A Memoir of the Rev. Edward Payson, D. D. , Late of Portland, Maine

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ...kind of devout poetry. As in poetry, so in prayer, the whole subject matter should be furnished by the heart; and the understanding should be allowed only to shape and arrange the effusions of the heart in the manner best adapted to answer the end designed. From the fullness of a heart overflowing with holy affections, as from a copious fountain, we should pour forth a torrent of pious, humble, and ardently-affectionate feelings; while our understandings only shape the channel, and teach the gushing streams of devotion where to flow, and when to stop. In such a prayer every pious heart among our hearers will join. They will hear a voice and utterance given to their own feelings. They will hear their own desires and emotions expressed more fully and perspicuously than they could express them themselves. Their hearts will spring forward to meet and unite with the heart of the speaker. The well of water which our Savior assures us is in all who drink of his Spirit, will rise and burst its way through the rubbish of worldly cares and affections which too often choke it; and the stream of devotion from many hearts will unite and flow on in one broad tide to the throne of Jehovah; while, with one mind and one mouth, minister and people glorify God. Such was the prayer of Ezra, and such its effects: --' And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, amen, with lifting up of their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces toward the ground.' "Leading the devotion of our people in this man ner will preserve us from another fault, less important indeed, but not less common than that which has just been mentioned, and which, in part, is occasioned by it. It consists in uttering the...