In respect to the matter of prayer, the following cautions are to be observed: Avoid, (1.) Frequent references to self. The minister is the medium of the devotions of the people; whatever, therefore, cannot properly be uttered by the assembly should not, ordinarily, be uttered by the pastor. Any intimations in the prayer respecting the pastor's health or the pressure of his work, intended as an apology for a poor sermon or as deprecating an unfavorable criticism of it, indicate an unmanly weakness which is unworthy of the pulpit and is quickly felt by the discerning. A petition asking Divine help for the pastor in his work is indeed eminently fitting, for in this the assembly may naturally unite; but when associated with an apologetic purpose, looking only to the ear of the people, such a prayer savors of impiety. (2.) Personalities. Cases of deep affliction do indeed occur, which move the sympathy of a whole community, and in which the person or family specially afflicted may properly be directly alluded to in prayer; and this is true, also, of any cases in which special request has been made for the prayers of God's people. But beyond these limits it is seldom wise to pass. Compliment or criticism in public prayer is especially to be avoided. The temptation to this is often great when another has preached for you; but plainly the time and place alike make it unbefitting thus to publish the pastor's estimate of a brother-minister's character or sermon. (3.) All admonition or scolding. This, though it is clothed in the language of prayer to God, is, and will be felt to be, intended for the ear of man; and, as in the preceding cases, it is an offensive form of hypocrisy. But in this case, there is ordinarily the added element of moral cowardice; for the man utters in prayer to God what he would fear, when looking his people in the face, to speak directly to them. (4.) A didactic, doctrinal method in prayer. This is improper alike in that it assumes the tone of instructing God, and in that it is contrary to the nature of prayer. For prayer is not a sermon; it is the outflowing of religious emotion and desire toward God. It is, indeed a means of instruction, but it teaches through the medium of the emotional rather than the logical faculties. Prayer, therefore, should never take the logical form, but should ever be an expression, not dominantly of the intellect, but of the heart.