Memoir of the Rev. Joseph Stibbs Christmas. By E. Lord [pp. 256-269]

2Memoir of Rev. J. S. Christmas.
making every other preparation, let him always, as far as opportunity will allow, go from his knees in secret, to meet the
public assembly, and to become its mouth to the throne of the
heavenly grace.
Let none say, that this is taking too much pains with the
subject before us; and that so much study and labour will tend
to restrain rather than cherish the aid of the Holy Spirit.
This is an uitter delusion. Why should preparation for public
prayer tend more to restrain or banish the influences of the
blessed Spirit, than preparation for public preaching? The
truth is, the more thoroughly any man will enter the wvhole
systemn of preparation which has been described, the more
richly will he experience the result which the lamented subject of this memoir experienced. The more he will live in
the element of prayer-the more its spirit, as well as its diction, will fill his mind-the more ready, pertinent, affectionate and abundant will be the flow of expression as well as of
feeling. The more his whole soul will be kindled into those
sacred fervours in which light and heat together hold a united
and consecrated reign. Does any man restrain the Spirit, by
importunately seeking his aid, studying his inspired word,
aiming to speak as he speaks, and trying to catch the holy
flame which he kindles? Of all the absurdities which inconsideration can admit, surely this is one of the most strange
and unreasonable.
We have been told, that the late Dr. Witherspoon, when
addressing those who studied theology under his direction,
on the subject of conducting public prayer, was accustomed
to relate the following anecdote. The Doctor was an early
and intimate friend of the celebrated Dr. Gillies, the compiler of the well known work, entitled "Historical Collections." the object of which was to record the triumphs of
divine grace in some of the most remarkable revivals of religion, both in Europe and America. Dr. Witherspoon remarked, that of all men with whom he had ever united in
public prayer, Dr. Gillies was decidedly the most able and
edifying: that there was in his public prayers, a richness, a
variety, an appropriateness, a fervor, an ease, a tenderness,
and a scriptural character throughout, which, on the whole,
exceeded what he ever heard from any other man. He stated
that, on a certain occasion, in the freedom of intercourse with
his venerable friend, he asked him by what means he had
been so happy as to attain this unusual excellence. Dr. Gil.
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