Infirmities, hath compofed a Form of Prayer for our Direction and Ufe; fhewing us both the Objects, and right Order of our Defires. And from him, the Author of it, it is called the Lord's Prayer. The Matter and Method is wonderful. It confifts of four Parts. 1. The Preface or Address: (Our Father, which art in Heaven.) And herein we begin with fuch Acknowledgments to God, as are a fit Introduction, and pre-requisite to Prayer. 2. Some Petitions that more immediately relate to God: Whereof the first concerneth God's Glory itfelf: (Hallowed be thy Name:) The other two, the things whereby God is glorified; as when his Kingdom cometh and his Will is done: Beginning with the higheft, and defcending gradually to the lower Ends, in the Order of Intention. 3. Some Petitions that more immediately relate to Men, ourfelves and our Brethren; beginning with the lowest Means, even Bread, to fupport our Natures; and gradually afcending upwards, to higher Means and Mercies, even the Pardon of our Sins, and the Perfervation of our Perfons, proceeding progreffivelly, in the Order of Execution. 4. The Conclufion, for the Confirmation and Close thereof, (For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. Amen. And fo, as one well obferveth, the Method of this moft excellent Form of Prayer, is circular beginning with God, and and ending in God. As it begins with fuch Acknowledgments as are pre-requifite to Petition, fo it ends in those Praises, or Doxologies to God, which Petition and Grace bestowed, tend to. Such a circular Method is in all the Works of God. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End of all. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things and fuch alfo fhould be the Method of our Defires. The Questions and Answers. Q. What is the fourth Part that this Cate chifm confifts of? A. An Instruction concerning Chriftian Prayer. Q. What is Chriftian Prayer? Christian A. A Believing and ferious Calling upon God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, for things t agreeable to his Will. Q. But to be more particular, Is it a Calling upon Gods A. Yes. Pf.iv. i. Hear me, when I call, O God of my Righteousness. Q. Is God the only Object to whom we must direct our Prayers ? A. Yes. Ez. xxii. 20. He that facrificeth into any God, fave unto the Lord only, he fhall be utterly destroyed. Catechift. Prayer is a spiritual Sacrifice. And to offer up this Sacrifice even to real Saints and Angels, as the Papifts do, is Su perfti perftition and Idolatry: But how abominable is it, when they worship and pray to false ones, fuch as he whom they call Saint George, appears to be, who was an Arian Heretick, and a wicked and bloody Perfecutor, bad in Kinde, and worfe in Mind, as the learned Mr. Ball, and others have proved of him. So that the Worship which they pay to fuch Saints of theirs, who for ought they know are miferable Souls in Hell, is but too much like that of the ignorant Heathen Worshippers, who facrificed to Devils, and not to God. Q. Why must our Prayers be made to God only? Is it not because 1. He only is the Object of religious Wor Ship? A. Yes. Mat. iv. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only fhalt thou serve. 2. He only is omniscient and omniprefent, fo as every where to fee, and hear his People, when they pray? A. Yes. Pf.xxxiv. 15. The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous, and his Ears are open to their Cry. 3. He only is able to give the things for which we pray, and ftand in need of? A. Yes. Pf. cxlv. 18, 19. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: He will fulfill the Defire of them that fear him; He alfo will hear their Cry, and will fave them. Q. Must we pray in Chrift's Name, i. e. in Hope that God will hear us, and accept us for his fake? A. Yes. John xiv. 13. What Whatsoever ye fhall ask the Father in Q. And must we pray for things only that are John V. 14. If we ask any thing according to his Will the heareth us. What are the Grounds of Prayer? Are The Ground they not 1. Man's Inability, or Infufficiency to help himself? A. Yes. For we are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing, as of ourfelves. 2 Cor. iii. 5. 2. The All-fufficiency of God for our Relief? A. Yes. For our Sufficiency is of God. of Prayer. Q. Is Prayer of any use for the Obtaining of The Use of God's Grace? A. Yes. Luke xi. 9. Ask, and it fhall be given unto you, 1. Prayer; Q. How muft our Prayers be qualified, that they may be prevalent and effectual? Muft they be The Proper Conftant A Yes. Luke xviii. 1. Chrifties of true fpake a Parable unto them, to this end, that Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. 2. Diligent and earnest? A. Yes. Fam. v. 16. The fervent effectual Prayer of a righteous Man availeth much. Q. Do we need to be directed and taught how to pray? A. Yes. For we know not what we fhould pray for as we ought. Rom. viii. 26. Prayers A. Is the whole Word of God, revealing his The Rule of Will unto us, the general Rule and Directory of Prayer. our Prayers and defires & Q T A. Yes, Applica tion. ... A. Yes. For all our Prayers must be according to his Will. John v. 14. Q. And is not the Lord's Prayer of Special Ufe for this Purpofe? A. Yes. For it was purpofely made by Q. And fhould we not use this Prayer, As a Form of Prayer to be used in the sameė Catechist, As therefore we would defire Sect. 1. |