88 PntjACE. necessary' parts, that the memory of younger christians might he always furnished with some proper matter and method for their addresses to Ged. The gift, grace, and spirit of prayer, have of late years been made the subject of plentiful ridicule; and while some have utterly abandoned all pretences to them, and turned the very terms to jest and reproach , it must be confessed that others have given too just occasion for such scandal, by explaining all these words in so exalted a sense, as befits nothing but divine inspiration. I have endeavoured therefore to reduce these terms to their more proper and rational meaning, and explain them in such a way as the wisest and best men of all persuasions, who have not been warmed with party -zeal, have generally allowed. AndI have had this design in my view, that plainer christians among the dissenters, might understand what they themselves mean when they speak of praying by a gift, and praying by the spirit ; that they might notexpose themselves to the censure of talking with out a meaning, not be charged with enthusiasm by their conforming neighbours. In discoursing of the gift or ability to pray, I have been large and par- ticular, both in directions to attain it, and describing the mistakes, and inde. cencies that persons may be in danger of committing in this duty; being well assured that we learn to avoid what is culpable, bya plain representation of faults and follies, much better than a bare proposal of the bestrules and directions. But here I am prest between a double difficulty, and already feel the painof displeasing some of my readers. if I should describe these impro- prieties of speechand action in amoderate degree, scoffers would reproach a wholeparty of christians, and say that I hadcopied all from the life ; while my friends would be ready to suspect that I had published some of the errors of weaker brethren. On the other hand, if I should represent these faults in their utmost degree of offensiveness, the adversary indeed could scarce have malice enough to believe any preacher in our day was guilty of them : but my friends would tell tine, I had played at impertinencies, by exposing such faults as ne body practises. Now when two evils lie before me, I would chase the least. It is better to be impertinent than a publisher of folly ; and therefore I have set forth those indecencies in their very worst appearance, that they might never be practised. Upon this account, I have been forced to borrow instances of improper expressions from antiquated writers; and several of the descriptions of irregular voices and gesturefrom some obscure persons of the last age, whose talent of assurance was almost the only qualification that made them speakers in public: and this 1 was constrained to do, because my observations of the prayers I have heard could never have supplied my design. Besides, had I described some tolerable follies, perhaps weak men might havebeen ready tovindicate them, because they did not see deformityenough to be blamed. But now the instances I havegiven appear no disagreeable and ridiculous, that all men mustbe convinced they ought to be avoided : and younger christians when they learnto pray, will keep at the greatest distance from all such examples: But it is a hard matter toattempt reformation in any kind without giving offence. I have also added one short chapter of the grace of prayer, that the work might not appear too imperfect, though that has been abundantly and happily pursued in many treatises, and is the subject of daily sermons.
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