devotions. He would not run cursorily over it, as many have the bad habit of doing, but used to repeat each of its clauses twice, thrice, or oftener, and would not pass on to the next before he had thoroughly weighed every word of the preceding, and had, with the full affection of his heart, imbibed from it individually all the sweetness of devotion. “ It is better,” he would say, “to recite the Lord’s Prayer once only, thus repeating and drawing devotion from its clauses, than to run through it cursorily 'a hundred times with merely a slight attention.” But on this point we would offer a few
INSTRUCTIONS
VERY USEFUL FOR ALL PRAYER.
I. There should be preparation of the mind. Before prayer , prepare thy soul , and be not as a man that tempts God. Reflect seriously what thou art going to do. It is to converse and treat with God thy Creator, the Lord of heaven and earth, to tell his praises, to declare to him thy necessities and infirmities, to implore his assistance and his favours. Then how attentively, reverently, religiously, devoutly, and humbly ought this to be done in the presence of so great a Majesty!
II. Begin with an act of contrition. For God does not hear sinners , nay, he hates them, as such, or if not penitent for their sins. How, then, can an impenitent criminal dare to thrust himself into the presence of his offended Judge?
III. Fix on a good intention beforehand, or rather not one, but many. As, for example, make thy prayer solely for the glory of God, or for thy own and thy neighbours salvation; or with the desire to be endued with this or that virtue, or freed from this or that fault, &c.
IV. Ask grace to pray devoutly, attentively, and profitably. Resolve at the same time firmly within thyself not to give entrance, knowingly, to any thoughts foreign to prayer, let them present themselves ever so importunately, or under whatever form or pretext of advantage; and to this end keep strict guard over thy senses, especially thy eyes and thy ears. How easily does some cause of disturbance to our peace of mind enter in at these gates! Choose the spot most proper for prayer and least liable to distraction. Let the posture of thy body be such as will conduce to devotion.
