I3ireE. XIII. Of SanE1jficatirn:' _ :273 ings to your petitions, With fuck arguments as may ferve to ffrengthen faith, and to fair up and kindle affeuion, Job. xxiii. q. which pleadings are taken from attributes, Nut-n. xiv. 17, i 8. promifes, 2 Sam - vii. 27, 28, &c. Gen. xxxiï. 9, 12. the equity of our caufe, Pfalm xvii. 2, 3. the advantage and bene- fit of the thing, to the glory of God, and our corn- fort, PfaI. cxv. t, 2. and lxxix. 9, i o, 13. Naked pe- titions are not fufficient, when the foul findeth fpe- cial caufe of flruggling and wreftling againft corrup- tions and dangers, and for mercies, Chrift's large prayer (John xvii.) is made up of pleading, and ve- ry few petitions. And we mutt make ufe alto of praife and thankfgiving, to flir up peace, joy, loves &c. Gen. xxxiii. io. l'fal. xviii. I, 2, 3. xxxiii. I. lxxiv. îz.. and civ. 34. Efpecially be much in praif- ing God for mercies of the new !late in Chrift, Eph. i. 3. and then you will the better give thanks for all benefits on this account, Eph. V. 20. I Theff. V. 18. and plead for tholebenefits,to fir up to faith and du- ty. That brief ejaculation, " Lord, have mercy on " me," is very good to be ufed ; but it will not anfwer the end and ufe of the whole duty of pray- er; as fame lazy carnal people would have it, and fo harden themfelves in the negleaof the duty; though the large improvement and ufe of all the matter of prayer, at all times, is not required, but only as or dinary and extraordinary o.ccafons may require. (8.) You mull not confine and limit your prayers by any prefcribed form ; feeing it is impoffible that any filch forms should be contrived, as fhould anfwer and fit all the various conditions and necefi°ities of the foul at all times. I do not condemn all forms as that madeby Christ, the Lord's prayer ; though it were eafy to thew, that he never intended it for a form of prayer, fo as to bind any to the precife forams of words ; and it is plain the Spar:: of God hath ex- preffed it in different words, Matth. vi. Luke xi. But better to pray by that form, or other forms1 M m
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