Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

lieved that he would also prescribe to us a form in which the other parts also of this devotion were to be uttered.

7. St. Paul refutes this supposition, when he requires us to'pray always with all prayer,' Eph. vi. 18.

From the prayers recorded in the Scriptures, of the ancient saints, of Christ, and his apostles, we know that there is much prayer which, unless by very distant application, cannot be said to be contained in this form. In the sentence which contains this precept of St. Paul, he directs the Ephesians to pray that ! utterance might be given unto him;' and that he might open his mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel.' It will hardly be pretended, that this request is clearly contained in the Lord's Prayer. The same thing is true of a vast multitude of other prayers found in the Scriptures. The truth plainly is, that the prayers contained in this sacred book almost universally sprang from particular occasions; are exactly such as suited those occasions, the natural effusions of the heart contemplating their nature, and feeling their importance. This fact effectually teaches us what it is to pray always with all prayer:' viz. what I formerly explained it to be: to pray on every proper occasion with prayer suited to that occasion. But this cannot be accomplished, unless we pray often, at least, without a form, and in the extemporaneous manner.

[ocr errors]

These arguments, if I mistake not, prove that the Lord's prayer was not prescribed to Christians as a form which they were intended or required to adopt. That it may be used, both lawfully and profitably, at various times, both in public and private, and that it may be very often thus used, I entertain not a single doubt.

The question concerning forms of prayer is now become a question of mere expediency. If the Lord's prayer is not enjoined upon us; it is certain, that no other form of prayer can lay the least claim to such an injunction.

It is well known, that various sects of Christians are attached to forms of prayer in the public worship of God, and sometimes even in private worship. Such forms are prescribed by them as directories of public worship; and all those who belong to their communion are required to worship in this manner. Every objection to extemporaneous prayer is considered, and I think justly, by these Christians as evidence of the advantages of a liturgy; and may, without any inconve

[blocks in formation]

nience, and without any discrimination, be blended with the positive arguments in favour of worshipping by a form. I shall therefore blend them in the following examination. These arguments I consider as collected by Dr. Paley, so far as they have any force. I shall therefore follow this respectable writer in this discussion.

In behalf of forms of prayer, as directories of public worship, it is pleaded,

I. That the use of them prevents the use of improper prayers; such, particularly, as are absurd, extravagant, or impious.

[ocr errors]

'These," says Dr. Paley, “in an order of men so numerous as the sacerdotal, the folly and enthusiasm of many must always be in danger of producing, where the conduct of the public worship is entrusted, without restraint or assistance, to the discretion and abilities of the officiating minister.”

To the argument here alleged, I reply, That this complaint has been originated by those who have used liturgies, and not by those who have worshipped with extemporaneous prayer. Yet these persons are incomparably more interested to complain; because, if the evil exists, they, and they only, suffer by it. At the same time, they are also the only proper judges, as being the only persons who have sufficient experience of this evil, or the want of a liturgy, to enable them to judge. The allegation was invented therefore to justify the use of a liturgy already adopted; and not admitted as a proof of the necessity of worshipping by a Liturgy; and as a truth forced upon the conviction of men by the existence of the evil, which in this case it would be intended to remedy.

Facts are often discordant with theories, and often refute them. Such, I apprehend, is the truth in the present case. In the vast multitude of Christian congregations who in Switzerland, Protestant France, Germany, Ireland, and America, in Holland, England, and Scotland, worship without a form, no material difficulty of this nature has ever been perceived. Within the many millions of mankind who for centuries have worshipped in this manner, there has certainly been a sufficient number of enlightened men, a sufficient length of time, and a sufficient variety of character and circumstances, to have presented, and to have felt, this evil, if it has actually existed,

in every manner and degree in which it is capable of existing. Yet no complaint has ever prevailed to any extent, in any protestant age or country, among those who have worshipped without forms of prayer. It will not be pretended that among these persons, religion, in the proper sense, has not had as extensive and happy influence as it has had during the same period among any of the human race.

That there have been solitary instances of this nature I readily admit. But that they have been sufficiently numerous to furnish ground for this allegation cannot be seriously maintained for a moment by any man who considers this fact with candour, or even with sober attention.

I speak not here of the performances of ignorant men, who thrust themselves into the desk, without right, propriety, or even decency; nor of those who, without any appearance of piety, are admitted into the church, merely because they are (in the language of Dr. Paley)" descendants of large families," and for the purpose of furnishing them with easy means of subsistence: men who, as this writer says, are 66 no farther ministers of religion, than as a cockade makes a soldier." From the former of these classes, extravagant addresses to God, from the latter, such as are impious, and from both suck as are absurd, may indeed be expected. But the existence of such persons in the desk, although an indelible reproach to those who are bound to lay hands suddenly on no man,' and to all who voluntarily attend the ministry of these persons, infers no objection against extemporaneous prayer. Among the men who are educated and morally qualified for the ministry, too few will always be found guilty of this conduct to furnish any serious argument in favour of a liturgy. While among so many and so discreet Christians, who through many ages, and in many countries have worshipped in this manner, no difficulty of this kind has ever been seriously felt, the objection is plainly imaginary.

[ocr errors]

Prayer is, of all kinds of discourse, that which least demands elegance of style. Every professed ornament it rejects with disdain. The simplest, plainest, and least artificial manner of uttering his thoughts alone becomes the character of a suppliant, or the occasion and design of his supplication. He who feels inclined to pray will loathe all critical phraseology in his prayers. Decency, everywhere demanded, is indis

pensable in the worship of God; but beyond this nothing is necessary in our prayers, beside humility, faithfulness, and fervour. But decency is easily attainable by men of moderate talents, without the aid of a superior education. Plain men, as is not unfrequently seen both in private and public religious assemblies, pray with much propriety, and with no small edification to their fellow-Christians. He who has universally made prayer a prime duty of man, has qualified man for the performance of this duty; and, as I apprehend, much more happily than this objection supposes.

2. It is objected also, that extemporaneous prayer must be attended with confusion in the mind of the hearer.

The ignorance of each petition before it is heard, the want of time to join in it after it is heard, the necessary suspension of devotion until it is concluded, the necessity of attending to what succeeds, the detention of the mind from its proper business by the very novelty with which it is gratified, form together the sources of this confusion, and furnish, in the view of Dr. Paley, a fundamental objection against extemporary prayer, even where the minister's office is discharged with every possible advantage and accomplishment. Concerning this objection I observe,

(1.) That it attaches a gross and fundamental impropriety to the prayers of inspired men, mentioned in the scriptures.

The prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple was, I think, unquestionably intended to awaken the spirit of devotion in the great assembly before which it was uttered, and to become the vehicle of their own supplications. But this design was impracticable on that occasion, and with respect to that assembly, as truly and as extensively as with respect to any modern congregation of Christians. There are many instances also in which the apostles and their fellowchristians assembled for prayer. The prayers actually uttered on these occasions were, I think, with a degree of probability next to certainty, extemporary. The persons who heard them could no better tell the import of each petition before they beard it, than modern Christian assemblies. Their devotion was as much suspended, until a petition was concluded. They were as much held in continual expectation; were detained as much from their proper business of joining in prayer; and

were in all other respects subjected to as many disadvantages. The unavoidable conclusion from these premises is, that the apostles prayed in a manuer unfitted for the purposes of dovotion, unedifying to those with whom they prayed, and of course unapproved by the Spirit of God.

This conclusion no objector will admit. But if the objector refuse to admit the conclusion, he must, I think, give up the premises. If men could profitably unite in extemporary prayer in the days of Solomon, or in the days of the apostles, they can do it now.

(2.) The same objection lies with equal force, to a great extent, against the union, which the objectors themselves suppose to exist, and will acknowledge to be absolutely necessary, in other parts of religious worship.

A considerable number of persons, from perhaps one half to seven-eighths of the whole number, usually gathered in religious assemblies, are, throughout almost all Christian countries, unable to read. Of these it may be properly observed here, that from the confused manner in which the responses in a liturgy will ever be read by a numerous and mixed assembly, they must very imperfectly hear and understand this part of the prayers. That which they gain by hearing, however, is all which they gain. All these, unless they learn the prayers by heart, a fact which, it is presumed, rarely happens, must be in a much less favourable situation in some respects, and better situated in none, than when they are present at extemporary prayers.

Equally unable are these persons to read psalms. If men cannot join in the prayers uttered by a minister, it will be difficult to show how they can unite in the praises sung by a choir.

My audience well know, that hearing the word of God is in my own view, a part, and a very solemn and important part, of public worship. To receive divine truth and divine precepts, as being really divine, with reverence, faith, and love, is an ordinance as truly appointed by God, and as acceptable means of honouring him, as prayer or praise. To hear with any advantage, it is necessary, that we should both understand and feel what we hear. In order to understand, it is indispensable that we examine every thing uttered by the preacher, which is not absolutely obvious, with a momentary

« AnteriorContinua »