“It is a strong argument in favour of that creed which the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church exhibits, that every serious, devout professor of religion, however decided as an Arminian or Semi-Pelagian he may be, in preaching, or in conversation, never fails to be a Calvinist in prayer. So far as my observation has gone, the most zealous advocates of Arminianism almost always lay aside their favourite opinions, when they pour out their hearts in prayer, under a feeling sense of their dependence and their unworthiness. How many examples have we of this in thousands of pulpits, and in thousands of published volumes, in which the preaching is decidedly semi-Pelagian, while the prayers are quite as decidedly Calvinistic! The reason of this inconsistency is perfectly evident. In preaching and conversation, errorists argue to maintain a point; in prayer, they supplicate grace. In the former, they are actuated by the spirit of controvertists; in the latter, they feel their entire dependence as creatures, and their lost and perishing conditions as sinners.

‘A prayer,’ says one, ‘upon Arminian principles, and into which the peculiarities of that system were introduced, we have never seen, and never have heard. It would be a theological curiosity sufficiently daring in its structure; but we venture to say, no man of Christian humility and devotion will be found to carry it into the presence of his God.” There, — there the sinner ever acknowledges his weakness and depravity; disclaims all merit; confesses his multiplied sins; adores the sovereign unmerited mercy of God; ascribes to his grace every good desire and hope; glorifies his universal government over all his creatures and all their actions; and ascribes the plan, the execution, and the consummation of that deliverance tor which he hopes, to the sovereign undeserved grace of God abounding through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Now here is the very essence of Calvinism. Not, indeed, of those monstrous absurdities and impieties in which its adversaries are ever fond of dressing it up; but of that sober and scriptural system which is found in our formularies, and for which all whom we acknowledge as Calvinists, have ever contended.” — Samuel Miller, Presbyterianism the Truly Primitive and Apostolical Constitution of the Church of Christ (1835, 1836), pp. 40-41