Chap. III.]

DUTY OF WORSHIPPING GOD.

75

timent and feeling evinced by mankind. Some of these prayers,the offspring of this natural piety, and of an unperverted con-science, are not without pure and sublime conceptions of theDeity, and just views of human wants suitable to be expressedin prayer. Dr. Lowth says of the Hymn of Cleanthes, theStoic, inscribed to Jove, — “ It is doubtless a most noble monu-ment of ancient wisdom, and replete with truths not less solidthan magnificent. For, the sentiments of the philosopher con-cerning the divine power, concerning the harmony of nature andthe supreme laws, concerning the folly and unhappiness of wickedmen, who are unceasingly subject to the pain and perturbation ofa troubled spirit, and above all,” continues he, “ the ardent sup-plication for the divine assistance, in order to enable him to cele-brate the praises of the Omnipotent Deity in a suitable manner,and in a perpetual strain of praise and adoration ; all of thesebreathe so true and unaffected a spirit of piety, that they seem insome measure to approach the excellence of the sacred poetry.” *The Mahometan religion is partly derived from Judaism andChristianity, and is less absurd than any form of heathenism.The habit of public prayer among the Mahometans is wellknown. In such countries, the Mouzeens on the minarets f areaccustomed,

“ to proclaim the hour

For prayer appointed, and with sonorous voice,

Thrice in melodious modulation full,

To pronounce the highest name. e There is no GodBut God,’ they cry ; ‘ there is no God but God !

Mahommed is the Prophet of the Lord !

Come ye to prayer! to prayer ! The Lord is great!

There is no God but God ! ’ ”

It cannot be necessary to do more than merely advert , in thisconnexion, to the frequency and earnestness with which the Jew-ish and Christian Scriptures enjoin the same duty. Men of allclimes, then, of all ages, and of all religions, have concurred inthe propriety and the practice of lifting up the mind to God inprayer. This universality is the best of all proofs of the natu-ralness of Divine worship.

* Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews. Lect. XXIX. Gregory’sTranslation.

t See Walsh’s National Gazette, Nov. 7th, 1835.