The Christians Daily Practice, Table of contents – Publishers advertisement
A TABLE OF THE Contents.
DOct. It is the duty of the people of God to pray. pag. 3
1. What prayer is. It is
1. A work of Gods Spirit. pag. 4
2. It floweth out of the ſpirit and heart of man: or, it is a talking of the heart and ſoul with God. pag. 5
2. The ſeveral kinds of prayer
Are
1. Mental. pag. 6
2. Vocal.
Publick, Private.
3. The preparations to prayer,
Are
1. Prayer.
2. Meditation. pag. 8
Meditate upon
1. Gods infinite greatneſse.
2. The promiſes.
3. Thine own wants and vileneſs. pag. 9
4. The duties or graces requiſite in prayer: are,
1. Knowledge. pag. 9
2. Faith.
3. Humility. pag. 10
4. Purity of heart.
5. Love to our brethren.
6. Zeal and fervency. pag. 11
7. Unwearied conſtancy.
8. We muſt pray in the Holy Ghoſt. pag. 12
9. In the name and mediation of Jeſus Chriſt. pag. 13
10. For things agreeable to Gods will.
11. We muſt uſe a due order in prayer. pag. 14
12. Take heed of loving long prayers. pag. 15
Laſtly, hate the ſin you pray againſt, and love the grace you pray for. pag. 16
5. The geſtures in prayer are,
1. Kneeling. pag. 18
2. Lifting and ſpreading forth the hands. pag. 20.
3. Lifting up of the eyes. pag. 22
4. For men to be uncovered. pag. 23
In what caſe geſtures may be omitted. pag. 25
Reprehenſion for theſe that neglect the forementioned, or uſe contrary geſtures. pag. 29
Exhortation, to uſe more reverence in prayer. pag. 31
Six ſeveral motives to the duty of prayer.
The Firſt ſort of motives are taken from the neceſsity of the duty.
1. God commands it. pag. 33
2. The creature is ſanctifyed by it.
3. There is no comfort in the Ordinances without it. pag. 34
4. We lie under Gods curſe if we neglect it.
A ſecond ſort of motives, are taken from the benefits that come by prayer.
1. It ſhall not be in vain. pag. 35
2. It is a ſigne of true Converſion.
3. It is alwayes accompanied with ſalvation.
4. It is ſweet and pleaſant in Gods ears. pag. 36
5. It will give eaſe to the grieved heart.
6. It is the only means to get the heart filled with ſpiritual graces.
7. By prayer we approach into Gods preſence. pag. 37
A third ſort of motives, are taken from the power and goodneſſe of God.
1. God hath ſtiled himſelf a God hearing prayer.
2. He is able to help his people. pag. 38
3. He is willing to help them.
4. He hath made many promiſes to help them. pag. 39
Seventhly: the times of prayer, in general, continually. pag. 40
That is
1. Upon all opportunites.
2. Without fainting. pag. 41
3. Daily, all their life long.
The ſpecial times of prayer: are,
The Lords dayes, faſting dayes, thanksgiving dayes, and upon private occaſions. pag. 42
But more particularly,
1. Every day. pag. 43
2. Twice every day: morning and evening. pag. 44
Reaſons why we muſt be thus conſtant and frequent in prayer, are becauſe,
1. We continually need bleſsings. pag. 45
2. Without prayer our calling proſpers not. pag. 46
3. Without it, our graces will decay.
4. The Devils temptations will prevail. pag. 47
5. Our ſins will multiply, and, pag. 48
6. We have need to beg daily pardon of ſin. pag. 49
Eightly and laſtly: ſeveral objections againſt prayer, are anſwered, as,
1. Object. It is to no purpoſe to pray.
1. Becauſe God knoweth our wants
2. He hath decreed what ſhall befall every man.
3. He is ready to give what is fit for us.
This is anſwered. pag. 50
2. Object. It is needleſſe becauſe the good ſucceſſe of things depend upons ſecond cauſes, and natural means.
This is anſwered. pag. 54
3. Object. They that never pray, do as well as they that pray moſt: what need then is there of this conſtant praying?
This is anſwered. pag. 56
4. Object. I am unable to pray, I would pray, but I want faith, and the ſpirit of prayer.
This is anſwered. pag. 59
5. Object. I would fain pray, but I am ſo ſinful and unworthy a wretch I dare not: I know God heareth not ſinners, John 9.31. Yet ſuch a one am I, and therefore I dare not pray
This is anſwered. pag. 16
6. Object. I have prayed, but I can find no anſwer.
This is anſwered pag. 66
7. Object. I can finde no good by praying, but I finde I am rather the worſe.
This is anſwered. pag. 71
The uſe of all: is,
1. For Inſtruction.
2. For Reprehenſion.
3. For Conſolation.
Laſtly, for Exhortation.
1 Uſe.
1. It inſtructs us in the right manner of prayer: where, pag. 75
1. We ſee, dead, dull, formal, heartleſſe prayers are not pleaſing to God.
2. That wicked men that have not the Spirit of God, cannot pleaſe God in their praying. pag. 76
2. It inſtructs us concerning the power of prayer: of which many examples in Scripture are inſtanced. pag. 77
2. Uſe.
Reprehenſion, divers are reproved.
1. Thoſe that pray not at all pag. 81
2. Thoſe that are laſie and ſluggiſh in prayer. pag. 82
3. Thoſe that have evil ends in praying. pag. 83
4. Thoſe that pray for light and ſlight things.
5. Thoſe that are formal and hypocritical in their prayers.
6. Thoſe that pray without judgment or underſtanding. pag. 84
7. Thoſe that pray, but reſolve to go on in their ſinnes. pag. 88
Laſtly, Thoſe that pray without faith and fervency. pag. 90
3. Uſe.
Conſolation: for all thoſe that are faithful, frequent, conſtant and fervent in this duty of prayer.
1. God uſually bleſſeth thoſe families where prayers are daily uſed. pag. 91
2. God will anſwer ſecret prayers.
3. If thou canſt pray in faith, it is a certain ſigne thou haſt the truth of grace; thou art a childe of God, and ſhall be ſaved. pag. 92
4. If thy heart be ſincere in prayer, God will accept of thee, although thou haſt many failings. pag. 93
5. When words fail, tears, ſighs, and groanes, are a ſigne thou haſt the ſpirit of prayer. pag. 94
6. Sincere ſeeking of God, will give comfort in all afflictions and trials. pag. 95
7. A conſtant courſe of praying, is a certain ſigne, the ſinne or judgement thou prayeſt againſt ſhall be removed, or the mercy thou prayeſt for, ſhall be granted. pag. 96
8. That God that calleth thee to pray, he is able, ready and willing to help thee. pag. 98
Laſtly, all the prayers of Gods faithful ſervants on earth, ſhall undoubtedly be heard, and anſwered in heaven. If,
1. They be Righteous perſons, and, pag. 99
2. Ask in the Name of Chriſt. pag. 100
3. According to the will of God.
The fourth and laſt uſe is,
Exhortation: to the performance of the duty of prayer: where, firſt you have divers Directions in the duty: as,
1. Labour to be reconciled to Chriſt. pag. 102
2. Ask nothing but what God hath promiſed to give. pag. 103
3. Seek God with a contrite and broken heart. pag. 104
4. Take heed of wandering thoughts in prayer.
5. Beare in thy minde all the ſinnes thou art to pray againſt, and the graces thou art to pray for: mind alſo the mercies thou haſt received, to be thankful for them. pag. 105
6. In thy prayers have a high eſteem of God. pag. 106
7. Be as ready to be thankful for what you have received, as to ſeek God for what you want.
8. When your prayers be ended, take heed you reſt not in the duty. pag. 107
9. Let Gods glory be your utmoſt aime in all your prayers. pag. 108
Laſtly, Take heede of a ſelfiſh ſpirit prayer: Pray for all men. pag. 109
Two queſtions concerning prayer anſwered.
1. Queſtion. I cannot tell how to pray, I want utterance: whether or no, is not my reading a forme of prayer acceptable with God in this caſe?
This is anſwered. pag. 110.
2. Queſtion. I cannot read, and I know not how to pray: what ſhall I do in this caſe?
This is anſwered. pag. 113
Laſtly, four encouragementts to the duty of prayer.
1. God is ſo well pleaſed with it, That he hath heard the prayers of men for temporal things, that had no grace. pag. 117
2. Whoſoever ſets upon the duty with a ſincere heart, ſhall find God carrying of him on in it beyond expectation. pag. 118
3. God is more ready to anſwer his people than they are to ask. pag. 120
Laſtly, God is ſo well pleaſed with prayer, as that he makes his readineſſe to hear a ground of encouragement to quicken them to the duty. pag. 121
Books Printed by George Calvert at the ſigne of the Half-Moon in Pauls Church-yard.
MYſteriorum & Medulla Bibliorum. The Myſtery and Marrow of the Bible: viz. Gods Covenants with man, in the Firſt Adam, before the Fall: and in the Laſt Adam Jeſus Chriſt, after the Fall; From the beginning to the end of the World; by Francis Roberts, M. A. in fol.
The Communicant inſtructed, or practical directions for the worthy receiving the Lords Supper: in octavo.
The Believers Evidences for eternal life; in octa.