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By
R. E. S.
Our fair correspondent, who has so often enriched
our pages by her elegant and deep-toned poetical
contributions, has lately turned her attention to
the composition of prayers for her own edification,
and she has sent us two as specimens of her work and
we have no doubt that, if these awaken a
corresponding feeling of what she has experienced in
others, she may be induced to publish a small volume
of devotional <<254>>
pieces, for the improvement of
her people. Lightly as many may conceive the effort
of writing or composing prayers, there is perhaps
not one so extremely difficult in all the range of
literature. The Psalms and Hymns of Scriptures are
only prayers of various kinds; and yet how
unattainable in excellence have they always proved
themselves to their imitators. Still the heart feels
occasionally impelled to pour itself out in either
entreaty or thanks, and we look in vain for a
biblical psalm just corresponding to our sensations
of the moment. It is then that we naturally desire
to have a manual of devotion, which may aid us to
fashion our thoughts into prayers; and the closer,
there fore, any writer can fathom the inborn wants
and imperfections of the human heart, the better
guide he becomes to us in our private hours of
devotion. The prayer-book embraces a great variety
of petitions, we gladly acknowledge, and there are
but few public occasions when we need anything
beyond its contents.
But we speak now of the house, the bed-chamber, the
solitary walk, the lonely hour, when we are not
rarely reminded of our dependence on, of our
necessity of divine aid, which we would gladly
invoke, had we but words to express suitably our
inward sensations. Every one is not endowed with the
power of continued reflection, to string word on
word, and thought on thought, so as to make the
whole a suitable gift or petition to the Supreme.
If, therefore, we can have another to think for us,
we must needs call him our benefactor. The teachers
of Israel have always acknowledged this, and hence
there are a great variety of occasional prayers,
composed in the language of the people, both of the
barbarous jargon which was once customary in Europe,
and the more refined dialects of modern times. It is
needless to say that the ancient matter can be of
little use at the present day, as both ideas and
language are antiquated; but modern compositions,
although occasionally beautiful, have failed, for
the most part, to answer the end in view, for the
simple reason that the authors could not think for
the people. If it were necessary, we could exhibit
proofs of this fact; but we are not about to indite
a criticism on prayer, but merely to introduce
specimens of an unpublished work.
It
is enough, therefore, to say that, though in Germany
some excellent attempts have been made to supply the
natural want of a domestic manual of occasional
devotion for Israelites, the English language is
almost without any such pieces at all, the few of
the late Miss Aguilar, which, however, we have not
read, being, as far as known to us, the only
collection that has appeared in print. We therefore
hope that the effort may be farther pursued by our
gifted friend, and others who are willing to devote
their hours to the sacred <<255>> service, so that
especially those who are not familiar with the
Hebrew may have the means to commune with their
heavenly Father in meekness of spirit. We would
only caution all who make the attempt to take heed
how they mix their own private thoughts in their
outpourings; for, however blissful in its effects a
prayer for the moment may be to the individual, it
cannot make a good impression on another, who may
never be placed in similar circumstances.
Prayers like those we speak of should be universal,
to be of the least value, and then they should be
free from familiarity, and entirely Scriptural in
their construction; for only thus can they be
tolerated alongside of the prayer-book and the
Psalms of the Bible.—Ed. Oc.
Prayer for the Love of God
Almighty God! Infinitely Blessed Being! let this
love which I feel towards Thee remain for ever in my
heart and soul. The more I contemplate Thee, oh! my
heavenly Maker, the more clearly do I perceive the
wonderful perfection of thy glorious nature. I see
thy miraculous power united with such tender mercy,
such loving kindness, such gracious consideration
towards the humblest of thy creatures, that my heart
melts within me, and my soul bows down before Thee
in humility and adoration. Glorious God! whose
infinite presence is in the heavens above, and in
the earth beneath, yet whose Divine spirit resteth
in the humble and contrite heart, may these thoughts
so fill my heart with love, that I may never be
amongst those who forget Thee “days without number.”
Almighty Creator! who lovest those who fear Thee,
and blessest those who trust in Thee, let me be one
whom Thou lovest and whom Thou blessest, that the
light of thy countenance may shine upon me. Oh! may
the Divine love, thine own image in which I was
created, be reflected back upon thine
incomprehensible majesty, and may this love be felt
in me daily and hourly to all eternity, according to
thy holy, blessed will. Amen.
A Prayer for Knowledge of the Messiah
Oh! Lord God! I come to ask counsel of Thee. Give
me, I beseech Thee, knowledge, wisdom, and
understanding. Oh! <<256>> God of wisdom, let thy
power and thy might be seen in me, for the knowledge
that I shall have of thy holy word. Great God!
Almighty Creator! enlighten my spirit, that I may
know and understand thy wise purposes, and thy
merciful intentions in restoring us to the land
which Thou carest for, and upon which thine eyes
rest all the year. Teach me the truth of that Divine
promise, and so enlighten my mind that I may teach
it to others, that I may make thy name a praise and
a glory to the whole world. Oh, Lord God! may every
word I . read be clear to my mind and soul, and may
this clear light shine through me on others. May
this be thy holy will, O Lord God of Israel! Amen. |
