The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-05-23
Moral and Religious.
tEPA friend Of ours requests us topublish the fol-
lowing, from the Alabama Baptist;

tUPA friend Of ours requests us toPubllsh the io-
lowing, from the Alabama Baptist:
LONG PRA YERS.
The remark of Whitefeld to n brother who had
made very long prayer was, "Brother, you prayed
me into good frame, ard you prayed me ont Of It
again.
Often do we think ofthis remark, when listening to
the prolonged and wearisome supplications of some
christian brother, who ranges over the universe, IN
quest of materials with which to eke out his petitions
Regardless of the prophecies OF time and place ne VINO
is in the habit of making long prayers, will invariably
travel over his ground; he has certain amount OF
time to fill up, and be to him if he nbates one
second from the quantum sut. IL would be an om's-
sion at which he would blush; sin, over which he
,vouId mourn. He tasks himself to dole out the re-
uuisite number Of imporations EXPLANATIONS, &c ana
he would feel himself to be an Improbable servant
if he should fail to perform the labor thus selt-impos
ed. Little does he think Of the penance which he
compels others to undergo, while he is heaplng up
vain repettions l pity the children and delicate fe-
males, who are present. We'll do remember old
Deacon s., of my native town. 1t was In
those ancient days when reading meetings were In
fashion, in the absence Of the pastor Now, the dea-
con- good man, could not read sermon to edi6ca-
tion but he could pray as long the best of them
Often would he continue his suppications for twenty,
thirty and even occasionally for forty-fve minutes,
till the children asleep, their mothers faint with
standing up SO long, and the old fathers them
selves were fain to bow down upon the tops Of the
pews, under the overpowering fatigue of the long
prayer! Now the good brother did not pray so long.
because he was eminently gifted in this devotional
hooo Iox IarIy in
The well remembered monotone in which he was ac-
cusomed to drawl out his words, forbids the suppo-
sition. No, it was the want of fervor, which led
him to multiply words; it was the absence Of strong
emotion, which permitted him ''to gaze and expati-
ate' over all periods of tirne from the creation to the
final consummation Of all things And in these pres
en day s, there not few, who strongly resemble
the venerable deacon When they attempt to pray,
they have definite object of desire before them;
they do not feel the need of particular blessings
Hence, their thoughts dscursive. their ideas
vague and indistnct. In the comprehensiveness of
their benevolent regards they embrace all worlds, all
beings, all time They themselves not interested
in particular objects desire, and how others be
interested to follow them in their diuse and tedious
generalities. Their devotions must necessarily be
profitable to themselves and wearsome to others.
Now let me conclude with word of advice to oil
who habituay make long prayers.
1. Reflect on the topics which may be properly EN-
braced in your petition at tie time.
2. Get your heart warm before your lips attempt
to utter your desires.
g. Be specific in your requests at the throne Of
grace. lfyou are in meeting assembled to plead
for the revival Of the acork of God in your Church,
confine your PRAYERS to that single object. If YOU
pray in Sabbath School, let the wants of the pupils
and teachers constitute the burden Of your requests
If you to open Temperance Meeting with pray
er let your applications relate solely the interests
involved in the cause. When you pray by the bed
side Of the sick and dying, let your words be few,
and to the pont When you conduct your family
deuotions your petitions should have reference to the
wants of the domestic circle Do not weary and dis
gust your children and servants by protraced serv-
ces
Finally, when you engage in social prayer, BE
AND STOP WHEN YOU GET DONE! This d.
recton is as applicable to praying to preaching
have frequently known individuals to spend proper
time in prayer, and to use language which seems to
intimate they ready to close the exercise, when
they suddenly start off afresh some new TRAIL and
lead you long way from the point where they ap.
peared about to drop you. They will return once
more to that same point, when another thought sug
gests itself, and away they drag you again, and BY
the time they finally conclude release you you
thoroughly exhausted! These are Whitefeld's brett
rem, who pray you into good frames and out of them
half dozen times. in the course of single prayer
MATTHEW.