Chapter 52: Public Prayer

52-1. It is proper to begin the public worship in the sanctuary with the
Doxology followed by a short prayer, in which the minister shall lead the
people, humbly adoring the infinite majesty of the living God, expressing a
sense of our distance from Him as creatures, and our unworthiness as sinners;
and humbly imploring His gracious presence, the assistance of His Holy Spirit
in the duties of His worship, and His acceptance of us through the merits of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is appropriate that this prayer conclude
with the Lord’s Prayer in which all may unite.

52-2. Then, after singing a psalm, or hymn, it is proper that, before the
sermon, there should be a full and comprehensive prayer:
a. Adoring the glory and perfections of God, as they are made known to
us in the works of creation, in the conduct of Providence, and in the
clear and full revelation He has made of Himself in His written words;
b. Giving thanks to Him for all His mercies of every kind, general and
particular, spiritual and temporal, common and special; above all, for
Christ Jesus, His unspeakable gift, the hope of eternal life through
Him, and for the mission and work of the Holy Spirit;
c. Making humble confession of sin, both original and actual,
acknowledging, and endeavoring to lead the heart of every worshipper
with a deep sense of the evil of all sin, as such, as being a departure
from the living God; and also taking a particular and affecting view of
the various fruits which proceed from this root of bitterness; as sins
against God, our neighbor and ourselves; sins in thought, in word, and
in deed; sins secret and presumptuous; sins accidental and habitual.
Also, the aggravations of sin, arising from knowledge, or the means
of it; from distinguishing mercies; from valuable privileges; from
breach of vows, etc.;
d. Making earnest supplication for the pardon of sin, and peace with God,
through the blood of the atonement, with all its important and happy
fruits; for the Spirit of sanctification, and abundant supplies of the
grace that is necessary to the discharge of our duty; for support and
comfort, under all the trials to which we are liable, as we are sinful
and mortal; and for all temporal mercies that may be necessary in our
passage through this valley of tears; always remembering to view them
as flowing in the channel of covenant love, and intended to be
subservient to the preservation and progress of the spiritual life;

e. Pleading from every principle warranted in Scripture; from our own
necessity; the all-sufficiency of God; the merit and intercession of our
Saviour; and the glory of God in the comfort and happiness of His
people;
f. Intercession and petition for others, including the whole world for
mankind; for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh; for the
peace, purity, and extension of the Church of God; for ministers and
missionaries in all lands; for all who are persecuted for righteousness’
sake; for the particular church then assembled, and all other churches
associated in one body with it; for the sick, dying, and bereaved; for
the poor and destitute; for strangers, for prisoners, the aged and the
young; for those who travel; for the community in which the church is
situated; for civil rulers; and for whatever else may seem to be
necessary or suitable to the occasion.
The prominence given each of these topics must be left to the
discretion of the minister.

52-3. Ordinarily there should be prayer after the sermon having relation to
the subject that has been treated in the discourse; and all other public prayers
should be appropriate to the occasion.

52-4. Ministers are not to be confined to fixed forms of prayer for public
worship, yet it is the duty of the minister, previous to entering upon his office,
to prepare and qualify himself for this part of his work, as well as for preaching.
He should, by a thorough acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures, by the study
of the best writers on prayer, by meditation, and by a life of communion with
God, endeavor to acquire both the spirit and the gift of prayer. Moreover,
when he is to offer prayer in public worship, he should compose his spirit, and
so order his thoughts, that he may perform this duty with dignity and propriety,
and with profit to the worshippers, lest he disgrace this important service by
coarse, undignified, careless, irregular or extravagant expressions.