Preaching, on the other hand, is an address of man to men, that their attention may be turned towards God, and their minds be prepared for the secret and heavenly touches of his spirit.  But this preaching, again, cannot be effectually performed, except the spirit of God accompany it.  Thus St. Paul, in speaking of himself, says, [128] “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and with power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”  So the Quakers believe that no words, however excellent, which men may deliver now, will avail, or will produce that faith which is to stand, except they be accompanied by that power which shall demonstrate them to be of God.

[Footnote 128:  1 Cor. 2. 4.]

From hence it appears to be the opinion of the Quakers, that the whole worship of God, whether it consist of prayer or of preaching, must be spiritual.  Jesus Christ has also, they say, left this declaration upon record,[129]that “God is a spirit, and that they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.”  By worshipping him in truth, they mean, that men are to worship him only when they feel a right disposition to do it, and in such a manner as they judge, from their own internal feelings, to be the manner which the spirit of God then signifies.

[Footnote 129:  John 4.24.]

For these reasons, when the Quakers enter into their meetings, they use no liturgy or form of prayer.  Such a form would be made up of the words of man’s wisdom.  Neither do they deliver any sermons that have been previously conceived or written down.  Neither do they begin their service immediately after they are seated.  But when they sit down, they wait in silence,[130] as the Apostles were commanded to do.  They endeavour to be calm and composed.  They take no thought as to what they shall say.  They avoid, on the other hand, all activity of the imagination, and every thing that arises from the will of man.  The creature is thus brought to be passive, and the spiritual faculty to be disencumbered, so that it can receive and attend to the spiritual language of the Creator. [131]If, during this vacation from all mental activity, no impressions should be given to them, they say nothing.  If impressions should be afforded to them, but no impulse to oral delivery, they remain equally silent.  But if, on the other hand, impressions are given them, with an impulse to utterance, they deliver to the congregation as faithfully as they can, the copies of the several images, which they conceive to be painted upon their minds.

[Footnote 130:  Mat. 10.19.  Acts 1.4.]

[Footnote 131:  They believe it their duty, (to speak in the Quaker language,) to maintain the watch, by preserving the imagination from being carried away by thoughts originating in man; and, in such watch, patiently to await for the arising of that life, which, by subduing the thoughts of man, produces an inward silence, and therein bestows a true sight of his condition upon him.]