The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-09-04
knee should sow,'-with tina. God Who

favor, the language used will be ier,id, ra-
iionsl aud hignIf-d. The minds Of the pi-
ens COZ, cions NJ these things, will have
nothing Ia distract their attention. Thtr
prayers are before them: they are acquain-
It'd with eves, pptIlinu before il is Offered
up, and are therefor. prepared 10 sag Hmen.
The individual Who afliciates. possessrs
also The same supreme advantages. Instead
of looking far suitable expressions nj tue
moment. his mind will be tree from all per.
plcXlty, s. his undivided att.nil5n directed
IL fixed upon the Father of all mercl's. =
Relieved fro n the painful apprehension ol
not Acquiring himself accrplably before
the people OF his charge. his heart will he
subject 10 M serylle alarms--and as the
prayers have been composed by others.
he will be saved from a still more distress
ing evil, III" feelings of pride and sell-coln-
placency at having prayed well.
AS man advanced in years, it is inn
possible that shopd be unacquainted with
the weaknesses and infrmitlrs of the hu-
man mind. know, hrethrrn, what II IL
TO pray tOith, and alsu iflihout a form. |
presume not to object tn exurmpore pray
ers in those who prefer them-hnt with
all that chaity entertain towards other
societies, ] must he PEE mltted 10 advocate
the pre-eminent cl4Ims at a liturgt IN the
public worship of Almighty God.
There i, not state of mind to which
the christian is subject there IS not 4 shu-
alton in which he can be ,'laced, for winch
he may not fod suitable petition IN our
IN, aluable liturgy. Should his conscience
ldbour under the pressure Of sn,-shonld
his heart bleed under the painful conviction
oi his ngratltude To God. the oi'wlns
portion of the service snIts his case aud
expresses his wants Remember not,
Lord, our offences, neither take thou VEN
geance ofour sins. Spare us good Lord,
spare thy people whom thou hast redeem d
with thy most precious blood, aud he not
angry with us forever Does the wor
shipper wish TO possess heart of pc feet
devoledness to Gud? He is taught 10 io-
tercede foi that blessing in these appropri-
ate terms That il may please thee o
give us an heart to love aud fear thee, and
diligently To live after thy commandment.
Cleanse the tho'ts of our hearts by the
inspiration Oft y Holy Spirit, tha we may
perfectly love thee, and worlhily magnify
thy holy namrn Has he a father OF filend
whose duties have led him IN encounter
the fatigue and danger of a distant Wy
age? Here h may fod prayer IN which
to rxpre . t1e uost cry ut slrcs Tor
his safety and preservation--'T That IT may
please thee 10 preserve all who travel by
land or by water Da the afflicted wido"
and her latherless children come up to the
mouse of God To spread their wants before
his throne and to supplicate the dlvlne pro-
lection? Here they are furnished with u
petition expressive Of their deslres-' That
il may please thee to defend and provide
for the fatherless children aud widows, aud
all who are desoIate and oppressed At
the voice of their suppicatlons, the devo.
ton Of the pious will he kindled INTO flame,
aud with one heart AID voice they viii cry
aloud. We beseech thee TO hear US good
Lord
us the IA lily of the worshiper visited
with sckness9 Is the wife, the husband,
the beloved child, or friend, conGne d to IA
bed of disease, or lab0ring under any q
Their adversely? la the liturgy, these aill lc-
tons are mt with Suitable feeling. and the
prayers of the c"ng esalion are offered up
in the tender and ahectonate la guage--
We commend to thy fathrrly goodness
all those who are any ways Jilllcted or dls-
tressrd, in mind, body or estate, that il
may please thee 10 comfort and relieve
tbcm according to Their necessities, giving
them patience under their sutferngs and ii
happy issue out Of all their Affections -
aud this we beg for Jesus GhrIsl's sake
TO find fault with sneh liturgy, how
unreasonable To charge such system
of devotion with GOODNESS and iormaIlry,
how cruel and unjust Bred up from my
infancy IL IFS constant use; instructed from
the first dawlngs OF intellect in lis obsers-
ancf. acknowledge that reneralt IL
Next To the inspired volume II has a place
in my bosom,- and while live. | VIII
thank the Lord for so inestimable bless
lug as the Book of Common Prayer
"To c0nclude--Ths temple, brethren,
which has been raised by your plous ef,
forts 'or the purposes Of religion, and which
has heeu conseeTated 10 the service of Al
mighty GGd, should INSPIRE your minds,
when entering It's sacred courts, with SEN
sations of the deepest devotion. You
should remember with profound humility
that it has been presented to the Almighty
as an offering of gratitude that il is SIT a.
part from all profane aud secular uses, and
devoted to he worship OF that Being, IN
whose presence angels veil their faces and
bow 10 alteration.
"When Moses approached the bush that
burned with fire, aItho' his anxiety To
comprehend the scpue he Witnessed WAS
pleasing to the Almighty, still he was eau
toned TO draw near with the reverence be-
coming 80 sacred place. Put odthy shoes
from of thy feet, for the place whereon
thou standest IS holy ground In conlor-
init, with a command 81 truly soIemn,
son should bear IN mind, that tins Is The
Lord's house, the place in which mis- honor
dweleth Instead Of enterIuS Il with levi
~ and decentralization, you should come
into his gates with Thanksgiving and into
his courts with prase.--ind ia thu spIut Of
thu PsaImlst, say . 60 nr, let Us worship
aud fall down, and kueei before the Lord
nur Maker