Imatges de pàgina
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Q. 183. For whom are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth, for magiftrates' and minifters", for ourselves, our brethren, yea our enemies'; and for all forts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those that are known to have finned the fin unto death".

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,

But the Spirit itself maketh interceffion for us, with greanings which cannot be uttered, &c. Pfal. 80. 18. Quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Pfal. 10. 17. Zech. 12.

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t Eph. 6. 18. Praying always with all prayer and fupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perfeverance, and fupplication for all faints. Pfal. 28. 9. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; feed them alfo, and lift them up for ever.

VI Tim. 2. I I exhort therefore, that firft of all, fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority.

w 2 Theff. 3. I. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free courfe, and be glorified, even as it is with you; &c. Col. 4. 3.

x Gen. 32. 11. Deliver me,

I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Elau; for I fear him, left he will come and fmite me, and the mother with the children.

y Jam. 5. 16. Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. 2 Theff. 1. 11.

z Matth. 5 44. Pray for them that despitefully use you, and perfecute you.

a 1 Tim. 2. I, 2. (See above in v.)

b John 17. 20. Neither pray I for thefe alone, but for them alfo who fhall believe on me through their word. 2 Sam. 7. 29.

c 2 Sam. 12. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I fhall go to him, but he fhall not return to me.

d 1 John 5. 16. There is a fin unto death; I do not fay that he fhall pray for it.

e Matth. 6. 9. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed he thy name. Pfal. 51. 18.

our own or others good"; but not for any thing that is unlawful'.

Q. 185. How are we to pray ?

A. We are to pray with an awful apprehenfion of the majesty of God, and deep fenfe of our own unworthiness', neceffities" and fins"; with penitent", thankful and enlarged hearts; with un

f Pfal. 51. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion, build thou the walls of Jerufalem. Pfal. 122. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerufalem; they fhail profper that love thee."

g Matt. 7. 11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more fhall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that afk him?

h Pfal. 125. 4. Do good, O Lord, unto thofe that be good; and to them that are upright in their hearts. 1 Theff. 5. 23. and 2 Theff. 3. 16.

i John 5. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us. Jam. 4. 3. Ye afk and receive not, because ye afk amifs.

k Pfal. 33. 8. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Pfal. 95. 6. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

1 Gen. 18. 27. And Abraham anfwered and faid, Behold, now I have taken upon me to fpeak

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n Pfal. 130. 3. If thou, Lord, fhouldeft mark iniquities, O Lord, who fhall ftand? Luke 18. 13. And the publican standing afar off would not lift up fo much as his eyes unto heaven, but fmote upon his breast, faying. God be merciful to me a finner.

o Pfal. 51. 17. The facrifices of God are a broken fpirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not defpife. Zech. 12. 10, &c.

p Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by prayer and fupplication, with thankfgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. Theff. 5. 18.

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q Pfal. 81. 10. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Eph. 3. 20, 21. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we afk or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church, &c. Ff

derstanding", faith, fincerity', fervency", love", and perfeverance, waiting upon him' with humble fubmiffion 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 ufe to direct us in the duty of praying; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Saviour Chrift taught his difciples, commonly called, The Lord's Prayer".

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 be also used as a prayer,

rI Cor. 14. 15. What is it then? 1 will pray with the fpirit, and I will pray with the understanding alfo.

f Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near-in full affurance of faith, &e. Jam. 1. 6. But let him afk in faith, nothing wavering. At Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart. Pfal. 145. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him,in truth. Pfal. 17. I. John 4. 24. v Jam. 5.16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

wi Tim. 2. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Matt. 5. 23. 24.

x Eph. 6. 18. Praying always with all prayer and fup

plication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto" with all perfeverance.

y Mic. 7. 7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my falvation; my God will hear me.

z Matt. 26. 39. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, fay ing, O my Father, if it be poffible, let this cup pafs from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

a 2 Tim. 3, 16, 17. All fcrip ture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doc trine, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 1 John 5. 14.

h Matt. 6.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Luke 11. 2, 3, 4›

so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces neceffary to the right performance of the duty of prayero.

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

A. The Lord's prayer confifts of three parts, a preface, petitions, and a conclufion.

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 who art in heaven") teacheth us, when we pray, to draw near to God with confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our intereft therein; with reverence, and all other child-like difpofitions, heavenly affections, and due apprehenfions of his fovereign power, majefty and gracious condefcenfion": as also to pray with and for others'.

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e Luke 11. 13. If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more fhall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that afk him? Rom. 8. 15.

f Pfal. 95. 6, 7. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the theep of his hand. Ifai. 64.9.

Lam. 3. 41. Let us lift up our heart, with our hands unto God in the heavens.

h Pfal. 104. I, 2, 3. Blefs the Lord, O my foul: O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majefty. Ifai. 63. 15. Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy ho linefs and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy ftrength, the founding of thy bowels, and of thy mercies towards me? are they restrained? Pfal. 113 4, 5, 6.

g Pfal. 123. I. Unto thee i Acts 12. 5. Peter therefore lift I up mine eyes, O thou was kept in prifon; but prayer that dwelleft in the heavens, was made without ceafing of

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

A. In the first petition (which is, Hallowed be thy name) acknowledging the utter inability and indifpofition that is in ourfelves 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 kim", his titles", attributes", ordinances, word", works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by; and to glorify him in thought, word" and deed': That he would prevent and re

the church unto God for him. mory of thy great goodness,

Zech. 8. 21.

k Matt. 6.9.

12 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are fufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves: but our fufficiency is of God. Pfal. 51. 15. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth fhall fhew forth thy praise.

m Pfal. 67. 2, 3. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy faving health among all nations. Let the people praife thee, O God; let all the people praife thee. Pfal. 72. 19. Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Fph. 3. 20, 21.

n Pfal. 83. 18. That men. may know, that thou, whofe name alone is Jehovah,"art the Moft High over all the earth.

o Pfal. 145. 6, 7, 8. And men fhall fpeak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatnefs. They fhall abundantly utter the me

and fhall fing of thy righteoufnefs. The Lord is gracious and full of compaflion; flow to anger, and of great mercy, &c. Pfal. 86. 1c. 15.

p 2 Theff. 3. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free courfe and be glorified, even as it is with you. Pfal. 107. 31, 32-Let them exalt him alfo in the congregation of the people, and praile him in the affembly of the elders. 2 Cer. 2. 14.

q Pfal. 145. and 8. Through

our.

r Pfal. 19. 14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy fight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

f Phil. I. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteoufnefs, which are by Jefus Chrift unto the glory and praife of God.

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