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welfare of the church, our own or others good h; but not for any thing that is unlawful.

Q. 185. How are we to pray?

A. We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God, and deep sense of our own unworthiness, necessities, and sins"; with penitent, thankful P, and enlarged hearts; with understanding, faith, sincerity, fervency, love", and perseverance, waiting upon him, with humble submission to his willz.

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

f Psal. li. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Psal. cxxii. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

g Mat. vii. 11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

h Psal. cxxv. 4. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

i1 John v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth

us.

185. k Eccl. v. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

1 Gen. xviii. 27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. Gen. xxxii. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant.

m Luke xv. 17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough, and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Ver. 18. I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, Ver. 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Luke xviii. 13. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying. God be merciful to me a sinner. Ver. 14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Psal. li. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

P Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing: but

in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

q 1 Sam. i. 15. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord; I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 1 Sam. ii. 1. And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

r1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:

s Mark xi. 24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. James i. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed.

t Psal. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Psal xvii. 1. Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

v James v. 16.-The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. w 1 Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

x Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

y Micah vii. 7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

z Mat. xxvi. 39. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

186. 1 John v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, lie heareth us.

b Mat. vi. 9-13. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father, &c. Luke xi. ?

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?

A. 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. 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 aright', we pray, that God would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem him", his titles ", attributes, ordinances, word o,

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e Luke xi. 13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Rom. viii. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

f Isa. Ixiv. 9. Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

g Psal. cxxiii. 1. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Lam. iii. 41. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

h Isa. lxiii. 15. Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? Ver. 16. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. Neh. i. 4. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, Ver. 5. And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him, and observe his commandments: Ver. 6. Let thine ear now be at

tentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

i Acts xii. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 190. k Mat. vi. 9.

12 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. Psal. li. 15. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

m Psal. lxvii. 2. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Vcr. 3. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

n Psal. lxxxiii. 18. That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAHL, art the most High over all the earth.

Ver.

o Psal. lxxxvi. 10. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Ver. 11. Teach me thy way, O Lord: I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. Ver. 12. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and I will glorify thy name for evermore. 13. For great is thy mercy toward me; and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. Ver. 15. But thou, O Lord, art a God fall of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

for us, that the word of the Lord may P 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray

works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by; and to glorify him in thought, word, and deed: that he would revent and remove atheism, ignorance, idolatry", profaneness *, and whatsoever is dishonourable to him; and, by his over-ruling providence, direct and dispose of all things to his own glory.

Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition?

A. In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom come",) acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan", we pray, that the kingdom of sin and

have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. Psal. cxlvii. 19. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. Ver. 20. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Psal. cxxxviii. 1. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. Ver. 2. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness, and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Ver. 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 2 Cor. ii. 14. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Ver. 15. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.

q Psal. cxlv. throughout. I will extol thee, my God, O King, &c. Psal. viii, throughout. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! &c.

r l'sal. ciii. 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psal. xix. 14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

s Phil. i. 9. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; Ver. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

t Psal. lxvii. 1. God be merciful unto us, and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah. Ver. 2. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Ver. 3. Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee. Ver. 4. O let the nations be glad, and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

Eph. i. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Ver. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

w Psal. xcvii. 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

x Psal. lxxiv. 18. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. Ver. 22. Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. Ver. 23. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

y 2 Kings xix. 15. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Ver. 16. Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear; open. Lord, thine eyes, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

2 2 Chron. xx. 6. And (Jehoshaphat) said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee? Ver. 10. And now, behold, the children of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Ver. 11. Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. Ver. 12. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have nɔ might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. Psal. lxxxiii, throughout. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, &c. Psal. cxl. 4. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, who have purposed to overthrow my goings. Ver. 8. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah. 191. a Mat. vi. 10.

b Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the

Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fulness of the Gentiles brought inf; the church furnished with all gospel-officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate: that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him for

mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

c Psal. lxviii. 1. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. Ver. 18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Rev. xii. 10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Ver. 11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

d 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.

e Rom. x. 1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

f John xvii. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Ver. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. Rom. xi. 25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits,) that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Ver. 26. And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Psal. lxvii. throughout. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us, &c.

Mat. ix. 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.

h Mal. i. 11. For from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Zeph. iii. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon

the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

i1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

k Acts iv. 29. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, Ver. 30. By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ver. 19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, Ver. 20. For which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Rom. xv. 29. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Ver. 30. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; Ver. 32. That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 2 Thess. i. 11. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. 2 Thess. ii. 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, Ver. 17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

1 Eph. iii. 14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ver. 15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, Ver. 16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; Ver. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Ver. 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and

everm: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends ".

Q. 192. What do we pray for in the third petition?

A. In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,) acknowledging, that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and do the will of God P, but prone to rebel against his word a, to repine and murmur against his providence", and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh, and of the devil: we pray, that God would by his Spirit take away from ourselves and others all blindness t, weakness, indisposedness, and perverseness of heart; and by his grace make us able and willing to know, do, and submit to his will in all things, with the like

height; Ver. 19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ver. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

In Rev. xxii. 20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

n Isa. lxiv. 1. Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence; Ver. 2. As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! Rev. iv. 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Ver. 9. And when those beasts give glory, and honour, and thanks, to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, Ver. 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Ver. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

192. o Mat. vi. 10.

P Rom. vii. 18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Job xxi. 14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

q Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. r Exod. xvii. 7. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because

of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not? Numb. xiv. 2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; anl the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or, would God we had died in this wilderness!

s Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

t Eph. i. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Ver. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in

the saints.

v Eph. iii. 16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

w Mat. xxvi. 40. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What! could ye not watch with me one hour? Ver. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

x Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

y Psal. cxix. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Ver. 8. I will keep thy statutes: 0 forsake me not utterly. Ver. 35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Ver. 36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Acts xxi. 14. And when he

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