The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-01-09

and with each other. Here let me eau,
lion you against mistake into which
. many fall viz. an attempt TO teach oil
awaken the impenilent in prayer. Thi:
is The appropriate design of the sermon
snd the exhoraIion. Prayer is addressed
10 God. Il is designed TO move Him-nol
man.
have adverted 10 some things which
go TO show the importance of prayer meet
'ngs. May not then urge you 10 be
punc!ual in your attendance upon them.
and 10 bring your families, and as many
Others as you can. You had better lose
a meal than prayer meeting. DO you
say, IL have SO much 10 do, | cannot at
tend~ Remember our great business is
not TO prosper in the things OF This world !;
but in those which pertain 10 the world 10
come Your salration, and The salvation
Of y0ur families are Of more Importance
than earthly gain.
Come then 10 the prayer meetings.
Come-but not with col hearts TO be
warmed at the meeting: bu: with warm
hearts lighted up in your closets. Then
when in united prayer you lay these warm
hearts upon the alter Of God, it will De
sacrifice well pleasing to Him. Come
prepared osay word for Christ, though
it be but word; il it be only to say my
friends feel that Christ is precious 10 my
SOUL Come prepared TO lead IN prayer;
ii 1t be only to say, GOD be mercilu 10
US snoers, or Lord revive thy work.
10 any who neglect 10 take n part in our
social meetings would say, you know |
not what you lose in spiritual benefit You |
know not how much you neg lecl 10 do |
10 all would say with emphasis BE
SHORT. BE short in your remarks Ain
al some point and then stop. Never make
remarks without end or aim. Understand
and feel what you say, Again | would
say be short IN your remarks ii you would
not diminish the interest of the PRAYER
meeting. You cannot conceive Of the in.
furious effect OF a long speech on such an
occasion. Be short IN your prayers.
Two or three short prayers are far
more aniaatins than one long one. LIE. ,
each prayer be for one or two specific OBJ .
ec's, no matter if you do not pray more
han haIfa minute for one object. Do no, {
ny TO exc out Your prayers by bringing
too many things. II you have a mum.
yer OF different things which you wish to
ray for, lead two or three times in the
curse ofthe meeting. And lha, you NAV
o this, 5e short each time. lfyour pray
RS are short, you can have two or three .
succession, which adds much to the an.
nation Of The meeting. Bewore Ibeseech !,
on OF long prayers. Ordinarily our "
rayers in social meetings are loo long bv
AT. In this respect we must not take
'r our example the length Of prayers be- o
IRE sermon. Beware also of long pau. r
IS be'ween the exercises. They are ex. S
eedng y chilling. Letlhere be no delay, a
o waiting one for onother-no formal P
allIng one upon the othe: When a
ymn is given out, do not wait to consult
bout the tune, and then go through
i:h the iormal process of naming i, and b
king the pitch, &c. Strike in singing
once, and sing with all the heart. o.
strike up tune aud sing verse
two, without waiting 10 have hvmn
ad. Begin your meetings in season,
at is, at the appointed time. If ii be a
aver meeting do not wait for any body
even your pastor. Begin to pray as
on as there are praying souls present; r.
EN- ii there be ohly two or three. And N
me say, the praying ones should al lis
iys be there at the appointed time. The nd
ne of The christian is too precious to be
's!ed by want of puut,uaity. Do not
tend your meetiogs beyond one hour If
I'm the time of commencement, if YOU
'nId have them we'll attended. The Sa,ur.
y evening meetings are often continued
long Finally brethren pray without
lsing. The time is short.
Your aff+ctionale Pastor, Gle
]. M. S. Perry.
p s. Nav 7 reouest van IN ,. CT