Brevity
163
Specific Nature of Public Prayer—The prayers offered by minis-
ters previous to their discourses are frequently long and inappropriate.
They embrace a whole round of subjects that have no reference to the
necessities of the occasion or the wants of the people. Such prayers are
suitable for the closet, but should not be offered in public. The hearers
become weary and long for the minister to close. Brethren, carry the
people with you in your prayers. Go to your Saviour in faith, tell Him
what you need on that occasion. Let the soul go out after God with
intense longing for the blessing needed at that time.—
Testimonies for
the Church 5:201
.
Longer Secret Prayers, Short Public Prayers—Long prayers
are tiring to those who hear, and do not prepare the people to listen to
the instruction that is to follow.
It is often because secret prayer is neglected that long, tedious
prayers are offered in public. Let not ministers go over in their petitions
a week of neglected duties, hoping to atone for their neglect and to
pacify conscience. Such prayers frequently result in bringing others
down to a low level of spirituality.—
Gospel Workers, 176
.
[256]
For Children, Frequency Better Than Length—Those who in-
struct children should avoid tedious remarks. Short remarks and to
the point will have a happy influence. If much is to be said, make up
for briefness by frequency. A few words of interest now and then will
be more beneficial than to have it all at once. Long speeches burden
the small minds of children. Too much talk will lead them to loathe
even spiritual instruction, just as overeating burdens the stomach and
lessens the appetite, leading even to a loathing of food. The minds of
the people may be glutted with too much speechifying. Labor for the
church, but especially for the youth, should be line upon line, precept
upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Give minds time to digest
the truths you feed them. Children must be drawn toward heaven, not
rashly, but very gently.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:420
.
Only the Best Quality—Teacher, weed from your talks all that
is not of the highest and best quality. Keep before the students those
sentiments only that are essential. Never should the physician, minister,
or teacher prolong his talks until the alpha is forgotten in long-drawn-
out assertions that are not of the least benefit. When this is done, the
mind is swamped with a multitude of words that it cannot retain. Let