SECT. III.

Of the Manner in which Prayer ought to be performed.

What I had further in view was to represent the manner in which Prayer ought to be performed, in order to render it an acceptable and profitable fervice.

The firft obfervation I fhall make on this fubject is, that Prayer ought to be performed with a mind properly prepared for it, and with fixed and compofed thoughts. "Tis an important and folemn work, and no pains can be too great to perform it in a becoming manner. Before we engage in it, 'tis proper to take time for ferious recol

lection,

lection, for confidering what we are going to do, and endeavouring to bring our minds to a right temper, and to imprefs them with fuitable defires and sentiments. 'Tis not likely to be attended with great advantages when this is neglected, or when performed with minds full of worldly cares, ruffled by paffion, or diffipated by pleasure.But if it is thus proper to prepare ourselves for Prayer, it must be much more fo to avoid all levity and abfence of mind when actually engaged in it: For otherwise we shall not pray at all, but mock the Deity with unmeaning founds. What can be more indecent, or exprefs greater disrespect to the Moft High, than to draw nigh to him with our lips, while our hearts are far from him; to pretend to address ourselves to him, and at the fame time to fuffer our thoughts to wander to the ends of the earth? Can we think he will hold them guiltless who thus trifle with him?If we worship him at all, it ought to be with a guard upon

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upon our attention, with an awe of him upon our minds, and an inward and fincere devotion. No bodily fervices or external pageantry and fhew can please him. He is an omnipresent and perfect mind, who looks to our minds, and regards nothing but the acts of our minds. 'Tis true, the best men are liable to wanderings and diftractions of mind in religious exercifes. But fome there are who are utterly inexcufable this way; who indulge themfelves in inattention, and fatisfy themfelves with the careless repetition of a fet of words and the mere form of worship. There is too much reason to believe, with respect to public Prayer in particular, that many attend it without any view at all to devotion or improvement, only because it is the custom, or for fome lefs innocent reafon; and that others, who perhaps are never abfent from it, feldom really pray, but pass away the whole folemnity of worship in a heedlefs and trifling manner, with their thoughts employed

on

on business, or intent on pleasure and folly. How can perfons, who have any fenfe of the obligation and importance of Prayer, know themselves to be thus guilty, without feverely reproaching themselves? Were it not for the influence which the examples of fuch might have, they would be almost as innocent if they were openly irreligious, and never ap peared at any place of Divine worship.

with fer

2dly, We ought to pray vency of affection and defire. This must be of particular importance. It cannot be imagined, that any Prayers will be accepted, which are not emanations from a heart charged with good defires. The juftest and best definition that can be given of devotion is, "that it is the "affections correfponding to the Divine "nature and character, expreffing them"felves by their proper acts." As far, therefore, as these affections are either wanting or languid, devotion lofes (I may fay) its foul, and degenerates into

a worthless formality.The proper difpofitions for Prayer are gratitude and love to God; efteem and veneration for him; joy and confidence in his goodnefs; a fenfe of our dependence upon him as the abfolute difpofer of our lot; forrow for the diforders of our hearts; humility and felf-abafement; hatred of all fin; love to virtue as our chief good; and unfeigned benevolence to our fellowcreatures. For the fame reason that we fhould poffefs these difpofitions at all when we pray, they fhould be warm and active within us. It is not poffible that we should then be too much concerned about reviving in ourselves the beft fentiments, and raising to the utmost every pious affection. Our affections cannot be too intense when the Deity is the object of them. It is not poffible for any Being to honour and love him enough. We ought never to think of him without reverence. With what reverence then should we pray to him?— Our hearts indeed here require our ftricteft