Note 268 — Chapter XVIII · THE LAST TWENTY YEARS—1714–1735.

In an article in the Athenian Oracle, vol. i. p. 459, on the use of extempore prayer, Samuel Wesley seems to be in favour of a medium between the use of extempore prayer and a form of prayer. This he calls “premeditated prayer;” that is, premeditated not in reference to words but things. At the same time he says—“There are very few who have command of words enough to express themselves as they ought on such an occasion, and therefore a form is the safe way.”