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access into his presence without a mediator (p); and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit. for, that glorious work but Christ alone (q); we are to pray in no other name but his only (r).

Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray

?

A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces, which are requisite for the right performance of that duty (s).

Q. 183. For whom are we to pray

?

A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth (t); for magistrates (v), and ministers (w); for

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

(p) John 14. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Isa. 59. 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

(q) John 6. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed. Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

(r) Col. 3. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Heb. 13. 15. By him, therefore, let us offer the

sacrifice of praise to God conti. nually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

(s) Rom. 8. 26, 27. 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. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

(t) Eph. 6. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints. Psalms 28. 9. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

(v) 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, 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.

w) Col. 4. 3. Withal, pray

ourselves (x), our brethren (y), yea, our enemies (z); and for all sorts of men living (a), or that shall live hereafter (b); but not for the dead (c), 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 (e), the welfare of the church (f), our own (g) or others' good (h): but not for any thing that is unlawful (i). Q. 185. How are we to pray

?

A. We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God (k), and deep sense of our own unwor

ing also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.

(x) Gen. 32. 11. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

(y) James 5. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

(z) Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

(a) 1 Timothy 2. 1, 2. (See above in v.)

(6) John 17. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.

(c) 2 Sam. 12. 21-23. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive, but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to

me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

(d) 1 John 5. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask; and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

(e) Mat. 6. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Fa ther which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(f) Psal. 51. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Psal. 122. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

(g) Mat. 7. 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?

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thiness (1), necessities (m), and sins (n); with penitent (o), thankful (p), and enlarged hearts (q); with understanding (r), faith (s), sincerity (t), fervency (v), love (w), and perseverance (x), waiting upon him (y) with humble submission to his will (z).

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

God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

(1) Gen. 18. 27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold, now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.

(m) Luke 15. 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!

(n) Luke 18. 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,

(0) Psal. 51. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

(p) Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

(g) 1 Sam. 1. 15. And Hannah answered and said, No, my Lord, I am a woman of a sorrow ful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 1 Sam. 2. 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.

(r) 1 Cor. 14. 15. What is it

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then ? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.

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(s) Mark 11. 24. Therefore say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. James 1. 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. 145. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Psalms 17. 1. Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips.

( ) James 5. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

( ) 1 Tin. 2. 8. I will, therefore, that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

( ) Eph. 6. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereumto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints.

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

(z) Mat. 26. 39. And he, went a little further, 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.

the duty of prayer (a); but the special rule of direction is that 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 (c).

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.

Q189. 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 (d), teacheth us, when we pray, to draw near to God with confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our interest therein (e); with reverence, and all other child-like dispositions (f), heavenly affections (g), and due apprehensions of his sovereign power, majesty, and gracious condescension (h): as also, to pray with and for others (i).

(a) 1 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.

(b) Mat. 6. vers. 9-13. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father, &c. Luke 11. vers. 2, 3, 4. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father, &c.

(c) Mat. 6. 9. Compared with Luke 11, 2. (See above, in letter b.)

(d) Matthew 6. 9.

(e) Luke 11. 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. 8. 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. 64. 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. 123. 1. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Lam. 3. 41. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

(h) Isa. 63. 15, 16. 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 towards me? are they restrained? Doubtless thou art our Father,

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

A. In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name (k), acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honour God aright (1), 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 (n), attributes (o), ordinances, word (p), works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by (q); and to glorify him in thought, word (r), and deed (s): that he would prevent and remove Atheism (t), ignorance (v), idolatry (w), profaneness (x), and whatsoever is dishonour

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(n) Psal. 83. 18. That men may know, that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.

(o) Psal. 86. 10. For thou art great, and dost wondrous things: thou art God alone.

(p) 2 Thess. 3. 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. Psal. 147. 19. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

(4) Psal. 145, throughout. I

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will extol thee, my God, O King, &c. Psal. 8, throughout. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! &c.

(r) Psal. 103. 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

(s) Phil. 1. 9. 11. And this I pray, that your love may abound

more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.

(t) Psalms 67. 1, 2. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

(v) Eph. 1. 17, 18. 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 : 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. 97. 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

(x) Psal. 74. 18. Remember

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