Litchfield enquirer., 1829-11-26
AN ESSAY ON Player.

into certain modes of thinking and reason
ing, every exercise Of tie mind in religion
is tinctured with the distinguishing tcnets
which constitute the capital points of the
system. So that the refined doctrinal chris
tian thinks, speaks, AMI acts, in religious
matters, las if the divine appreciation and the
enjoyment ofheaven we're made to depend
upon right opinions or correct Speculations
on the topics of 'eUel0ciom. Hence we find
that the zeal for correct sentiments gives a
peculiar turn to every act of devotion.
Baptism, the Lords supper, the Lords
day, prayer, and praise, in the apprehen-
sions and in the observance of such chris
tians, are attended on as tho our accept
ance depended upon tho ideas or views
which the mind takes Of these institutions
during the period of time in which we are
engaged in them. So far has this matter
been carried out in practice, that it is not
uncommon to find our favor,e points in
speculative theology to engross the whole
contents of Il prayer as well as sermon.
Men are now taught, both by theory and
| practice, to confess their whole faith in
their addresses to God, as they were wont
I in other times to confess their sins. Some
times We hear the terms "Ce beLieve" as
often repeated in prayer as there arc
principal articles in our creed land it is
not uncommon for men when addressing
their Creator, to declare tn him not only
their own views of his character and gov
eminent, but to contrast their views with
those of other men" God, we thank
thee that we do not hold this or that: and
hat NIJoh oIi g., -.
public prayers. And it has become as
common to pray the sermon over in the
succeeding prayer as ii is to sing it over in
"a suitable hymn or psalm.
Prayer to God is one Of the most inter-
esting, solemn, and exalted exercises which
falls to the lot of mortal man. 1t should
be we'll understood by all christians. To
contribute something to this is the design
of the following pages. Conceiving that
when we have been laboring to purge our
psalmody and to improve our religious
taste in this branch of devotion, it will not
be amiss to make an effort to arouse the
attention Of christians to their prayers as
we'll as to their songs ofpraise. Prayer is
naturally divided into secret and public, or
individual and social. The Savior COM
handed both. He gave promises to both
TO him that enters into his closet, and to
him who agrees with others touching any
thing for which they should unite in their
prayers to God. Now with regard to Sc
cret prayers, there is less temptation to de-
part from the true and proper attributes
ofprayer, than in public prayer: for in Sc
crct we are freed from any restraints or in
ducements growing out of regard for the
opinions and estimations of others. Our
wants or desires are merely to be expressed
in simplicity land just according TO our actu-
al views and feelings, when we address no
ear but that Of him who hears in secret.
1t is in perfect accordance with that wis
dom and goodness every where apparent
in the christian religion, that we are so re-
peatedly exhorted to enter into our closets,
and to address our Father in secret, to
whom, though he is unseen himself, Moth
ing is secret. There is no school under
the heavens in which the art of prayer can
be so easily acquired-in which the spirit
of prayer can be so fully possessed, and in
which the language Of prayer can be so
fully and perfectly attained-as in the clos
ct, in the fields or forests, where no human
ear can hear, and where no human eye can
see us. Besides, no prayers have so much
influence upon ourselves as those which are
offered up in secret to God. We are then,
and we feel ourselves then, in company
with God alone. We can tell him what
we cannot tell any mortal, the nearest and
dearest on earth. We can disclose all
our secrets, unburden all our griefs, con-
TESS all our faults, and pour cut all our souls
before HIM. five are distressed, the dec
larat!on of our distresscs TO him, relieves
them; five are prosperous ard joyous, our
thanksgiving and Acknowledgements to him
temper our joys and moderate our rcjoic-
ings. Equanmity is not only produced,
but always retained, by this heaven-devi-
sed appointment. We are prepared for
every event when we have come out from
the presence Of God. But there is every
thing in reason, in religion, and in our con-
dition and circumstances, to entice us to the
closet, and to allure US into the secret re-
cesses to converse with our father who is
in heaven.
According to our faith in God will be
our requests, and according to our conf
dence in his promises will be our assurance
Of acceptance with him. When in spirit
and in truth We call upon the Lord, our
words are well ordered, because they arc
words of sincerity-the language of the
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