20. Means of Grace: Prayer (Qs 178-196)
178 What is prayer? A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires
unto God,(1) in the name of Christ,(2) by the help of his Spirit;(3) with
confession of our sins,(4) and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.(5)
(1)Ps. 62:8
(2)John 16:23
(3)Rom.
(4)Ps.
32:5,6; Dan. 9:4
(5)Phil. 4:6
179
Are we to pray unto God only? A. God only being able to search the hearts,(1)
hear the requests,(2) pardon the sins,(3) and fulfil the desire of all;(4) and
only to be believed in,(5) and worshipped with religious worship;(6) prayer,
which is a special part thereof,(7) is to be made by all to him alone,(8) and to
none other.(9)
(1)1 Kings
(2)Ps. 65:2
(3)Micah 7:18
(4)Ps.
145:18,19
(5)Rom.
(6)Matt. 4:10
(7)1 Cor. 1:2
(8)Ps. 50:15
(9)
180
What is it to pray in the name of Christ? A. To pray in the name of Christ is,
in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for
his sake;(1) not by bare mentioning of his name,(2) but by drawing our
encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in
prayer, from Christ and his mediation.(3)
(1)John
14:13,14; John 16:24; Dan. 9:17
(2)Matt. 7:21
(3)Heb.
4:14-16; 1 John
181 Why are we to pray in the name of
Christ? A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof,
being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a
mediator;(1) and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for,
that glorious work but Christ alone,(2) we are to pray in no other name but his
only.(3)
(1)John 14:6;
Isa. 59:2; Eph. 3:12
(2)John 6:27;
Heb. 7:25-27; 1 Tim. 2:5
(3)Col. 3:17; Heb. 13:15
182 How doth the Spirit help us to pray? A. We not knowing
what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us
to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by
working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all
times, in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which
are requisite for the right performance of that duty.(1)
(1)Rom.
183 For whom are we to pray?
A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth;(1) for
magistrates,(2) and ministers;(3) for ourselves,(4) our brethren,(5) yea, our
enemies;(6) and for all sorts of men living,(7) or that shall live hereafter,(8)
but not for the dead,(9) nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin
unto death.(10)
(1)Eph. 6:18;
Ps. 28:19
(2)1 Tim.
2:1,2
(3)Col. 4:3
(4)Gen 32:11
(5)James 5:16
(6)Matt. 5:44
(7)1 Tim.
2:1,2
(8)John
17:20; 2 Sam. 7:29
(9)2 Sam.
(10)1 John 5:16
184 For what things are we to pray? A. We are to pray for all
things tending to the glory of God,(1) the welfare of the church,(2) our own(3)
or others good;(4) but not for any thing that is unlawful.(5)
(1)Matt. 6:9
(2)Ps. 51:18;
Ps. 122:6
(3)Matt. 7:11
(4)Ps. 125:4
(5)1 John 5:14
185 How are we to pray? A. We are to pray with an awful
apprehension of the majesty of God,(1) and deep sense of our own
unworthiness,(2) necessities,(3) and sins;(4) with penitent,(5) thankful,(6) and
enlarged hearts;(7) with understanding,(8) faith,(9) sincerity,(10)
fervency,(11) love,(12) and perseverance,(13) waiting upon him,(14) with humble
submission to his will.(15)
(1)Eccl. 5:1
(2)Gen. 18:27; Gen. 32:10
(3)Luke 15:17-19
(4)Luke 18:13,14
(5)Ps. 51:17
(6)Phil. 4:6
(7)1 Sam.
(8)1 Cor.
(9)Mark
11:24; James 1:6
(10)Ps.
145:18; Ps. 17:1
(11)James
5:16
(12)1 Tim.
2:8
(13)Eph. 6:18
(14)Micah 7:7
(15)Matt. 26:39
186 What rule hath God given for our direction in the duty of
prayer? A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of
prayer,(1) but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our
Saviour Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's Prayer.(2)
(1)1 John
(2)Matt. 6:9-13
187 How is the Lord's prayer to be used? A. The Lord's prayer is
not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which 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.(1)
(1)Matt. 6:9 compared with Luke 11:2
188 Of how many parts doth the Lord's prayer consist? A. The Lord's prayer consists of three parts; a preface, petitions, and a conclusion.
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,(1)) teacheth us, when we pray, to draw near to God with
confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our interest therein;(2) with
reverence, and all other child-like dispositions,(3) heavenly affections,(4) and
due apprehensions of his sovereign power, majesty, and gracious
condescension:(5) as also, to pray with and for others.(6)
(1)Matt. 6:9
(2)Luke
(3)Isa. 64:9
(4)Ps. 123:1;
Lam. 3:41
(5)Isa.
63:15,16; Neh. 1:4-6
(6)Acts 12:5
190
What do we pray for in the first petition ? A. In the first petition (which is,
Hallowed be thy name,(1)) acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition
that is in ourselves and all men to honour God aright,(2) we pray, that God
would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and
highly to esteem him,(3) his titles,(4) attributes,(5) ordinances, word,(6)
works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by;(7) and to glorify
him in thought, word,(8) and deed:(9) that he would prevent and remove
atheism,(10) ignorance,(11) idolatry,(12) profaneness,(13) and whatsoever is
dishonourable to him;(14) and, by his overruling providence, direct and dispose
of all things to his own glory.(15)
(1)Matt. 6:9
(2)2 Cor.
3:5; Ps.
(3)Ps. 67:2
(4)Ps. 83:18
(5)Ps.
86:10-15
(6)2 Thess.
3:1; Ps. 147:19,20; Ps. 138:1-3; 2 Cor.
(7)Ps. 145
throughout; Ps. 8 throughout
(8)Ps. 103:1;
Ps. 19:14
(9)Phil.
1:9,11
(10)Ps.
67:1-4
(11)Eph.
1:17,18
(12)Ps. 97:7
(13)Ps.
74:18,22,23
(14)2 Kings
(15)2 Chron. 20:6,10,11,12; Ps. 140:4,8
191 What do we pray for in the second
petition? A. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come,(1))
acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of
sin and Satan,(2) we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be
destroyed,(3) the gospel propagated throughout the world,(4) the Jews called,(5)
the fulness of the Gentiles brought in;(6) the church furnished with all
gospel-officers and ordinances,(7) purged from corruption,(8) countenanced and
maintained by the civil magistrate:(9) that the ordinances of Christ may be
purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in
their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are
already converted:(10) that Christ would rule in our hearts here,(11) and hasten
the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him for ever:(12) and that
he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as
may best conduce to these ends.(13)
(1)Matt. 6:10
(2)Eph. 2:2,3
(3)Ps.
67:1,18; Rev. 12:10,11
(4)2 Thess.
3:1
(5)Rom. 10:1
(6)John
17:9,20; Rom.
(7)Matt.
9:38; 2 Thess. 3:1
(8)Mal. 1:11;
Zeph. 3:9
(9)1 Tim.
2:1,2
(10)Acts
(11)Eph.
3:14-20
(12)Rev.
22:20
(13)Isa. 64:1,2; Rev. 4:8-11
192 What do we pray for in the third petition? A. In
the third petition (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,(1))
acknowledging, that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and
unwilling to know and do the will of God,(2) but prone to rebel against his
word,(3) to repine and murmur against his providence,(4) and wholly inclined to
do the will of the flesh, and of the devil:(5) we pray, that God would by his
Spirit take away from ourselves and others all blindness,(6) weakness,(7)
indisposedness,(8) and perverseness of heart;(9) and by his grace make us able
and willing to know, do, and submit to his will in all things,(10) with the like
humility,(11) cheerfulness,(12) faithfulness,(13) diligence,(14) zeal,(15)
sincerity,(16) and constancy,(17) as the angels do in heaven.(18)
(1)Matt. 6:10
(2)Rom.
(3)Rom. 8:7
(4)Exod. 7:7;
Numb. 14:2
(5)Eph. 2:2
(6)Eph.
1:17,18
(7)Eph. 3:16
(8)Matt.
26:40,41
(9)Jer.
31:18,19
(10)Ps.
119:1,8,35,36; Acts 21:14
(11)Micah 6:8
(12)Ps.
100:2; Job 1:21; 2 Sam. 15:25,26
(13)Isa. 38:3
(14)Ps. 119:4
(15)Rom.
(16)Ps.
119:80
(19)Ps.
119:112
(20)Isa. 6:2,3; Ps. 103:20,21; Matt. 18:10
193 What do we pray for in the fourth
petition ? A. In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily
bread,(1)) acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited
our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly
deprived of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them;(2)
and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us,(3) nor we to
merit,(4) or by our own industry to procure them;(5) but prone to desire,(6)
get,(7) and use them unlawfully:(8) we pray for ourselves and others, that both
they and we, waiting upon the providence of God from day to day in the use of
lawful means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem
best, enjoy a competent portion of them;(9) and have the same continued and
blessed unto us in our holy and comfortable use of them,(10) and contentment in
them;(11) and be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support
and comfort.(12)
(1)Matt. 6:11
(2)Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:17; Rom. 8:20,21,22; Jer. 5:25; Deut.
28:15 to end
(3)Deut. 8:3
(4)Gen. 32:10
(5)Deut. 8:17,18
(6)Jer. 6:13; Mark 7:21,22
(7)Hos. 12:7
(8)James 4:3
(9)Gen.
43:12-14; Gen. 28:20; Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:11,12; Phil. 4:6
(10)1 Tim.
4:3-5
(11)1 Tim.
6:6-8
(12)Prov. 30:8
194 What do we pray for in the fifth petition ? A. In the fifth
petition (which is, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,(1))
acknowledging, that we and all others are guilty both of original and actual
sin, and thereby become debtors to the justice of God; and that neither we, nor
any other creature, can make the least satisfaction for that debt:(2) we pray
for ourselves and others that God of his free grace would, through the obedience
and satisfaction of Christ, apprehended and applied by faith, acquit us both
from the guilt and punishment of sin,(3) accept us in his Beloved;(4) continue
his favour and grace to us,(5) pardon our daily failings,(6) and fill us with
peace and joy, in giving us daily more and more assurance of forgiveness;(7)
which we are the rather emboldened to ask, and encouraged to expect, when we
have this testimony in ourselves, that we from the heart forgive others their
offences.(8)
(1)Matt. 6:12
(2)
(3)Rom.
(4)Eph. 1:6,7
(5)2 Pet. 1:2
(6)Hosea
14:2; Jer. 14:7
(7)Rom.
(8)Luke 11:4; Matt. 6:14,15; Matt. 18:35
195 What do we pray for in the sixth
petition? A. In the sixth petition (which is, And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,(1)) acknowledging, that the most wise, righteous, and
gracious God, for divers holy and just ends, may so order things, that we may be
assaulted, foiled, and for a time led captive by temptations;(2) that Satan,(3)
the world,(4) and the flesh, are ready powerfully to draw us aside, and ensnare
us;(5) and that we, even after the pardon of our sins, by reason of our
corruption,(6) weakness, and want of watchfulness,(7) are not only subject to be
tempted, and forward to expose ourselves unto temptations,(8) but also of
ourselves unable and unwilling to resist them, to recover out of them, and to
improve them;(9) and worthy to be left under the power of them:(10) we pray,
that God would so overrule the world and all in it,(11) subdue the flesh,(12)
and restrain Satan,(13) order all things,(14) bestow and bless all means of
grace,(15) and quicken us to watchfulness in the use of them, that we and all
his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to sin;(16) or, if
tempted, that by his Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand
in the hour of temptation:(17) or when fallen, raised again and recovered out of
it,(18) and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof:(19) that our
sanctification and salvation may be perfected,(20) Satan trodden under our
feet,(21) and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil, for ever.(22)
(1)Matt. 6:13
(2)2 Chron.
32:31
(3)1 Chron.
21:1
(4)Luke
21:34; Mark
(5)James 1:14
(6)Gal. 5:17
(7)Matt.
26:41
(8)Matt.
26:69-72; Gal. 2:11-14; 2 Chron. 18:3 with 2 Chron. 19:2
(9)Rom.
(10)Ps.
81:11,12
(11)John
17:15
(12)Ps.
51:10; Ps. 119:133
(13)2 Cor.
12:7,8
(14)1 Cor.
(15)Heb.
13:20,21
(16)Matt.
26:41; Ps. 19:13
(17)Eph.
3:14-17; 1 Thess. 3:13; Jude 24
(18)Ps. 51:12
(19)1 Pet.
5:8-10
(20)2 Cor.
13:7,9
(21)Rom.
(22)John 17:15; 1 Thess. 5:23
196 What doth the conclusion of the Lord's prayer
teach us? A. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer (which is, For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen,(1)) teacheth us to
enforce our petitions with arguments,(2) which are to be taken, not from any
worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God;(3) and with our
prayers to join praises,(4) ascribing to God alone eternal sovereignty,
omnipotency, and glorious excellency;(5) in regard whereof, as he is able and
willing to help us,(6) so we by faith are emboldened to plead with him that he
would,(7) and quietly to rely upon him, that he will fulfil our requests.(8)
And, to testify this our desire and assurance, we say, Amen.(9)
(1)Matt. 6:13
(2)Rom.
(3)Dan.
9:4,7,8,9,16,17,18,19
(4)Phil. 4:6
(5)1 Chron.
29:10-13
(6)Eph.
3:20,21; Luke 11:13
(7)2 Chron.
20:6,11
(8)2 Chron.
(9)1 Cor.