Thoughts on public prayer - Miller - XIV - Chapter 6 commenced

Required reading
Thoughts on public prayer by Samuel Miller (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 6 by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'II. Another means, not so essential, and yet highly important, if any desire to attain excellence in public prayer, is, not only to read, but to study some of the best books which have treated of this subject.'

My summary
Today Miller begins to give us his teaching on the means of attaining excellence in conducting public prayer.

This week we only read his first point on the subject, which is: 'That none can hope to attain excellence in the grace and gift of prayer in the public assembly, unless they abound in closet devotion, and in holy communion with God in secret. '

What grabbed me
I think Miller made a great point today: 'We may safely say, then, that no man ever attained any high degree of excellence in public prayer, who had not previously cultivated peculiar intimacy with his covenant God in secret devotion; who did not abound in closet prayer ; who had not had his heart trained to more than common familiarity with, and affection for, new covenant blessings; and his tongue loosened to pour out spiritual desires without reserve or faltering. I would certainly place this in the front rank of all means to be employed for the attainment in question. He that would be acceptable and powerful in public prayer must know something habitually of what is meant by "wrestling with God" in his closet: must be "mighty" in secret prayer, as well as in the Scriptures. He who neglects this, or who has little taste for this, might as well expect a miracle to be wrought for his help every time he enters the pulpit. The kind of excellence in this service which we wish to see, " goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." '

Regular prayer in private, makes for a smooth transition to regular prayer in public.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 6 by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'V. The last means of attaining excellence in public prayer that I shall mention, is, the habit of devotional composition.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.