Of direction in prayer,
An Exposition of the Affsembly's Catechifm.
Q. 12. What doyou infer from hence ?
A. Thatthe reſtraint ofprayer is not only a great fin, but are ill fign ofagraceleſs heart ; Jobvi.4. Yea, thou caſteſtofffear, and reſtraineſt prayer before God. And that which entails a judgment and curſeupon men, and their families ; Jer. x. 25.
Pour outthy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and uponthe families that call not upon thy name.
Q. 13. What is the fecond inference from the ordinance of prayer?
A. That the true reaſon why we enjoy not the mercies we prayfor, is not becauſeGod is unwilling to grant mercies, but becauſe we either neglect prayer, or miſcarry inthe mannerof prayer ; James iv. 2, 3. Ye luft, and have not ; ye kill, and defire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, becauſe ye afk not. Ye aſk, and receive not, becaule ye afk amiſs, thatye may confume itupon your lufts.
Queſt. 99.W Of Direction in Prayer.
Hat 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 prayer'; but thespecial rule of direction, is that form of prayer which Chrift taught his difciples, commonly called, The Lord's prayer.
Q. 1. Domen need directions, rules, and helps in prayer ?
A. They do greatlyneed them, for in, andof ourſelves we know not what to pray for as we ought ; Rom. viii. 26. Likewife the Spirit alſo helpeth our infirmities : for we know not whatwe should prayfor as we ought, &c. Nor how to pray in aright manner, and for right ends ; and a mistake in either fruſtrates our prayer; James iv. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, becauſe ye aſk amiſs, that yemay confume ituponyour lufts.
Q. 2. When do menmistake inthe matteroftheirprayer?
A. Theymistake in the matter ofprayer, when they ask of God things that are not lawful, good and agreeable to his will.
So the diſciples were ready to do, in calling for fire from heaven on the Samaritans ; Luke ix. 54, 55. And when his difciples, James and John, faw this, they faid, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, andconfume them, even as Elias did ? But he turned and rebuked them, and faid, Ye know notwhat manner of ſpitit ye are of.
Q. 3. Whendomen mistake in the manner ofprayer ?
A. Theymistake in the manner, whenthey afk mercies of Godfor carnal ends, to fatisfytheir lufts ; James iv. 3. Yeaſk, and receive not, becauſe ye afk amifs, that ye may confumeit
An Expofition of the Assembly's Catechism.
13г uponyourlufts . Or in a drowſy and careless manner ; Ifa. Ixiv.
7. Andthere is nonethat calleth uponthy name, that ſtirreth uphimſelftotake hold ofthee, &c .
Q. 4. What helps hath God affordedus to furniſh us to prayer, both in reſpect ofthe matter andmanner ?
A. The ſcriptures abundantly furnish us with all forts of helps and directions for the matter of prayer.
It directs us, both inconfeſſionoffins, original and actual ; Pfalm li. 4, 5.
Behold, I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in fin did my mother . conceive me. Against thee, thee only have I finned, and done thisevil inthy fight, &c. Petition andthanksgiving ; Phil. iv.
6. Be careful fornothing, but in every thing, by prayer and ſupplication, with thanksgiving, let your requeſts be made known unto God.
Q. 5. Doth it afford us anyhelp, or direction, as to the manner ofprayer alſo ?
A. Yes, it doth ; and thatboth as to, (1.) Our fincerity in prayer; Heb.x. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in fullafſuranceoffaith; having our hearts ſprinkled from an evil confcience, and our bodies washed withpure water.
(2.) As; toour humility inprayer; Pfalmx. 17. Lord thou hast heard the defire ofthe humble ; thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cauſe thine ear to hear. (3.) As to our faith in prayer ;
James i. 6. But let him aſk in faith, nothing wavering, &c.
(4.) As to our fervency in prayer; James v. 6.The effec tual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Q. 6. Are theſe external rules and directions ſufficient in themſelves toenable us to pray acceptably ?
A. In reſpect of external direction they are ſufficient, and we need no other outward rules than what the ſcriptures furniſh ; but beſides that, the internal helps and afſiſtances ofthe
Spirit,are neceffary to the offeringup acceptable prayer ; Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit alſohelpeth our infirmities ; for we know not whatwe should pray for as we ought ; but the Spirit itſelfmaketh interceſſion for us, &c.
Q. 7. But doth the ſcripture only furnish us with general rules of direction for prayer ?
A. No, it furnishes us alſo with an excellent pattern andexample ofprayer, compoſedby Chrift for our direction; Matth.. vi. 9. After this manner therefore prayye : Our Father, which art inheaven, &c.
Q. 8. Are Chriſtians tied by a neceſſity to uſe that form of words ? Or was itonly intended for a directory to them ?