Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-11-28
BEEvITY IN SOCIAL AND PUBLIC RELIGIOUS
EXERCISES.

EXERCISES.
l. was Mr.. Whitfield VIC believe, who
said OF one ofhI brethren who was prolx
in the conference.room, that he prayed him
into a good frame, and then pray ed him out
of it. The feelings the celebrated Mctho.
dist preacher experienced where probably
not peculiar 10 himself in their charactcr.-
Thousands of Christians at the present day
can undoubtedly attest 10 similar cncs.
Now, conference and rayer.mcet:ngs.
as well rs our more public meetings, should
be conducted in the manner best calculated
10 difFuse the benign spirit of religion
through the community. 10 this end we
consider it important, that the addresses
and prayers should be short. People may
rcasoa as they choose in f.vor of ca.
pricious eXtenion, TO be regulned only by
the feeling OF the individual performing the
exercise. But so long as human nature is
constituted as ii is at present, i! will be wea.
ricd by being confined TO listen 10 the dis
course of those who hold out no hope Of
speedily making period TO their work.
The Saviour on the memorable night Of
his betrayal, graciously excused The drow.
siness of his disciples, who were worn down
with fatigue and watching, BY saying that the
spirit was willing, though the flesh was
weak; by which we would ii: innate that their
regard for him would have banished sleep
at so even!ful an hour, had not wearicd ma.
ture inpressively demanded repose. 1t
would b. well for those who are ready to
cast ccnsure on any who cvince fatigue in
religious services, however protracted, to
consider the example Of our Lord, and TO
remember that no maraclcs will be wrought
10 suspend the tendencies Of nature.
Brev'ty, in these exercises, is also calcu-
lated TO pr duce an agreeable variety, by
giving greater opportunity for different ill.,
d'viduals % speak. It's usually the sign of
good sp;ri! present at a. meeting. We
have lately observed this trait in revivals.-
Deep.toned devotional feeling is not full Of
wsrds; but rather concise, if not abrupt
And we believe recurrence 10 this obser.
va'ion will testify the Christian reader that
the flame of piety has been oltener kindcd
in his breast by The remarks or prayers of
those who endeavor to comprehend much
in few words, and 10 make prompt con.
clusion, than by the cl1or:s Oft those who are
noted for proIixiy.
re authority Of scrp pure example is so
directly in favor of brevity, that it would bc
needless to multiply instances. 1t has been
said that the longest prayer in the Bible
that Of Solomon at lhe dedication Of the
:emple-may be easily pronouncei in ten
minutes, without haste. And let it be re-
membercd that this was an occrsion Of the
most sublime importance; a time. when, il
ever, long prayer would have been suit
able. To repeat the Lords prayer DELHI
crately does not require more than two
minutes; and many ofthe prayers in SCRIP.
turc would not occupy minute each. We
would by no means assume that these in
stances are TO be absolute rules TO Christians
at the present day; hut we think they show
in favor ofthe general practice Of making
religious exercises short. We are persua.
drd that judicious attention to this subjec
might add greatly 10 the enjoyment Of Chris.
,ian intercourse, and tend to promote the
! Interests of the Zion OF God.
Christian IVatchman.