Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

225 4/stFMA `414/ 4k `ìsS<si.'SS '4" '!` 'i` 5 ` i V:i' ttswb' `'!`' ` '+`' V MATTH. 6. g. . c N OUrS íf Y °oSf,tJxEC,/ B UiGE4Ss LUKE II. 2. P`O i:v X44 -rf. O call upon the name of God by hearty and effetuall prayer, is a duty in itfelf molt excellent, to God molt glorious, to our felves molt profita- -_ ble and neceffary : But fuch is the blindneffe and ignorance of our minds, the dulneffe and hardneffe of our hearts, that we know not either how to pray or what to ask : Like to Zebedee's children, Matth. 22. 20. We ask we know not what: and as Paul fpeaketh, Rom. 8. 26. We know not what to pray as ive ought. Wherefore our Saviour Chrift in abundant mercy towards us, that he might relieve our wants in this behalf, hath fet down a prefcript form of prayer whereby we are to frame ours,com- manding us when we do pray to pray thus. In which words as he forbiddeth us not to ufe'Emmf: this prayer, fo he loth not alwayes bind us to ufe the fame words. For here two extremities are to be avoided : the firfl of the Brownif}s, who think it unlawfullto ufe the prefcript form of thefe words; the