Chapter 335
V. 13. These things have I written
unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Ver. 1 4. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing ac- cording to his will, he heareth us. Ver. 15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
181. P John xiv. 6. Jesus saith un- to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Isa, lix. 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, (hat he will not hear. Bph. iii. 12.
In whom we have boldness and acce^ with confidence by the faith of him.
^ John vi. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlast- ing life, which the Son of man shall gite unto you : for him hath God the Father sealed. Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Ver. 26. For such an high priest be- came us, who is holy, harmless, un- defiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than th« heavens ; Ver. 27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacri- fice, first for his own sins, and th^p fer the people's; for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
•" Col. iii. ] 7. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Heb. xiii, 1 5. By him therefore let us offer ^U9
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those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are re quisite for the right performance of that duty *.
Q. 183. jPor whom are we to pra/y ?
A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upor earth * ; for magistrates % and ministers '" ; for ourselves "
our brethren
yea,
our enemies "■ ; and for all sorts of mei
living % or that shall live hereafter'' ; but not for the dead
'& ?
no
the sacrifice of praise to God con- tinually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
182. 5 Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings v.hich cannot be uttered. Ver. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh inter- cession for the saints according to the will of God. Psal. x. 17. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble : thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. Zech. xii. 10. And I //ill pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplica- tions; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they Bhall mourn. —
183. tEph. vi. 18. Praying al- ways with all prayer and supplica- tion in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints. Psal. xxviii. 9. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance : feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
" 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort there- fore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men : Ver. 2. X^or kings, and for all that are in
authority ; that we may lead a quie and peaceable life in all godliness an honesty.
^ Col. iv. 3, Withal, praying als for us, that God would open unto u a door of utterance, to speak th mystery of Christ, for which I an also in bonds.
^ Gen. xxxii. 1 1. Deliver me, pray thee, from the hand of m; brother, from the hand of Esau : fo I fear him, lest he will come an( smite me, and the mother with th children.
y James v. 1 6. Confess your fault one to another, and pray one fo another, that ye may be healed : th effectual fervent prayer of a righ teous man availeth much.
^ Mat. V. 4i. But I say unto yot Love your enemies, bless them tha curse you, do good to them that hat you, and pray for them which de spitefully use you, and persecute yoi
* 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. [See above in ".]
b John xvii. 20. Neither pray I fo these alone, but for them also whic' shall believe on me through thei word. 2 Sam. vii. 29. Therefor now let it please thee to bless th house of thy servant, that it ma; continue for ever before thee: fo thou, O Lord God, hast spoken ii and with thy blessing let the hous of thy servant be blessed for ever.
servants unto him, What thing i
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nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto deatli '.
Q. 184. For what things are we to pray?
J. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God % the welfare of the church ^, our own "^ or others good ** : but not for any thing that is unlawful '.
Q. 185. How are we to pray?
^. We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty ofGod'',and deep sense of our own unworthiness',necessities'",
and
this that thoQ hast done ? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive ; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and did eat bread. Ver. 22. And he said, While the child was yet alive I fasted and wept ; for I said. Who can tell whe- ther God will be gracious to me, that the child may live ? Ver. 23. But now h« is dead, wherefore should I fast ? can I bring him back again ? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
d 1 John V. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death ; I do not say that he shall pray for it.
18-1. ^ Mat. vi. 9. After this man- ner therefore pray ye : Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
r Psal. H. 1 8. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion : build thou the walls of Jerusalem. PsaL cxxii. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
8 Mat. vii. 11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask })im?
h Psal. cxxv. 4. Do good, O Lord ; unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
J 1 John v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.
185. kEccl. v. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be thore ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools : for they consider not that they do evil.
1 Gen. rviii. 27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold how, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. Gen. xxxii. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant —
*" Luke XV. 1 7. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger ! Ver. 1 8. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him. Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, Ver. 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son ; make me as one of thy hired servants.
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and sins"; with penitent*, thankful p, and enlarged hearts*'; with understanding ', faith % sincerity *, fervency ", love "^^ and perseverance ", waiting upon him ^ with humble sub- mission to his will '.
Q. 186. What rule hath God given for our direction in the dutj/ ofjjrai/er ?
A, The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer ^ ; but tlie special rule of direction is that
form
'^Luke xviji, 13. And the pub- lican, standing afar oif, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto hea- ven, but smote upon his breast, say- ing, God be merciful to me a sinner, Ver. 14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased ; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
«Psal. li. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
PphiL iv. 6. Be careful for no- thing : but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
^1 Sam. i. 15. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord; 1 am a woman of a sorrowful spirit : J have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 1 Sam. ii. 1. And Hannah prayed, and said. My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted In the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies j because J rejoice in thy salvation.
•■ 1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understand- ing also :—
^Mark xi. 24. Therefore I say tti^to you, What thmgs soever ye
desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, James i. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering : for he that waver- eth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind, and tossed.
t Psal. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Psal. xvii. 1. Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry ; give ear unto my prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips,
" James v. 16.— The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
**1 Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
* Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication In the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplica- tion for all saints.
y Micah vii. 7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord : I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
^ Mat. xxvL 39. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me : nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
186. * 1 John V. 14, And this is
the confidence that we have in him,
that,
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form of prayer which our Saviour Christ taught his dis- cij)les, commonly called The LorcTs Praijer ^.
Q. 187. How is the Lord's prayer to he used?
A. The Lord's prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to whicli we are to make other prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer "=.
Q. 188. Of how viany parts doth the Lord'' s prayer consist?
A. The Lord's prayer consists of three parts ; a preface, petitions, and a conclusion.
Q. 189. What doth the preface of the Lord!' s prayer teach us?
A. The preface of the Lord's prayer (contained in these words, Our Father which art in heaven'^) teachcth us, when \ve pray, to draw near to God with confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our interest therein'; with reverence, and all other child-like dispositions ^ heavenly affections % and due aj)prehensions of his sovereign power, majesty, and gracious condescension ^ : as also, to pray with and for others '.
Q. 190. IVhal
that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.
bMat.vi. 9, — 13. After this manner therefore pray ye : Our Father, l!fc. J.uke xi. 2, 3, 4. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Fa- ther, {^c.
187. *^Mat. vi. 9. Com/tared -with Luke xi. 2. [5« above in tetter b.]
1 89. d Mat. vL 9.
^ Luke xi. 1 3. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children ; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him * Rom. viii. 1 5. For ye have not re- ceived the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, vkhereby we cry, Abba, Father.
r Isa, Ixiv. 9. Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember ini- quity for ever : behold, see, we be- seech thee, we are all thy people.
8Psal. cxxiii. 1. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Lam. iii. 4L Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
*> Isa. Ixiii. J 5. Look down from heaven, and behold from the ha- bitation of thy holiness and of thy glory : where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels, and of thy mercies to- wards me ? are they restrained ? Ver. IC. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ig- norant of us, and Israel acknow- ledge us not : thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer, thy name is from everlasting. Neh. L 4. And it caqie to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, Ver. 5. And said, I beseech tliee, O Lord God of heaven,
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Q. 190. What do we pray for in the first petition f A. In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name^^) acknowledging the utter inability andlndisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honour God aright \ we pray, that God would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem him™, his titles", attributes'", ordinances, word p, works, and whatso-
ever
heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him, and observe his commandments : Ver. 6. Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which F pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee : both I and my father's house have sinned.
• Acts xii. 5. Peter therefore-was kept in prison ; but prayer was n>ade without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
1 90. k Mat. vi. 9.
1 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves: but our suf- ficiency is of God. Psal. li. 15. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
^ Psal. Ixvii. 2. That thy way may be known upon eartli, thy saving health among all nations. Ver. 3. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
" Psal. Ixxxiii. 1 8. That men may know thut thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most High over all xVe earth.
° Pfti. ixxxvi. 10. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things : thou art God alone. Ver. 1 1. Teach
me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth : unite my heart to fear thy name. Ver. 12. I will praise* thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart ; and I will glorify thy name for evermore, Ver. 13. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. Ver. ^5. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
P 2 Thess. iii. 1 . Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord- may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you, Psal. cxlvii. 19. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. Ver. 20. He hath not dealt so with any nation : and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Psal. cxxxviii. 1. I will praise thee with my whole heart ; before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. Ver. 2. I will worship towards thy holy temple, and praise thy name, for thy loving-kindness, and for thy trurL : for thou hast magni- fied thy word above all thy name. Ver. 3. In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me : and strengthened st me with strength in my soul. 2 Cor. li. 14. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth ns to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour
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ever lie is pleased to make himself known by '^ ; and io a^lorify him in thought, word \ and deed ' : that he would prevent and remove atheism S i faneness ", and whatsoever is dishonourable to him ^ ; and, by his over-ruling providence, direct and dispose of all things to his own glory'.
Q. 191. What
of his knowledge by us In every place. Ver. 15. For we are unto God a ftweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.
^ P-»al. cxlv. throughout. I will ext( 1 thee, my God, O King, \^c. Ps;»l. viii. throughout. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! \^o»
^Psal. ciii. 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psal. xix. 14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be ac- ceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strenxjth, and cjy redeemer.
* Phil. i. 9. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judg- ment; Vtrr. II. Being tilled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise cif God.
t Psal. Ixvii. 1. God be merciful unto U5, and bless us; a^d cause his face t) shine upon us. Selah. Ver. 2. That thy way may he ki.iwn upon eartli, thy saving health among all nations. Ver. .'J. Let the people ' prais*- thee, O God ; l-jt ail the pt'o- .ple praise thee. Ver. 4. O Itt me nations he glad, and smg for joy : for thOu shait judge the peoph righte- ously," and govern the nutioiis u;- ■ earth. Seiah.
" Eph. i. 17. That the God of Lord Jesus Christ, the Fairc-r of glory, may give uuto you the Spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; Ver. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened ; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
* PsaL xcvii. 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols : wor- ship him, all ye gods.
^ Psal. Ixxiv. 1 8. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people hv.ve bla.phemed thy name. Ver. 22. Arise, O God, plead thine own c^use : remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. Ver. 23. Forget not the voice of thine enemies : the tumult of those that rise up against thee increuscth contu;ually.
y s K«ngs xix. 15. And Hezekiajfci prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made l.eaven and earth. Ver. iQ, Lord, bow down thine car, and hear ; open. Lord, tliine eyes, and see ; aiid hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the hving God.
^ 2 Chroii. XX. 6. And (Jchosha"
■ '' sa; !, O Lord God of our
>, ;:.t not thou God in hea-
: -;•«- rulest lot thou over all
tiie ki;;gdoms of the heathen ? and
in thine hand is there not power
and
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Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition?
A. In the second petition, (which is, Thi/ kingdom come *,) acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan'', we pray, that the king- dom of sin and Satan maybe destroyed % the gospel propaga- ted throughout the world'^, the Jews called% the fulness of the Gentiles brought in'^; the church furnished with all gospel- officers
and might, so that none is able to withstand thee ? Ver. 10. And now, behold, the children of Amnion, and Moab, and .mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land Qf Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Ver. 11. Be- hold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. Ver. 12. O our God, wilt thou not judge them ? for we have no might against this great company that Cometh against us ; neither know we what to do : hut our eyes are up- on thee. Psal. Ixxxiii. throughout. Keep not thou silence, O God : hold not thy peace, \sfc. Psal. cxl. 4. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, preserve me from the violent man, who have purposed to overthrow my goings. Ver. 8. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked devices, lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
191. *Mat. vi. 10.
bEph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind ; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
*^ Psal. Ixviii. 1. I his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. Ver. 18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity cap- tive : thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Rev. xii. 10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ : for the ac- cuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Ver. 11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony : and they loved not their lives unto the death.
d 2 Theas. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.
'^ Rom. x. 1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
f John xvii. 9. I pray for them : I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are tliine. Ver. 20. Nei- ther pray I for these alone, bv»r J 7 for
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ofRccrs ami ordinances', purged from corruption \ counte- nanced and maintained by the civil magistrate' : that the or- dinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effec- tual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted'': that Christ would rule in our hearts
here.
for them also which s.hall believe on me through their word. Rom. xi. 25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits,) that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Ver. 26. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Psal. Ixvii. throughout. God be merciful unto us, and bltss us; and cause his face to shine upon u?, \^c.
2 Mat. ix. 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.
h Mai. i. 1 1 . For from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering : for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Zeph. iii. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that the Lord, to serve hina with one consent.
i 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, pray- «-' . intercessions, and giving of
thanks, be made for all men : Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
•t Acts iv. 29. And now. Lord, behold their threatenings : and grant unto thy servants, that with all bold- ness they may speak thy word, Ver. 30. By stretching forth thine hand to heal ; and that signs and wonders may be dere by the name of thy holy child Jc^us. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch- mg thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints; Ver. 19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, Ver. 20. For which 1 am an amb.a&sador in bonds ; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak, Kom.
