-Chap.¡ 6. An Expofátion upon the Boob, of J O B. ver, t 6 3 31 The will ofGod under a threefold revelation is the rule and matter of prayer. Fitti, The will of God in commandments ; whatfoever God hath charged upon us to do, we may pray for power and ftrength to do it, or that it may be done. Secondly, The will ofGod in Promifes ; what God hath faid he will give, we may pray to receive. Thirdly, The will of God in Prophefies; what God bath forefhewed ¡hall come to paffe, we muff pray that it may come to paffe. Theprayer of man gives birth to the Prophefies cf God, Thai-faith the Lord, 1 will for this be enquiredofby the 1-loufe ofIfrael, tddo it for them (Ezek 38 37.) God is a lure pay mailer, yethe expeoiswe ¡hould fue him, before he payes, Daniel found by Books, that the time drew nigh, for the deli- veranceof the Jews out of Babylon; and then (faith he) /fee mÿ face unto the LordGod, tofder byprayer andfupplications, withfaffing, fackcloth, andafhes (Dan. 9.1,2) The manifeftan tionof the will of God in a Prophetiie, is a thong ground of prayer : Thus the matter ofprayer, is the will ofGod under one of thole three manifeftations, a Command, a Promife, or a Prophefie. A third thingin pure prayer, is the form ofit. There is a twofold formofprayer. Firft, The internal, or efTential form. Secondly, The external, or accidental form of prayer. The external form, is that habit of words and expreffions with which we cloath our defires, when we prefent them un- toGod : This form varies, not onely according to the feveral occafions and emergencies of this life, which calls us to the du- ty ofprayer, but allo according to the feveralgifts and abilities of thofe who pray. We are free as to this form, from all eyes and prefcriptions, except this, that we utter our minds to God foberly, gravely, fpiritually, with an eye to thole forms and patterns of whokfome words delivered to us in the word, of God ; and efpecially to that part of the word which Chrift gave both as a Compendium, and a Copy of holy prayer. But as for the effential and internal form ofprayer, that is unchangeable, and mutt ever be one and the fame Namely, That we pray in the name of Chriff. One ofthe ancients was X x much
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