of hypocrisy, and bringing ourselves into a habit of taking up with the letter for the spirit-the shadow for the substance?

"I would not speak confidently on the subject. But it appears to me that so long as formal (that is, all but purely mental) prayer is considered of more importance than the spirit of prayer-that is, prayer without ceasing-so long will this neverceasing prayer be declining in the earth. But while we neglect doing every thing in the spirit of prayer, our regard-our real heart-felt regard-for even stated prayer, whether public or private, must, it seems to me, be diminishing.

"Here I anticipate an objection, which at first view seems to carry great weight. Jesus, our exemplar, prayed; but did formal prayer diminish the spirit of prayer in him? I answer that I do not know. Perhaps he prayed formally much less than we are accustomed to suppose. There is, I believe, very little evidence that he prayed much in this manner. When it is said that he continued 'all night in prayer to God,' it means, doubtless, that he was more in the spirit of prayer all that night than at some other times. That he did pray formally, however, is manifest both from the facts as related by the evangelists, and from the practice of his immediate followers. And I do not

know but it did diminish the spirit of prayer, even in Jesus. If facts seem to prove that such is the result of formal prayer at the present time, it is likely it was so then.

"Why then, it will be asked, did he practice it? I answer, 'because of the unbelief and hardness of heart' of his followers.

He found them

His object was Now had he in

attached to a religion of forms. to establish a religion of spirit. troduced his religion in all its purity at once, what would have been the consequence? He well knew; and he took a wiser course. He undertook to reform their religion. I came not,' says he, to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.' But, that his ultimate object was to establish a spiritual system, a religion of the heart without forms,is most certain. See Matthew v. 28. Here is one of the strongest proofs of the spirituality of his kingdom. Yet he conformed to the existing Sabbath-in some measure, at least, and on some occasions prayed publicly. It was undoubtedly necessary, at that time, that he should do so; it may be necessary that the followers of truth should do so now. But it may, also, be unnecessary.

"Let me not be understood to assert that the Sabbath, or prayer, or religion, or human laws are to be neglected. It is because I estimate

the spirit of these things highly, that I thus speak freely. It is because I would make every day holy, all things prayer, all things religion. The law of God I would have perfectly kept, but it is the spirit of the thing which is wanted; and I should not be surprised-if in my next state of existence I should be susceptible of surpriseto look down upon the future generations of our race, and find them obeying the whole law of God and man, as written only in their physical, mental and moral nature. But ere man can become so eminently spiritual-immortal—much must be done. Would that the friends of improvement-the saviors of their race-in the spirit of the great Savior, may be excited to constantly increasing diligence in the great and good work of promoting human happiness!"

I have introduced this long extract to show first, my inconsistency at that time; secondly, the progress I had made in the road to error.

For it will be recollected in the first place, that notwithstanding all I said and felt of the evil effects of formal prayer, I constantly practiced it both in public and in the domestic circle. It must be confessed, however, I did not pray in secret. In the second place, it will be seen, very plainly, that I had by this time become quite a "liber

al;" and indeed in a few points rather too liberal for some of my fellows. For not only had

Christ become "Jesus," and "Jesus our example," and a Savior amongst many other less saviors a great Savior merely-but he could, according to my views compromise; or as my language might easily be construed, conceal.

Now is this all that might be gathered, in regard to my progress. I certainly did pervert scripture. This does represent Christ as praying formally, and that, too, often; and I cannot think a person is justified in saying that when he continued in prayer all night to God, it only means "in the spirit of prayer." For if he merely prayed in secret, or rather in spirit, how could it have been known that he prayed at all, to those who contend (and it is a piece of the same system to make the claim,) that the writings of the evangelists are mere records of a revelation? Indeed common sense, the best sense to bring to the interpretation of scripture, after all, would understand by the language of the evangelists that he prayed in word, not every moment, to be sure-but at intervals, at the least, through the whole night.*

* Some commentators, I know, suppose the meaning of the scripture language to be that he continued all night in a house or place of prayer.

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Once more. Not only are arguments here used, which, if they have any weight against formal prayer, are of equal weight against worship of any kind, and against the Sabbath and its ordinances,but this ground is even taken. Every day, it is said, is to be made "holy; all things, prayer; all things, religion." But as there is undoubtedly a sense in which this is admissible by all, I went even farther. Highly favored future generations" are to find "forms impede their progress." course they will be rejected. Why then, it might be inferred, shall not the "liberal" reject them now? Future generations are to obey the laws of God" as "written in their physical, mental, and moral nature." Of course the Bible will be out of fashion.-Why shall not those of us who have cantoned out to ourselves Goshens of "light and liberality" regard it, even now, as an old fashioned book? They are, then, to be immortal! Yes, reader, immortal below the sun! what use, then, in looking above the sun for immortality? "Let us eat and drink," not like beasts it is true; for this would be disreputable but let it be our main object to enjoy all we can, physically, mentally and morally" for to-morrow we die."

These are, it seems to me, natural inferences from the foregoing premises-were the premises,