READING in Mr. Darby's Synopsis the other day, we found in the following passage so much that expressed our own thoughts about some public prayer, that we venture affectionately to draw the attention of our readers to it.
“Apart from this... our prayers (or praying well) form what is sometimes called a gift of prayer, than which nothing is more often sorrowful (a fluent rehearsal of known truths and principles, instead of communion and the expression of our wants and desires in the unction of the Spirit).”
What is prayer? Is it not the earnest petition of the needy to One who can meet the need? Should it not be definite, simple, and on such a subject that all present can be in communion with the utterer of the petition? Yet how often, alas! do we find the time that should be devoted to prayer spent on long statements of doctrine, or in the stringing together of various passages of Holy Scripture, all most true and blessed for exhortation, but which have no part in earnest believing prayer. Sometimes, too, reference is made in prayer to some subject unknown to many present, and which can only arouse curiosity and hinder the prayers of others. May not this be avoided by any who have a special subject for prayer laid upon their hearts stating it before engaging in supplication? Then again, are not many prayers a great deal too long, read in the light of Eccl. 5:1, 21Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:1‑2), Matt. 23:1414Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matthew 23:14), and parallel passages?
And without being formalists, we would affectionately suggest that some reverence in attitude is commendable in brothers supposed to be engaged in prayer.
Hands in pockets, legs crossed one over the other, lounging on seats, surely such postures are not commendable and may prove stumblingblocks, especially to the children of God's people. A good old-fashioned hymn about prayer has two lines which have often been a comfort to us, viz:—
“And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.”
We have heard that in ‘bygone years brothers in Christ who had been led out to make CHRIST their one center for worship and communion were distinguished by two outward and visible signs—well-thumbed Bibles and well-worn knees of their trousers. Are those conspicuous signs amongst us now? May our readers kindly accept these few hints as to prayers and prayer-meetings for loving consideration. S. S.