“The new-born soul must pray, even as the new-born child must breathe. And wherever the grace of prayer is shed forth in the soul, it will flow out in certain acts. There is an irresistible impulse to pray for those whom we love; and not only to pray for them, but with them. There is a natural as well as a gracious prompting, to pray with those who are near to us. Prayer is a social exercise. The prayer which our Lord taught his disciples, bears this stamp on every petition. It is this principle which leads to the united devotions of church-assemblies, and which immediately manifests itself in Christian families.” — James W. Alexander, Thoughts on Family-Worship (1847), p. 10