The minister does not say prayers for them, but
with them. He is only their leader, their guide. And if they are not to
join in with their voices, there is really no reason why he should use
his voice, why he should not say the prayers in silence and to himself,
if the congregation are to say Amen in silence and to themselves. Each
person in the congregation ought to join aloud, first for the sake of his
neighbours, and then for his own sake.
For the sake of his neighbours: for to hear each other's voices stirs up
earnestness, stirs up attention, keeps off laziness, inattention, and by
a wholesome infection, makes all the congregation of one mind, as they
are of one speech, in glorifying God. And for his own sake, too. For,
believe me, when a man utters the responses aloud, he awakens his own
thoughts and his own feelings, too. He speaks to himself, and he hears
himself remind himself of God, and of his duty to God, and acknowledge
himself openly (as in confirmation) bound to believe and do what he, by
his own confession, has assented unto.
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