CHAPTER II. 131 we use ourselves so little to speak about the things of religion, and another world. A man that hath but a tolerable share of natural parts, and no great volubility of speach, learns to talk well upon the afï'hirs of his own trade and business in the world, and scarce ever wants words to discourse with his dealers: and the reason is, because his heart and'his tongue are frequently en- gaged therein. Thus if our affections are kept warm, and we use ourselves frequently to speak of thethings of religion to men, we.shall learn to express ourselves much better about the same divine concerns when we come before God. IV.. Pray earnestly for the gift of utterance, and seek the blessing of the Spirit of God upon the use of proper means to obtain a treasure of expressions for prayer. The great apostle prays often for a freedom ofspeech and utterance in his ministry, that he may speak the mystery of Christ, andmake it manifest so as he ought to speak; Col. iv. 3, 4. So the gift of utterance in prayer, is a very fit request to be made to God for the advantage ofour own souls, and those that join withus. The wise man tells us, in Prov. xvi. 1. " That the preparation of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." Let us pray then, that when God hails prepared our heart for his wor- ship, he would also teach our tongue to answer the thoughts and desires of the heart, and to express them in words suitable and answering to all our inward spiritual affections. A happy variety of expression, and holy oratory in prayer, is one of these mood and perfect gifts that came from above, from God the _Father of lights and knowledge ; James i. 17. The rules about the choice and use of proper expressions inprayer are these : I. Chuse those expressions that best suit your meaning, that most exactly answer the ideas of your mind, and that are 'fitted to your sense and apprehension of things. For the design of prayer is to tell God the inward thoughts of your heart; if you speak therefore what is not in the heart, though the words be never so fine and pathetical, it is but a mere mockery of God. Let your tongues be the true interpreters of your minds. When our souls are filled with a lively impression of some of the attri- butes, or works of God, whenour hearts are overpowed with a sense of our own guilt and unworthiness, or big with some im- portant request ; O what a blessed pleasure is it to hit upon a happy expression, that speaks our very soul, and fulfils all our meaning ! and what a pleasure doth it convey to all that join with us, who have their spiritual senses exercised ? and it helps to excite in them, the saine devotion that dictated to. us the words we speak : the royal preacher ; in Ec. xii. 10. Sought out, and gave good heed to ,hind, and to set in order, acceptable words in his sermons, that they might be as goads and nails i2
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