Prayer Commanded.

All Prayer addressed to God.

Subject: THE DUTY OF PRAYER.

call

Minister.

Seek ye the Lord while He may be found,
ye upon Him while He is near.
Arise, cry out in the night: in the begin-
ning of the watches pour out thine heart like
water before the face of the Lord.

let

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
your requests be made known unto God.
Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour
out your heart before Him: God is a refuge
for us.

And God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
Thou shalt make Thy prayer unto Him,

and He shall hear thee.

19, 20.

For He hath looked down from the height Ps. cii. of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee.

Ps. χχχίν. 15.

Is. xxx

19.

9.

Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall Is.lviii answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am.

Now we know that God heareth not sin-
ners: but if any man be a worshipper of God,
and doeth His will, him He heareth.

God ap-
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
proached
through truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by Me.

Jesus.

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

John

ix. 31.

John

xiv. 6.

Eph. ii. 18.

John

xiv.

Prayer And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, prevalent that will I do, that the Father may be glorithrough fied in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in 13, 14. My name, I will do it.

Christ.

To pray by the Spirit's

aid.

If
ye
abide in Me, and My words abide in
you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be
done unto you.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

:

John

xv. 7.

Heb.

iv. 16.

Jude

20.

Rom. viii. 26

37

THE DUTY OF PRAYER.

How to

pray. Avoid

vain repetitions.

Ask in faith.

Plead with

constancy and im

portunity.

SING.

CHANT: Anthem or Hymn.

Minister.

Be

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, Matt. as the heathen do: for they think that they vi. 7,8. shall be heard for their much speaking. not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

Mark

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye xi. 24. receive them, and ye shall have them.

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. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

Jas.

i. 6, 7.

xi. 6.

But without faith it is impossible to please Heb. Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to en- Heb.x.
ter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus-Let 19-22.
us draw near with a true heart in full assur-
ance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
pure water.

And this is the confidence that we have in
Him, that, if we ask anything according to
His will, He heareth us.

Pray without ceasing.

Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
Continuing instant in prayer.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same
with thanksgiving.

1 Thes.

v. 17.

Luke

xviii.1.

Rom.

xii. 12.

Col.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all iv. 2.

In obe

these things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of Man.

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, dience to because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

the Divine will. Where to pray.

Who to

Luke

xxi. 36.

1 John iii. 22.

vi. 6.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into Matt. thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

ii. 8.

I will therefore that men pray everywhere, 1 Tim. lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

ii. 1-3.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, suppli- 1 Tim. pray for. cations, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty; For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.

For one another.

For ministers

For all saints.

For the

Pray one for another.

Lord

Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the
have free course, and be glorified.
may
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.
Praying always with all prayer and suppli-
cation in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints.

Jas. v.

16.

1

Thess. iii. 1.

Eph.

vi. 19.

Eph. vi. 18.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the Jas. v. afflicted. elders of the church; and let them pray over

For persecutors.

him.

Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.

14.

Matt. v. 44,

45.

THE DUTY OF PRAYER.

39

MINISTER AND CONGREGATION.

STANDING OR KNEELING.

DEVOUT RESOLUTION AND DESIRE.

Psalms.

As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and and He shall hear my voice. lv., 16, 17.—I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. 1 Cor. xiv. 15.Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. lvii., 1, 2. -My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. cxxx., 6.—Lord, I cry unto Thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice when I cry unto Thee. Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. cxli, 1, 2.—I stretch forth my hands unto Thee my soul thirsteth after Thee, as a thirsty land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faileth: hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. cxliii, 6, 7.

-Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my rock: be not silent to me; lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto Thee, when I lift up my hands towards Thy holy oracle. xxviii, 1, 2.

THE LORD'S PRAYER,

Matt. vi., 9-13.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

CONGREGATION.—Amen.