As almost every part of this great charter of grace testifies of CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED, -as He is the substance of all its arguments, the Sun that gives life and vigour to the whole system, the Fountain from whence the only pure streams of spiritual light and wisdom, holiness and happiness flow,-it has been the Writer's object to make Him the leading feature of the following pages;-for it is the incense of His sacrifice, the value of His merits, the prevailing efficacy of His intercession, which alone can cause our prayers to ascend to the mercy-seat of our God, so as to be heard, accepted, and answered.* mortals converse with their Creator, they cannot do it in so proper a style as in that of the HOLY SCRIPTURES. ADDISON, Spec. No. 405. *There are also introduced into the following Forms of Prayer, several suitable phrases from the valuable Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which has been justly considered as the Echo of the sacred writings. * BISHOP REYNOLDS, (Author of the Exceeding sinfulness of Sin, Life of Christ, &c.) thus writes, Sermon XXIII. “All things to be prayed for do necessarily carry us unto CHRIST. HIS Father the Answerer of our Prayers: I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 111. 14. His Spirit, the Au The Writer is well aware that the inexpediency of Forms of Prayer may be urged by some persons as tending to damp our inward devotion, to induce formality and indifference, and to withhold from us the opportunity of introducing suitable petitions and thanksgivings, adapted to our peculiar circumstances, which are ever varying in this mortal life. It would be beside his present purpose to discuss this subject freely: but perhaps it will be allowed by the most strenuous advocates for extemporaneous prayer, that it is better to pray with an approved form than not at all, or than to use in social worship incoherent and irreverent expressions. In secret when communing with our God, retired and alone, the contrite sigh, the grateful effusions of the heart offered through the Divine REDEEMER, meet with an answer of peace, and require no ornaments of speech to make them more acceptable in the sight of the heart-searching God: but when the Master of a Family, or any one who leads the worship of the social circle, acts as thor of our prayers: The Spirit of the Son in our hearts, crieth, Abba Father. Gal. iv. 6. His Name the argument of our Prayers: Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. John xvI. 23. HIS intercession, the efficacy of our Prayers: this the incense offered with the Prayers of all Saints upon the golden altar." Rev. vIII. 3. a mouth to others, something more seems necessary; there should be, if extemporaneous prayer be used, a quick invention, a readiness of utterance, and a formed judgment, in order to adapt the petitions to the several circumstances and wants of the hearers; and as some may want these abilities, and others may not feel a confidence to put them in exercise, a scriptural form of Prayer may assuredly be used with advantage. And though it may not enter into all the shades of difference which exist in the experience of different individuals, (which, perhaps, are known only to GoD and their own souls;) yet may it not express those wants, feelings, desires, and rejoicings of the heart, which are common to all the disciples of the LORD JESUS? "As in water face anwereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” The writer however has not the most remote intention of employing the feeble efforts of his pen to discountenance the exercise of extemporaneous Prayer: No, where the Lord gives "the "preparation of the heart and the answer of the "tongue," extemporaneous prayer should be encouraged. Nor does he wish to confine those who use the following forms to the exact words or the connection in which the several petitions stand; for the Christian reader may use them merely as helps, and may change, enlarge, or contract, as his judgment directs. Neither does the Writer expect, or wish, by presenting this little work to the Public, to supersede the many excellent devotional forms at present in use; but as these are in general scarce and expensive, he hopes that he may not have misemployed his leisure hours, in adding to their number.* In conclusion he would humble himself before the Throne of Grace, and pray that, if these Forms speak according to "the law and to the testimony." they may prove a means of spiritual benefit to the hearts of the Writer and of the Reader, and that both may unite with the Psalmist in praising God and saying "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." Some Families adopt the plan of using alternately Forms of Prayer written by different authors. |