nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto death d.

Q. 184. For what things are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God, the welfare of the church', our own 5 others good": but not for any thing that is unlawful i. Q. 185. How are we to pray

? A.Weareto pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of Godk,and deep sense of our own unworthiness', necessities,

and

or

this that thou hast done? Thou didst h Psal. cxxv. 4. Do good, O fast and weep for the child while it Lord; unto those that be good, and was alive; but when the child was to them that are upright in their dead, thou didst rise and did eat hearts. bread. Ver. 22. And he said, While il John v. 14. And this is the the child was yet alive I fasted and confidence that we have in him, that, wept; for I said, Who can tell whe- if we ask any thing according to his ther God will be gracious to me, will, he heareth us. that the child may live ? Ver.. 23. 185. k Eccl. v. 1. Keep thy foot But now he is dead, wherefore should when thou goest to the house of I fast ? can I bring him back again? God, and be more ready to hear, I shall go to him, but he shall not than to give the sacrifice of fools : return to me.

for they consider not that they do di John v. 16. If any man see his evil. brother sin a sin which is not unto 1 Gen. xviii. 27. And 'Abraham death, he shall ask, and he shall give answered and said, Behold now, I him life for them that sin not unto have taken upon me to speak unto death. There is a sin unto death; I the Lord, which am but dust and do not say that he shall pray for it. ashes. Gen. xxxii. 10. I am not

184, e Mat. vi. 9. After this man. worthy of the least of all the ner therefore pray ye: Our Father mercies, and of all the truth, which art in heaven, Hallowed be which thou hast shewed unto thy thy name.

servant. f Psal. li. 18. Do good in thy

m Luke xv. 17. And when he good pleasure unto Zion: build thou came to himself, he said, How many the walls of Jerusalem. Psal. cxxii. 6. hired servants of my father's have Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they bread enough and to spare, and I shall prosper that love thee.

perish with hung'er! Ver. 18. I will 8 Mat. vii

. 11. If ye then, being arise and go to my father, and will evil, know how to give good gifts say unto him, Father, I have sinned unto your children, how much more against Heaven, and before thee, shall your father which is in heaven Ver. 19. And am no more worthy to give good things to them that ask be called thy son; make me as one him?

of thy hired servants,

Luke

and síns"; with penitent", thankful, and enlarged hearts?; with understanding ', faith', sincerity', fervency", love", and

perseverance *, waiting upon him with humble submission to his will ?.

Q. 186. What rule hath God given for our direction in the duty of prayer ?

A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer*; but the special rule of direction is that

form

sea,

Luke xvii. 13. And the pub. desire when ye pray, believe that ye lican, standing afar off, would not receive them, and ye shall have them, lift up so much as his eyes unto hea. James i. 6. But let him ask in faith, ven, but smote upon his breast, saya nothing wavering: for he that waver. ing, God be merciful to me a sinner,

eth is like a wave of the driven Ver. 14. I tell you, this man went with the wind, and tossed. down to his house justified rather t Psal. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh than the other : for every one that unto all them that call upon him, 'exalteth himself shall be abased; and to all that call upon him in truth. he that humbleth himself shall be Psal. xvii. 1. Hear the right, O exalted.

Lord, attend unto my cry; give ear * Psal. li. 17. The sacrifices of unto my prayer that goeth not out God are a broken spirit : a broken of feigned lips. and a contrite heart, o God, thou u James V. 16. The effectual wit not despise.

fervent prayer of a righteous man P Phil iv. 6. Be careful for no. availeth much. thing: but in every thing by prayer

W1 Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore and supplication, with thanksgiving, that men pray every where, lifting let your requests be made known up holy hands, without wrath and unto God.

doubting. 9 1 Sam. i. 15. And Hannah * Eph. vi. 18. Praying always answered and said, No, my lord ; with all prayer and supplication in I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: the Spirit, and watching thereunto I have drunk neither wine nor strong with all perseverance, and supplicadrink, but have poured out my soul

tion for all saints. before the Lord. 1 Sam. ii. 1. And y Micah vii. 7. Therefore I will Hannah prayed, and said, My heart look unto the Lord: I will wait for rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is the God of my salvation: my God exalted in the Lord: my mouth is will hear me. enlarged over mine enemies; because 2 Mat. xxvi. 39. And he went a I rejoice in thy salvation.

little farther, and fell on his face, rl Cor. xiv. 15. What is it

and prayed, saying, O my Father, if then? I will pray with the spirit, it be possible, let this cup pass from and I will pray with the understand- me: nevertheless, not as I will, but ing also :

as thou wilt. Mark xi. 24. Therefore I say 186. a 1 John v, 14. And this is upto you, What things soever ye the confidence that we have in him,

that,

X

form of prayer which our Saviour Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's Prayer b.

Q. 187. How is the Lord's prayer to be used?

A. The Lord's prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer.

Q. 188. Of how many parts doth the Lord's prayer consist?

Ă. The Lord's prayer consists of three parts; a preface, petitions, and a conclusion.

Q. 189. What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord's prayer (contained in these words, Our Father which art in heaven') teacheth us, when we pray, to draw near to God with confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our interest therein*; with reverence, and all other child-like dispositions ', -heavenly affections, and due apprehensions of his sovereign power, majesty, and gracious condescension": as also, to pray with and for others!

Q. 190. IVhat

e

that, if we ask any thing according 8 Psal. cxxiii. Unto thee lift I to his will, he heareth us.

up mine eyes, I thou that dwellest 6 Mat. vi, 9,–13. After this manner in the heavens. Lam. iü. 41. Let therefore pray ye: Our Father, &c. us lift up our heart with our hands Luke xi. 2, 3, 4. And he said unto unto God in the heavens. them, When ye pray, say, Our Fa- h Isa. lxiii. 15. Look down from ther, &C.

heaveri, and behold from the hra187. Mat. vi. 9. Compared with bitation of thy holiness and of Luke xi. 2. (See above in letter b.) thy glory: where is thy zeal and 189. d Mat. vi. 9.

thy strength, the sounding of thy e Luke xi. 13. If ye then, being bowels, and of thy - mercies toevil, know how to give good gifts wards me? are they restrained ? unto your children; how much more Ver. 16. Doubtless thou art our shall your heavenly Father give the Father, though Abraham be igHoly Spirit to them that ask him? norant of us, and Israel acknow. Rom. viii. 15. For ye have not re- ledge us not: thou, O Lord, art ceived the spirit of bondage again to our Father, our Redeemer, thy fear; but ye have received the Spirit name is from everlasting. Neh. i. 4. of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, And it came to pass, when I heard Father.

these words, that I sat down and f Isa. lxiv. 9. Be not wroth very wept, and mourned certain days, sore, O Lord, neither remember ini. and fasted, and prayed before the quity for ever: behold, see, we be- God of heaven, Ver. 5. And said, I seech thee, we are all thy people. beseech thee, O Lord God of

Q. 190. What do we pray for in the first petition ?

A. In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name",) acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honour God'аright', we pray, that God would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem him",

m his titles", attributes', ordinances, word, works, and whatso

ever

heaven, the great and terrible God, me thy way, O Lord; I will walk that keepeth covenant and mercy in thy truth: unite my heart to fear for them that love him, and observe thy 'name. Ver. 12. I will praise his commandments: Ver. 6. Let thee, O Lord my God, with all my thine ear now be attentive, and heart; and I will glorify thy name thine eyes open, that thou mayest

for evermore. Ver. 13. For great hear the prayer of thy servant, is thy mercy toward me: and thou which I pray before thee now, day hast delivered my soul from the and night, for the children of Israel lowest hell. Ver. 15. But thou, O thy servants, and confess the sins of Lord, art a God full of compassion, the children of Israel, which we and gracious, long-suffering, and have sinned against thee: both I and plenteous in mercy and truth. my father's house have sinned.

P 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, i Acts xii. 5. Peter therefore was pray for us, that the word of the kept in prison; but prayer was made Lord may have free course, and be without ceasing of the church unto glorified, even as it is with you. God for him.

Psal. cxlvii. 19. He sheweth his 190, k Mat. vi. 9.

word unto Jacob, his statutes and his 12 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are judgments unto Israel. Ver. 20. He sufficient of ourselves to think any hath not dealt so with any nation : thing as of ourselves; but our suf. and as for his judgments, they have ficiency is of God. Psal. li. 15. O not known them. Praise

ye

the Lord. Lord, open thou my lips, and my Psal. cxxxyii. 1. I will praise thee mouth shall shew forth thy praise. with my whole heart; before the

m Psal. lxvii. 2. That thy way gods will I sing praise unto thee. may be known upon earth, thy Ver. 2. I will worship towards thy saving health among all nations. holy temple, and praise thy name, Ver. 3. Let the people praise thee, for thy loving-kindness

, and for

O God; let all the people praise thy truth: for thou hast magnithee.

fied thy word above all thy n Psal. lxxxiii. 18. That men may

Ver. 3. In the day when I know that thou, whose name alone .cried, thou answeredst me: and is JEHOVAH, art the most High strengthenedst me with strength over all the earth.

in my soul. 2 Cor. ii. 14. Now • Psal. Ixxxvi. 10. For thou art thanks be unto God, which always great, and doest wondrous things : causeth us

to triumph in Christ, thou art God alone. Ver. 11. Teach and maketh manifest the savour

of

name,

ever he is pleased to make himself known by ?; and to glorify him in thought, word', and deeds; that he would prevent and remove atheism, ignorance", idolatry ", profaneness *, and whatsoever is dishonourable to him y; and, by his over-ruling providence, direct and dispose of all things to his own glory”.

Q. 191. What

r

of his knowledge by us in every

of wisdom and revelation in the place. Ver. 15. For we are unto knowledge of him ; Ver. 18. The God a sweet savour of Christ, in eyes of your understanding being them that are saved, and in them enlightened; that ye may know that perish.

what is the hope of his calling, and 9 Psal. cxlv. throughout. I will what the riches of the glory of his extol thee, my God, o King, &c. inheritance in the saints. Psal. viii, throughout. O Lord our W Psal. xcvii. 7. Confounded be Lord, how excellent is thy name in all they that serve graven images, all the earth! G.

that boast themselves of idols: wor* Psal. ciii. 1. Bless the Lord, o ship him, all ye gods. my soul; and all that is within me, * Psal. lxxiv. 18, Remember this, bless his holy name. Psal. xix. 14. that the enemy hath reproached, O Let the words of my mouth, and Lord, and that the foolish people the meditation of my heart, be ac- have blasphemed thy name. Ver. 22. ceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Arise, O God, plead thine own strength, and my redeemer.

cąuse : remember how the foolish s Phil. i. 9. And this I pray, that man reproacheth thee daily. Ver. 23, your love may abound yet more and Forget not the voice of thine enemies: more in knowledge, and in all judg- the tumult of those that rise up against ment; Ver. 1). Being filled with thee increaseth continually. the fruits of righteousness, which are Y 2 Kings xix. 15. And Hezekiah by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and prayed before the Lord, and said, o praise of God.

Lord God of Israel, which dwellest * Psal. Ixvii. 1. God be merciful between the cherubims, thou art. unto us, and bless us; apd cause his the God, even thou alone, of all face to shine upon us. Selah. Ver. 2. the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast That thy way may be kriown upon made heaven and earth. Ver. 16. earth, thy saving health among all Lord, bow down thine ear, and nations, Ver. 3. Let the people · hear; open, Lord, thine

eyes, praise thee, O God; let all the peo- and see; and hear the words of ..ple praise thee. Ver. 4. O let the Sennacherib, which hath sent him to nations be glad, and sing for joy: for reproach the living God. thou shalt judge the people righte- 22 Chron. xx. 6. And /Jehoshaously, and govern the nations upon phat) said, O Lord God of our earth. Selah.

fathers, art not thou God in hea. u Eph. i. 17. That the God of our ven ? and rulest not thou over all Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the kugdoms of the heathen ? and glory, may give unto you the Spirit in thine hand is there not power

and