Thoughts on public prayer - Miller - XV - Chapter 6 continued

Required reading
Thoughts on public prayer by Samuel Miller (Available from Amazon or free here) - 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.'

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

Firstly he says that another means, not so essential, and yet highly important, if any desire to attain excellence in public prayers, is, not only to read, but to study some of the best books which have treated of this subject.

Secondly Miller explains that another means of attaining excellence in public prayer, is to store the mind with the language and riches of the word of God.

Thirdly Miller suggests that another method of attaining excellence in public prayer, is, when any dispensation of Providence occurs, which appears to demand special attention in the devotions of the sanctuary, to make prompt and special preparation for presenting that object in public prayer in the most simple, scriptural, and edifying form.

What grabbed me
I appreciated Miller's encouragement to memorise Scripture: 'I would earnestly recommend that portions of the word of God be every day, and certainly every week, carefully committed to memory, with a particular view to their use in public prayer. While every part of the word of God, as we have already seen, may be made an auxiliary in appropriate and happy prayer, it is well known that there are other parts which furnish large and precious examples of prayer itself, or of that which easily admits of being thrown into the form of most tender, importunate, and elevated prayer. The whole book of Psalms furnishes an example of what we here mean. "We may consider this portion of the word of God the great storehouse of devotional composition, many parts of which every minister ought to have carefully deposited in his memory, and to be able, at will, to produce them in the sacred desk. In like manner, the writings of all the Prophets, and especially those of Isaiah and Daniel, present much matter which will strike every judicious minister as exceedingly rich in materials for public devotion. And with these every part of the New Testament teems, more particularly the apostolical Epistles, and the Revelation of John the Divine. Let large portions of these be faithfully committed to memory, and the recollection of them with ease be insured by a frequent repetition of the deposit. It was said of the late celebrated John Brown, of Haddington, probably one of the most truly and deeply devout men that Scotland ever contained, that he had the whole Bible committed to memory so far as that if any verse in the whole volume were mentioned in his presence, he could instantly tell where it was to be found, and repeat the preceding and following verses. Surely this is an attainment unspeakably desirable for a minister of the gospel, and which it is easy to see might be made to bear in the happiest manner not only on his preaching, but also on every form of excellence in public prayer.'

Although it is hard work, memorisation of Scripture reaps great benefits.

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 6.

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