I56 A GUIDE TO PRAYER. deny, it becomes us to be humble and acknowledge our depen- dence : when we speak of his power, and of his wisdom, we should abase ourselves before him, because of our weakness and folly, as well as stand in holy admiration at the infinity of those glories of God. When we mention bis love and compassion, our souls should return much love to him again, and have our affections going forth strongly towards him. When we think of his justice, we should have a holy awe upon our, spirits, and a religious fear, suited to the presence of the just and dreadful God. And the thought of his forgiveness should awaken us to hope and joy. III. In the confession of our sorrows and our sins, humility is a necessary grace, and deep contrition of soul, in the presence of that God whose laws we have broken, whose gospel we have abused, whose majesty we have affronted, and whose vengeance we have deserved. Here all the springs of repentance should be set open, and we should mourn for sin, even at the same time that we hope iniquity is forgiven, and our souls are reconciled to God. Shame and self-indignation, and holy revenge against the corruptions of our hearts, should be awakened also in in this part of prayer. IV. In our petitionswe should raise our desires to such dif- ferent degrees of fervency, as the nature of our requests makes necessary. When we pray for the things of the upper world, and eternal blessings, we cannot be too warm in our desires : we seek the mercies of life, the degree of fervency should be abated, for it is possible that we may be happy, and yet go without many of the comforts of the present state : Submission ishere required ; and God expects to see his children thus ra- tionally religious, and wisely to divide the things that are most agreeable to his will, and most necessary for our felicity. While we make intercession for our friends, or our enemies, we ought to feel in ourselves warm and livelycompassion ; and when we pray for the church of Christ in the world, we should animate all our expressions with a burning zeal for his glory, and tender. mess for our fellow- christians. V. Pleading with God, calls for humble importunity ; for the arguments that we use with God, in pleading with him, are but the various forms of importunate request. But because we are but creatures, and we speak to God, humilityought to min- gle with everyone of our arguments. Our pleadings with him should-be soexpressed, as always to carry in them that decency, and that distance, that becomes creatures in the presence of their Maker. In pleading also we are required to exercisefaith in the promises of the gospel, faith in the name of Christ Jesus our Mediator, faith in the mercies of our God, according to the dis- coveries he bath made of himself in his word. We are called to
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