on the Lord's Prayer. ~ Alay10ufe have the Spirit of Pruyer who have not t he Gift oj Pr,,rn? .A. Yea, rhey may; and on}he contrary, f~mc: may have the Gi~t of Prayer who pray not by the'Spitit; for they who ure prefcrrbed and fct Forms of Prayer pray by the Spirit, when their Petitions are ac~ompanied with tcryent A~eElions, . fiirr cd i~ them by the Holy Gboft; and again, f~me who are more fluent 1n concerted Prayer, may pray only from tbt: Strength of rhetr Natural Pans and F;ndowmenrs. Q. But doth not the uje of FOrms damp and quencb the Spirit of Prayer? Ll. Forms indeed are too often ufed formally, and fo is anjr O[her kind of Prayer; yet it is the uue(l Tea, and the highell Excellency, of praying by ,the Spirir, whtn we are fervent in puning up thefe Requefi:s ro God, where neitber Novelty, ~arj ~ ry, nor Copioufnefs ofExpreffions, can be .fufpeil:ed to move our A~eflions! bur,only [he genuine Importance ofrbe Maner whrch we ·pray for, though tn prefcnbed Words. Q To mbom mufl out Prayers be dire[/ed? .A. To God only, and not to Saints or Angels. Q HOf1J o11ght r»etoconceive of Gqd when we prny to him? , A. As an infinitely Glorious, Wif~:, PowerftJI, and Gracious, Being, whofe Prefi:nce is everywhere, whofe Providence and Goodnefs is over all Things; and thus we pray at once to each Perfon of the Ever.bleffed Trinity. · Q M'!)/ we not particJJ!arly addrefs our Prayers to fame qne Per fan of tbe Trinity? .d. We may, efpecially in rhofc Cafes wherdn their particular Offices and Difpenfarions are more immediately concerned. Q What Thingt ought "" to proy for ? A. Only fuch as are according ro rhe Will of God. 1 J ohn 5· 14. That ifvg ark any Thing tJccording to b~s Will ~e heareth us: . Q Wh.r ore thofe Thmgr whrch a'rtaccordrng to the Wrll of God? .. A. Chiefly Spiritual Bleffings. 1 Thtf 4· 3· For tbir ir the Will of God, eum our Sa•llificarion, that we fhould ab}lainfrom Fornicotton. And for there we ought to pray abfolutely and impottunatdy. · Q.. May we nqt alfo pray f r Temporal hletcier? .. A. We may: But as thefo are promifed only condmonally, fo we ouglit to pray that God would be pleafed 'to btftow them upon us, ifit may ftarid with his Will ani! Glory, and out Good and Benefit. · Q. HotD mufl we direli ot~r PrayerJ to God? A. r. In the Name of Clui!l, uu(ling only in his Merits and Mediatioos foi. Acceptance and Anfwer. John 15. 16. That wharjoever)'<[hall ark of the Father 'Name be maygi·ve it you. . in mY 2. In Faith and PerfUafion of being heard. James t. 6. B.'tt let him ask in Faith, no· thing wavering. Mark 11. 24. What Things focver ye dejire when ye pray, betreve that ye receive them , andye.(hall have them. 3· With fervency and Afttaion. Jomer ;. 16. The tjfelluol fervent Proyer of a Righteous Man avai!erh m11ch. Q What Ends ought we to propound to our ftlvu in begging Ble./]i11gs'at God's Hands? A. Chiefty the Gloty of God, fincerely purpofingto improve thole Blellings which hy our Prayers we {hall receive ln his Ser11ice, and to his Praife. Pfal. 50. 15. And call upon me in the Day of Trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou foalt glorifie me. Q Wbat Direaiom have we concerning the Setifons and Frequency of Praying ? J!. The Scripture commands us to pray without ceafing. 1 Tbtf 5· 17. Pray witb. o111 ceojing. To pray always) and not to fainr. LuRe r8. 1 • .J.nd be fpake a Parable tu this End, that Me'! oupbt always to prdJ, and. not to fain~. To pray always with all Prayer and Suppltcanon. Eph. 6. r 8. Prayrng olways wrtb all Prayer and Suppli· cation in the Spirit. Q Mujl we therefore be alwayrfo •liuollyipgaged in tbir DHty at to do nothing but pray? A. No: Fortherefore we pray chat we may obtain Grace from God ro perform other Dories of Religion, and a Chrillian Life; neither ought the Duties of our pani - cula• Callings ro be negleaed by us, forweju(l!e out one Duty by another; befidesthc finful Omiffion ofwhat we fhoold perform, rhat which we do perform becomes unacceprable, becaufe unfeafonable, and fo we commit Two Sins in doing One Duty. Q. What then is it to pray 'fiJitbout ceajing? · .4. Prayer may be faid to be without ceafing Four VVan. '· VVbeQ
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=