But take another case:  when we are assembled for prayers, suppose our behaviour, without being disorderly, was yet so manifestly indifferent as to be really indecent; that is, suppose every countenance showed such manifest signs of weariness, and impatience, and want of interest in what was going forward, that it was evident there was no general sympathy with any feeling of devotion.  Would not the effect here also be injurious? would not such a meeting also shock and check our approaches towards God? would it not rather convince us that God was really far distant from us, instead of showing that he was in the midst of us?

Ascend one step higher.  Our behaviour is neither disorderly, nor manifestly indifferent:  it is decent, serious, respectful.  What is the effect in this case?  Not absolutely unfavourable certainly; but yet far from being much help towards good.  We bear our witness that we are engaged in a matter that should be treated with reverence:  this is very right; but do we more than this?  Do we show that we are engaged in a matter that commands our interest also, as well as our respect?  If not, our witness is not the witness of Christ’s church:  it does not go to declare that God is in us of a truth.

Let us go on one step more.  We meet together to pray:  we are orderly, we are quiet, we are serious; but the countenance shows that we are something more than these.  There is on it the expression, never to be mistaken, of real interest.  Remember I am speaking of meetings for prayer, where the words are perfectly familiar to us, and where the interest therefore cannot be the mere interest of novelty.  Say, then, that our countenances express interest:  I do not mean strong and excited feeling; but interest, which may be very real yet very quiet also.  We look as if we thought of what we were engaged in, of what we are ourselves, and of what God is to us.  We are joined in one common feeling of thankfulness to him for mercies past, of wishing for his help and love for the time to come.  Now, think what would be the effect of such a meeting.  Would it not be, clearly, positively good!  Would not every individual’s earnestness be confirmed by the manifest earnestness of others?  Would not his own sense of God’s reality be rendered stronger, by seeing that others felt it just as he did?  Then, here would be the church of God rendering her appointed witness:  she would be giving her sure sign that God is not far from any one of us.

Now, then, observe what we may lose or gain by our different behaviour, whenever we meet together in prayer; what we lose, nay, what positive mischief we do, by any visible impatience or indifference; what we should gain by really joining in our hearts in the meaning of what was uttered.  It is a solemn thing for the consciences of us all; but surely it must be true, that, whenever we are careless or indifferent in our public prayers, we are actually injuring our neighbours, and are, so far as in us lies, destroying the witness which the church of Christ should render to the truth of God her Saviour.