Loud Prayer by John Matteson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 1, 1868

Loud Prayer.

By John Matteson

SUCH prayer is not expedient. It is not necessary nor right for us to wear out our lungs and throat like the priests of Baal in calling on God. The living God can certainly hear, so we need not pray so loud for his sake. And even if we ourselves could stand it, it would be kind in us to remember that we are surrounded by weak fellow-mortals, who may be more nervous than we are. We need not, by loud prayer, to work ourselves into a kind of excitement to gain the approbation of God; for he is pleased with the humble and contrite heart. We want the prayer of faith; a calm trust in God, prostrating ourselves before him with humble reverence. It answers all practical purposes in a meeting when we pray loud and distinct enough for all to hear and understand. The Lord has given us repeated testimonies on this point. I, for one, will try to heed them.

On the other hand it is also to be lamented that some pray so low that but very few can understand what they say. Dear brethren, let us try to learn, by the grace of God, to act harmoniously, get more of the sweet Spirit of Heaven, of faith and love, which will manifest itself in heavenly words and works, that we, at last, may be fitted for the kingdom.

JOHN MATTESON.