe God would answer their requests, they would feel offended -they would view it a curse, rather than a blessing. It is no wonder such persons continue stupid in the ways of sin. And, have we not reason to fear, that many such are left of God to strong delusion, to believe a lie? We should take heed how we attempt to deceive, and trifle with the omniscient God. He requires truth in the inner parts. He is a jealous God, and will not give his honor to another.

Thus, trust and confidence in God are indispensibly necessary to the acceptableness of prayer. But how shall sinners, condemned sinners, trust in a God of inflexible justice! How can they look to him, as a prayer-hearing and sin-forgiving God-a God of infinite mercies! Here then we turn to the gospel provision, to Jesus Christ the great high priest of our profession; (God, out of him, is a consuming fire.) Christ hath offered himself an atonement and sacrifice for sin, and by his own blood, entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption; and having broken down the middle wall of partition between God and us, we now have access

to claim any blessing from him.
Nor do we know what his glory
may requiré; or, what may be
best for ourselves, and the gen-
eral good. We should always
set Christ's example before our
eyes. He was meek and lowly
in heart, and prayed, saying,
Father, if thou be willing, remove
this cup from me; nevertheless,
not my will, but thine, be done.
Such, always, should be our tem-
per and manner in prayer.-
God's will should be our will.

to the throne of grace through | vine Will; for we have no right
faith in his blood. All that come
unto God by Him, will be accept-
ed. For this we have the words
of eternal truth;-Seek and ye
shall find; and whatsoever ye shall
ask in my name, ye shall receive.
This foundation is sure. The
heavens and the earth shall pass
away; but not one jot or tittle
of God's word shall pass till all
be fulfilled. Let us then draw
near to God in prayer, with firm
trust and confidence in him; for
Jesus Christ is able to save them
to the uttermost that come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liv-
eth to make intercession for
them.

It is worthy of remark, again, that a temper of humble submission to the will of God, is absolutely necessary to the right discharge of the duty of prayer. The proud look and the haughty spirit God hateth. Pride is nevér becoming, in such sinners as we are our sins are an abomination unto God. And it is infinite mercy and condescension in him, that he permits us, even in the name of Jesus Christ, to make our requests known to him, in prayer. To lie low at the footstool of sovereign grace, is the highest position sinners may take. That man who dares to thank God, that he is not so bad as other men, thinks higher of himself than he ought to think; and has yet to learn, that the heart is deceitful above ali things, and desperately wicked.

Under this article of submission to the Divine Will, it should be observed, that in our prayers, we are not to expect or aim to alter his purposes concerning

us.

He is of one mind, and who can turn him? God is absolutely unchangeable. Prayer has been compared to a key to unlock the door of heaven: it is necessary for us, though not for God. It does not bring him down to us, but raises us up to him. He will be enquired of for his blessings; and we know it is his ordinary way to bestow mercies in the use of means. Our prayer does not, indeed, change the purpose of God, but it is an act of obedience to him, acknowledging his sovereignty and our dependence; and so puts us in a way of receiving, according to his will, what otherwise we could not receive, because he had determined otherwise not to give it.

It will not be amiss to observe As our prayers should be of again, that in prayer, persever fered to God in deep humility, ance is necessary for the right so should they be in entire sub-discharge of that important dumission to his will. We may ty. The apostolic direction is, not prescribe to him, either the Pray and faint not—Pray without matter, the time, or the manner ceasing-Pray with all prayer. of the grace we ask. The whole To pray acceptably, we should should be submitted to the Di-entertain a spirit of prayer at all

[ocr errors]

times, and actually pray on all | puts in motion this spirit; and proper occasions.

Private and public prayer include all prayers, and are expressly required of us; and, as public prayer is social, so it extends its requirements to social prayer of all kinds, and on all occasions. Family prayer is specially inculcated. By the evening and morning sacrifice, this duty was taught to God's ancient church; and our Saviour also taught his disciples a social prayer, and frequently prayed with them as his family. To which we add, prayer with the sick and afflicted. It is not enough that we pray for our families, and for the afflicted, but we must pray with them; it must be a social prayer.

thus, he grows in grace, and finds a heaven begun in his soul. Thus should we all persevere in this duty, for we are taught that the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much with God.

As

I will conclude this essay with a few observations on the reasonableness and privilege of prayer. Our daily wants, both spiritual and temporal, teach us the reasonableness of prayer. We cannot do any thing of ourselves, as we ought to do; and have no claim on God, for any needful good. We can neither do, speak, or think any good, but by divine assistance. sinners, we deserve God's wrath, and that only-we lie wholly at Innumerable are the occasions his mercy, whether we shall for secret and social prayer; have any happiness here, or hence, said the apostle, in every hereafter. How reasonable then thing, by prayer let your requests is it, that we should, with all be made known unto God. We diligence, address the throne of can be in no situation, nor under grace, in the name of Jesus any circumstance in life, but Christ, for divine influences and some kind of prayer will be pro- saving mercies? There can be per for us. It is, therefore, of no help from any other quarter, high importance that we main- and without help, we must pertain a spirit of supplication at all ish. This privilege God gives times; and persevere in its ex-us, and no creature can deprive ercises, both secret and social, [us of it; which is not the case as occasions shall require. This with other means. How then will afford us a good evidence of should we prize this! How dilia right temper of mind; but he gent should we be in the use of who prays only on particular oc- it! A little delay may be our casions, will discover his defi- ruin: God may say, they are ciency, let his gifts of expres-joined to idols, let them alone; and sion be as they may, for the very│I will see what their end shall be. spirit of prayer is wanting. The life of a real Christian, is a life of prayer. He not only has set seasons for secret and social prayer; but breathes out to God ejaculations all the day long, in adoration, confession, petition, thanksgivings, or intercessions. Almost every occurrence in life

As our spiritual, so our temporal wants should excite us to the duty of prayer. "In God

we live, and move, and have our being." All things come from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. God is the fountain of all our blessings.

How

reasonable then is it, that in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we make known our requests unto him?

Finally, Prayer, always puts us in the way of a blessing. It is Gods appointment. He is with us, while we are careful to be with him; and it is his ordinary way to bestow blessings in the use of means. This duty has been wonderfully followed with spiritual and temporal mercies, which is evident from the word of God; and from the ex

people have not a spirit of prayer, they appear to have little sense of religion; and soon grow corrupt in faith and morals.We should, therefore, prize this as one of our best and highest privileges; and daily exercise ourselves in it before the throne of grace.

I will only add-Prayer is a great and high privilege. There is no mean of salvation exceeds it. In prayer, we have the nearest approach to God we can have on earth; and the sweetest communion and fel-perience of men. But where lowship with the Father and the Son. It is a powerful mean to humble man, and exalt God to restrain us from sinning, and draw down divine blessings. The habitual practice of prayer, will keep up a feeling sense of our dependence on God, and of his goodness towards us. And such a solemn sense of divine good- Let us remember we are sinness, notwithstanding our ill de-ners on probation, and shall soon sert, will tend to excite our grat- be called to account for the things itude, love, and obedience. Pray- done in the body. All our good er will lead us so to contemplate things for time and eternity the attributes of the Deity, that must come from God. Let us, we shall be ready to cry out with therefore, constantly look to him David, How excellent is thy for them, in the name and for the name in all the earth! Or else, sake of Jesus Christ; and alwith Job, Our heart will tremble, ways depend upon the aids of and be moved out of his place, the Holy Spirit, for without him because we are as nothing before we can do nothing. This will him. Thus it tends to set God be our only sure way to happion the throne, and to keep us in ness here, and glory hereafter. our proper place, low at the footISRAEL. stool of his grace.

ledge.

MESSRS. EDITORS,

Prayer will also excite us to the exercise of charity and for- Duty of seeking Religious Knowgiveness. How else shall we pray, Father, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors? If we forgive not men their trespasses, we shall ask a curse rather than a blessing. The spirit of pray-gious knowledge, be thought er, is a spirit of forgiveness; and worth inserting in your Magathe more we have of it, the more zine, they are at your disposal. readily we shall forgive one ano

IF the following observations on the obtaining of reli

ther; and so obtain an evidence, IT

that we are children of our Father who is in heaven.

T is no uncommon thing to hear people alledging, in exculpation of their deficiency in

« PreviousContinue »