without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.

III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship', is by God required of all meny and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son", by the help of his Spirit ', according to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance'; and, if vocal, in a known tongue

IV. Prayer

John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto with groanirgs which cannot be him, I am the way, and the truth, uttered. and the life: no man cometh unto k 1 John v. 14. And this is the the Father but by me. 1 Tim. ii. 5. confidence that we have in him, For there is one God, and one that if we ask any thing according Mediator between God and men, to his will, he heareth us. the man Christ Jesus. Eph. ii. 18. | Psal. xlvii. 7. For God is the For through him we both have an king of all the earth : sing ye access by one Spirit unto the Father. praises with understanding. Eccl. Col. ij. 17. And whatsoever ye do v. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest in word or deed, do all in the name to the house of God, and be more of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to ready to hear, than to give the sacriGod and the Father by him.

fice of fools: for they consider not III. f Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for that they do evil. Ver. 2. Be not nothing : but in every thing by rash with thy mouth, and let not prayer and supplication with thanks thine heart be hasty to utter any giving, let your requests be made . thing before God : for God is in known unto God.

heaven, and thou upon earth : there8 Psal. lxv. 2. O thou that hear- fore let thy words be few. Heb. est prayer, unto thee shall all Aesh xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a

kingdom which cannot be moved, h John xiv. 13. And whatsoever let us have grace, whereby we may ye shall ask in my name, that will serve God acceptably, with reverence I do, that the Father may be glo and godly fear. Gen. xviii. 27. And rified in the Son. Ver. 14. If ye

Abraham answered and said, Behold shall ask any thing in my name, now, I have taken upon me to speak will do it. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, unto the Lord, which am but dust as lively stones, are built up a spi and ashes. James V. 16. Confess ritual house, an holy priesthood, to your faults one to another, and pray offer up spiritual sacrifices, accept- one for another, that ye may be healable to God by Jesus Christ. ed: the effectual fervent prayer of a

i Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spi- righteous man availeth much. James rit also helpeth our infirmities: for i. 6. But let him ask in faith, nowe know not what we should pray thing wavering : for he that wafor as we ought : but the Spirit vereth is like a wave of the sea, itself maketh intercession for driven with the wind, and tossed,

F4

Ver. 7.

come.

8

us

IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful", and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter°; but not for the dead P, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death o

V. The

m

Ver. 7. For let not that man think vant be blessed for ever. Ruth that he shall receive any thing of iv. 12. And let thy house be like the Lord. Mark xi. 24. Therefore the house of Pharez, (whom Tamar I say unto you, What things soever bare

unto Judah,) of the seed ye desire when ye pray, believe which the Lord shall give thee of that ye receive them, and ye shall this young woman. have them. Matth. vi. 12. And P 2 Sam. xii. 21. Then said his forgive us our debts, as we forgive servants unto him, What thing is our debtors.

Ver. 14. For if ye this that thou hast done? Thou forgive men their trespasses, your didst fast and weep for the child heavenly Father will also forgive while it was alive ; but when the you. Ver. 15. But if ye forgive child was dead, thou didst rise not men their trespasses, neither and eat bread. Ver. 22. And he will your Father forgive your tres- said, While the child was yet alive, passes. Col. iv. 2. Continue in I fasted and wept : for I said, prayer, and watch in the same with Who can tell whether God will thanksgiving. Eph. vi. 18. Praying be gracious to me, that the child always with all prayer and suppli- may live ? Ver. 23. But now he is cation in the Spirit, and watching dead, wherefore should I fast? can thereunto with all perseverance and I bring him back again? I shall supplication for all saints.

go to him, but he shall not re1 Cor. xiv. 14. For if I pray turn to ne. With Luke xvi. 25. in an unknown tongue, my spirit But Abraham said, Son, remember prayeth, but my understanding is that thou in thy lifetime receivedst unfruitful.

thy good things, and likewise IV. n[1 John v. 14. See letter k.] Lazarus evil things : but now he

01 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort there- is comforted, and thou art torfore, that, first of all, supplications, mented. Ver. 26. And besides prayers, intercessions, and giving of all this, between us and you there thanks, be made for all men: Ver. 2. is a great gulf fixed : so that they For kings, and for all that are in which would pass from hence to authority ; that we may lead a quiet you cannot ;

neither can they and peaceable life in all godliness pass to us that would come from and honesty. John xvii. 20. Nei- thence. Rev. xiv. 13. And I ther pray I for these alone, but heard a voice from heaven, sayo for them also which shall believe ing unto me, Write; Blessed are on me through their word. 2 Sam. the dead which die in the Lord vii. 29. Therefore now let it please from henceforth : yea, saith the thee to bless the house of thy Spirit, that they may rest from servant, that it may continue for their labours; and their works do ever before thee: for thou, O Lord follow them. God, hast spoken it: and with thy 91 John v. 16. If any man blessing let the house of thy sera his brother sin a sin which is not

see

V. The reading of the scriptures with godly fear"; the sound preaching, and conscionable hearing of the word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith, and reverence * ; singing of psalms with grace in the heart"; as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God w: besides religious oaths *

and

my word.

let him pray.

unto death, he shall ask, and he For all those things hath mine hand shall give him life for them that made, and all those things have been, sin not unto death. There is a saith the Lord: but to this man will sin unto death : I do not say that I look, even to him that is poor, and he shall pray for it.

of a contrite spirit, and tremblech at V. "Acts xv. 21. For Moses of old time hath in every city them u Col. üri, 16. Let the word of that preach him, being read in Christ dwell in you richly in all the synagogues every sabbath-day. wisdonı ; teaching and admonishing Rev. i. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, one another in psalms, and hymns, and they that hear the words of this and spiritual songs, singing with prophecy, and keep those things grace in your hearts to the Lord. which are written therein : for the Eph. v. 19. Speaking to yourselves time is at hand.

in psalms,, and hymns, and spiritual s 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, songs, singing and making melody be instant in season, out of season ; in your hearts to the Lord. James reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all v. 13.

Is any among you afflicted ? long-suffering and doctrine.

Is any merry ? let t James i. 22. But be ye doers of him sing psalms. the word, and not hearers only, de- • W Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye thereceiving your own selves. Acts x. 33. fore and teach all nations, baptizing Immediately therefore I sent to thee; them in the name of the Father, and and thou hast well done that thou of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Now therefore are we [1 Cor. xi. 23. to Verse. 29.) Acts all here present before God, to hear ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly all things that are commanded thee in the apostles' doctrine and fellowof God. Matth. xiii. 19. When ship, and in breaking of bread, and any one heareth the word of the in

prayers. kingdom, and understandeth it not, * Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear then cometh the wicked one,

and

the Lord thy God, and serve him, catcheth away that which was sown and shalt swear by his name. With in his heart : this is he which re- Neh. x. 29. They clave to their ceived seed by the way-side. Heb. brethren, their nobles, and entered iy. 2. For unto us was the gospel into a curse, and into an oath, to preached, as well as unto them : walk in God's law, which was but the word preached did not profit given by Moses the servant of God, them, not being mixed with faith and to observe and do all the in them that heard it. Isa. lxvi. 2. commandments of the Lord, our

F 5

God,

art come.

and vows', solemn fastings? and thanksgivings upon special occasions", which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner b.

VI. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is, now under the gospel

, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by, any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed : but God is to be worshipped every whered in spirit and in truth; as

in

statutes.

est

a "VOW

God, and his judgments and his with consent for a time, that ye

may give yourselves to fasting and y Isa. xix. 21. And the Lord shall

prayer; and come together again, be known to Egypt, and the Egyp- that Satan tempt you not for your tians shall know the Lord in that incontinency. day, and shall do sacrifi- 2 and obla- a (Psal. cvii. throughout.] Esth.ix. 22. tion; yea, they shall vow a vow As the days wherein the Jews rested "unto the Lord, and perform it. from their enemies, and the month With Eccl. v. 4. When thou vow- which was turned unto them from

unto God, defer not sorrow to joy, and from mourning to pay it, for he hath no plea- into a good day : that they should sure in fools; pay that which thou make them days of feasting and joy, hast yowed. Ver. 5. Better is it and of sending portions one to anothat thou shouldest not vow, than ther, and gifts to the poor. that thou shouldest vow and not b Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we pay

receiving a kingdom which cannot 2 Joel ï. 12. Therefore also now, be moved, let us have grace, whereby saith the Lord, Turn ye even to we may serve God acceptably, with me with all your heart, and with reverence and godly fear. fasting, and with weeping, and with VI. C John iv. 21. Jesus saith unto mourning. Esth. iv. 16. Go, gather her, Woman, believe me, the hour together all the Jews that are pre- cometh, when ye shall neither in sent in Shushan, and fast ye for this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, me, and neither eat nor drink three worship the Father. days, night or day; I also and my d Mal. i. 11. For from the rising maidens will fast likewise, and so of the sun, even unto the going down will I go in unto the king, which of the same, my name shall be great is not according to the law; and among the Gentiles, and in every if I perish, I perish. Matth. ix. 15. place incense shall be offered unto my And Jesus said unto them, Can the name, and a pure offering: for my children of the bride-chamber mourn name shall be great among the heaa as long as the bridegroom is. with then, saith the Lord of hosts. 1 Tim, them? but the days will come,

ii. 8. I will therefore that men pray when the bridegroom shall be every where, lifting up holy hands, taken from them, and then shall without wrath and doubting.

1 Cor. vii. 5. Defraud e John iv. 23. But the hour com. ye not one the other, except it be eth, and now is, when the true wor

shippers

they fast.

f

in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself"; so more solemnly in the public assemblies, , which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God, by his word or providence, calleth thereunto i

VII. As

not

shippers shall worship the Father in together of the grace of life; that spirit and in truch: for the Fa- your prayers be not hindered. Acts ther seeketh such to worship him. X. 2. A devout man, and one that Ver. 24. God is a Spirit ; and they feareth God with all his house, which that worship him must worship him gave much alms to the people, and in spirit and in truth.

prayed to God alway. fiJer. x. 25. Pour out thy fury - 8 Matth. vi. 11. Give us this day upon the heathen that know thee

our daily bread. not, and upon the families that call h. Matth. vi. 6. But thou, when

on thy name : for they have thou prayest, enter into thy closet; eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and, when thou hast shut thy door, and consumed him, and have made pray to thy Father which is in sehis habitation desolate. Deut. vi. 6. cret; and thy Father which seeth. And these words which I command in secret shall reward thee openly. thee this day shall be in thine heart : Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with Ver. 7. And thou shalt teach then all prayer and supplication in the diligently unto thy children; and Spirit, and watching thereunto with shalt talk of them when thou sittest all perseverance, and supplication for in thine house, and when thou all saints. walkest by the way, and when thou i Isa. lvi. 6. Also the sons of the liest down, and when thou risest stranger, that join themselves to the up. Job i. 5. And it was so, when Lord, to serve him, and to love the the days of their feasting were gone

name of the Lord, to be his servants, about, that Job sent ai sanctified every one that keepeth the sabbath them, and rose up early in the morn- from polluting it, and taketh hold of ing, and offered burnt-offerings, ac- my covenant : Ver. 7. Even them cording to the number of them all : will I bring to my holy mountain, for Job said, It may be that my and make them joyful in my house sons have sinned, and cursed God of prayer : their burnt-offerings and in their hearts. Thus did Job con. their sacrifices shall be accepted upon tinually. 2 Sam. vi. 18. And as mire altar; for mine house shall be soon as David had made an end of called an house of prayer for all offering burnt-offerings, and peace- people. Heb. x. 25. Not forsaking offerings, he blessed the people in the assembling of ourselves together, the name of the Lord of hoss. as the manner of some is; but exVer. 20. Then David returned to horting one another and so much bless his household, 1 Pet. iii. 7. the more, as ye see the day apLikewise, ye husbands, dwell with proaching. Prov. i. 20. Wisdom them according to knowledge, giving crieth without, she uttereth her honour unto the wife as unto the voice in the streets : Ver. 21. She weaker vessel, and ás. -being heirs crieth in the chief place of concourse,

F.6