148 A GUIDE TO PRÁYÉR. neither must we, out of pretence of spirituality, neglect all de. cencies. Our forms of religion are not numerous nor gaudy as the Jewish rites, nor theatrical gestures, or superstitious fop. perks, like the papists we have no need to be masters of cere- monies, in order to worship God aright, if we will but attend to the simplicity of manners whichnature dictates, and the pre- cepts and examples of the gospel confirm. Remark. Though the gestures that belong to preaching are very different from those of prayer, yet most of the rules that are prescribed for the expression; and the voice in prayer, may be usefully applied also to preaching ; but this difference is to be observed, that iii the work of preaching, the same restraints are not always necessary, and especially in applying truthwarmly to the conscience: for then we speak to men in the name and au- thority of God, and we may indulge a greater freedom and brightness of language, more lively motions, and bolder efforts of zeal and outward fervour : but in prayer, where, in the name of sinful creatures, we address the great and holy God, every thing that belongs tous must be composed to an appear- ance of humility. SECT. VIII. General Directions about the Gift of Prayer. Thus have I finished what I designed upon the gift of prayer, with regard to the matter, the method, the expression, the voice, and the gesture. I shall conclude this chapter with these five general directions t I. Keep the middle way between a nice and laboriousatten- dance to all the rules I have given, and a careless neglect of them. As every rule seems to carry its own reason with it., se it is proper that there should be some regard had to it, when occasions for the practice occur. For I have endeavoured to say nothing on this subject, but what might some way or other be useful towards the attainment of an agreeable gift of prayer, and the decent exercise of that gift. Themultiplicity of our wants, tile unfaithfulness of our memories, the dulness and slowness of our apprehensions, the common wanderings of our thoughts, 'arid the coldness of our affections, will require our best care for the remedy of them. Yet on the other hand, I would not have you confine your- selves too preçisely to all these forms in matter, method, expres- sion, voice, and gesture, upon every occasion, lest you feel your, selves thereby under some restraint, and prevent your souls of that divine liberty, with' which upon special occasions the Spirit of God blesses his own people in the performance of titis duty. Wizen the heart is hill of good matter, the tongue will some- times be as the pen of a ready writer ; Ps. lxv. 1. Such a fix- edness and fulness of thought, such a fervour of pious affections,
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