A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 245 (Question 99)
SERMON CCXLV.
QUESTION XCIX.
WHAT Rule hath God given for our Direction in Prayer?
ANSWER.
THE whole Word of GOD is of Uſe to direct us Prayer; but the ſpecial Rule of Direction, is that Form of Prayer, which Chriſt taught his Diſciples, commonly called, The Lord…s Prayer.
WE have taken a ſummary Account of the Nature and Neceſſity of Prayer, together with the more remarkable diſtinctions of it. It now follows, that we proceed to a more particular Conſideration of the Rule by which we are to be directed how to order our Prayers to God, ſo as they may be acceptable to God, and profitable for us. Not only is Praying to God a duty incumbent on all Perſons, not can he be a Chriſtian who lives in the neglect of this Duty; but there is a ſo Praying, which thoſe that would enjoy Communion with God in it, ought to get acquainted with, if they would not offer vain Oblations. There are Prayers which in God's eſteem are no better than howlings, and will not find anſwers of Peace, but he will ſtop his Ears at them; as Iſai. 1.15. It is not the leaſt part of fallen Man's miſery that he knows not how to Pray as he ought, and for that reaſon ſtands in need of Divine Teachings. And although ſuch is God's pity and compaſſion towards us, who knows our frame, that where there is truth and ſincerity of Heart, he will accept of our chatterings, and kindly entertain our unutterable groans, which are wrought in us by his holy Spirit. And for this reaſon, our ſenſe of infirmity ſhould not drive us …rom , or diſcourage us in duty, but animate as to it; yet as it is our prime duty to ſee that our Hearts be right in it, ſo we ought to endeavour after a diſtinct acquaintance with the true Method of Prayer, a…d obtaining the Gift of it. And becauſe we have not this of our ſelves, we muſt wait upon God for his teaching. And for that end we muſt Pray to him, that he would teach us to Pray, as the Diſciples did to Chriſt, Luk. 11.1. We before obſerved that the Matter of Prayer is our Deſires; but then we muſt remember, that all our Deſires are not to be preſented to God, that he would grant them: There are ſinful as well as regular deſires, and thoſe are to be mortified. And to Pray to God for ſucceſs in Robbery, Fornication. Murder, &c. is Wicked, and ſavours of Atheiſm: And becauſe we were told that theſe are to be regulated and reſtrained to things agreable to his Will, our beſt way is to go to him to inſtruct us in this great affair: and we have encouragement ſo to do from the kind reception and aſſiſtance that we may expect in ſo doing, Jam. 1.5. If any of you lack wiſdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it ſhall be given him. And there are two things which we ought to ſeek information and help in, on this account, viz. the Matter of our Prayers, and the Manner in which we are to preſent them to God, ſo as may be for his honour, and the encouragment of our Faith in our addreſſing of him. Now that God hath given us … Rule for this is ſuppoſed, and is neceſſarily ſo, becauſe it is a part of Religious Worſhip. And as this hath God for the Author of it, ſo it muſt have its direction from him, who only can tell us how he will be Worſhipped by his reaſonable Creatures: And there are two Things in the Anſwer, which may be briefly conſidered, viz.
1. THAT the whole Word of God is of uſe to direct us in Prayer. By the Word of God we are to underſtand, the Holy Scriptures, which God hath committed to Writing, in whIch he hath revealed to us what is his Will and our Duty; and is therefore given us to regulate us in our Religion; and we are obliged to regulate our whole lives according to it, Deut. 29.29. The ſecret things be…ng unto the Lord our God: but thoſe things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words …; …his l…. Prayer therefore being an eſſential part of Religion, muſt needs have its regulation laid down in this Word, elſe it would not be a perfect Rule; as we are told that it is, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. But we are not only told that theſe Directions are contained in the Word, which muſt for that reaſon be ſought for in it; … that the whole of it is uſeful to direct us in it; which is empharical, and acquaints us, that there is no part of the Holy Scriptures but may be improved by us for our help in this duty. And this direction hath a reſpect not only to the Matter, but alſo to the Manner; and the Motives that may excite us to, and encourage us in it. We may therefore here make ſome brief remarks on the uſefulneſs there is in the Word of God for this purpoſe in a few Particulars,
1. IN the Word of God we have all the Matters offered for which we are to Pray. Theſe are there laid down by way of Precept; for there are we told, what are all our wants, both of Soul and Body, for the ſupply whereof we may lawfully deſire; and theſe deſires none can fulfil but God, who expects to be ſought to for it: There are we directed whom to Pray for, and what we are to ask of God in their behalf; whether it be the World, or the Church of God, or our dear Relations, whom we are to love as our Souls; and all the Caſes which may be before us: and this both with reſpect to Mercies received, or Afflictions felt or feared; what to app…ate, and what to deprecate, and both with reſpect to Soul and Body, things Temporal and Spiritual. As might be particularly inſtanced in all theſe regards.
2. WE are there pointed to all the Graces which are to be exerciſed in right Prayer. Prayer requires not only the elocution of the Tongue, and a formulary of apt words; but Grace alſo in the Heart, and the Improvement of it in our coming to God, who regards the Heart, and judgeth of us accordingly; and how this is, we are there directed. It therefore tells us, that we muſt Pray in Faith, Jam. 16. and how this Faith is to be applied; by a firm belief of his Ability to ſuccour us, and that no other can do it for us; and that we can obtain on no other ſcore, but that of Chriſt, thro' whom we are to offer our Prayers to him: That we are humbly to leave our Requeſts with him, ſubmitting our all to him, and his diſpoſe; with hope in his Grace, with patient waiting on him, and perſeverance in it, tho' he ſeem to delay us. Theſe, and whatſoever other Graces are to be employed herein, are there fully directed to.
3 IT gives us an …cu… what we are to d…i… order to …t ſpeeding in Frayer. It not only requires us to call upon God, but tells us how we may ſo ask as not to miſs of ſpeeding in it; warning us againſt ſuch things as will abſtract the commerce between God & … and ſhewing us how we may draw near & …d acceptance; how we are to prepare for this Duty, … to behave our ſelves in the performance of it; to come not in our name or for any works of our own, but in Chriſts Name, and with an eye to his Righteouſneſs; to come acknowledging our own u…w…thine's: c…k…ing our Sins; with full purpoſe to … take them; …d with a ſincere reſpect to his Glory: and that we may improve all our Mercies to his Honour, and not to lay it Honour our wal…ſts; that we may lift up pore Heads, and upright Hearts to him. Hence that caution Jam. …3. Ye ask, and receive not, becauſe ye ask …miſs, that ye may consume it upon your laſts.
4. IT regulates our …wtanity and our F… is Prayer. As it tells us of the Neceſſary of Faith in order to accept …e with God; ſo it directs us in the right exerciſe of this Faith: for we are apt to miſtake Preſumption for Faith; as if we believed not, unleſs we firmly believe that every thing we ask ſhall be granted us juſt as we would have it; whereas third reck us how t… carry our requeſts to God, and leave them with him, firmly believing that he can do it for us, reſolving to go to waither elſe, waiting on him, and ſubmitting our ſelves to his Infinite Wiſdom and Love: it opens to us the nature of the Promiſe, and how it ſtands in the Covenant, and what are reſerves of his holy Sovereignty. And though importunity in Prayer is a duty, yet it alſo regulates us in this, and teacheth us how to diſtinguiſh of things, and wherein we are to uſe out greatest cara…neſs▪ and what are the things that we are moſt of all to call upon him for. Hence that, Mat. 6.33. Eat ſeek ye firſt the …ng on…ſ God, and his righteouſneſs.
5. IT tells us after that manner we are to carry our ſelves after we have Frayed. There is a ſuitable & becoming behaviour required of the People of God, after they have opened their Hearts to him, and foread their Caſe before him. For, though we ought in Faith to c…m…ced all our matters to God, yet there is ſomething elſe incumbent on us to do, in the exerciſe of our Faith in waiting on him for the anſwer, of Peace. There is ſomething more to be done in a right waiting on him for the Bleſſing; and we are to be found in the way of Duty: doing what is required, and avoiding what is forbid …: And for this we have abundant direction given us in the Holy Scriptures; and it is of greateſt imperence that we comport with this; not d…th …ith in Prayer diſcharge us from other Duties but prompts us to a more chearful attendance upon them, in expectation of his Bleſſing; and all the Rules for this are therein clearly ſet before us.
6. IT ſupplies us with all ſuitable Expreſſions to be uſed in Prayer; and that both in our Words and in …ur Carriages. It both tells us how to behave our ſelves before God when we come to open our Condition to him; of which we may hereafter take a more diſtinct account, in the Preface of the Lord's Prayer. And it alſo puts words into our Mouths. The Apoſtle tells us, Rom. & 26. Likewiſe the Spirit alſo bel…th our inſirmities; for we know … what …e G…ull pray for a… we ought: but the Spirit it ſelf waketh into r…e… for us with groanings which cannot be …ered. And the Spirit doth not only do this, by inward ſuggeſtions, but alſo by thoſe directions which he hath preſcribed to us in the Word of God. Thus we have God himſelf telling his People what he would have them to ſay when they put up their Petitions unto him, Hoſ, 14.2, 3. And though we are not bound always to tie our ſelves to the words uſed in Scripture, yet to take our meaſures from them… and order our Matters accordingly.
7. IT ſa…iſhe… us with the Examples of holy Men, ſ…ng at for what, and here they Prayed, for our …tion. It is true, there are ſome i…lla c…s of the unſuitable Carriages of Good Men, in their h…urs of Temptation, which are for our caution, and avoidance: But there are the various Caſes of God's, Children, in which they addreſſed God, and their ſuitable behaviour in them; how humbly, how penitently, how ear…eſtly they ſought him; and how ſubmiſſively and patiently they waited upon him: And all of theſe are written for our admonition, and we are directed thus to be followers of them, Heb. 6.12.
8. IT ſ…s us the great danger there is in neglects of Prayer: thereby to awaken us to our duty and to constancy in it. We are too apt to with-hold Prayer; and how many are there who call themſelves Chriſtians that live in a total neglect of it. But the Word of God ſhows us the Per…l we expoſe our ſelves to…y …d…ing, and how much we expoſe our ſelves to the Divine diſpleaſure by it; which carries ſtrong motive in it to make us afraid of living in the neglect of ſo important a duty. Hence we have ſuch menac…s againſt ſuch: It is given as the character of an ungodly Man, Pſal. 10 4. He will not ſeek after God. And hence that Curſe denounced, Jer. 10 25. P…ur eat thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy Name.
9. IT … us all Encouragement to Pray. Tho' rec…ty, if rightly reſented would be enough to … …ate us; yet God is pleaſed to ſhow how he is delighted in the Prayers of his People; and hath afforded them great p…wa…es to a …mate them in it. And this he doth.
(1.) BY the Promiſes which he ſets before us in it. There are many peculiar Promiſes with reſpect to this, recorded in the Word of God, wherein be promiſeth us audience and acceptance; tells us that he will hear when we call, and anſwer us when we cry to him, aſſures us that he never had us ſeek him in vain, but that if we look to him from the ends of the Earth, we ſhall be ſaved; that he is a God who hears Prayer, and will reject none that come to him aright. And what greater encouragement can there be afforded to us than this is? eſpecially when it is from a God who is Truth it ſelf.
(2.) BY the Instances of the good ſuceſs of thoſe who have ſo Prayed to him. How many Teſtimonies are there given in the Word, of thoſe that have ſought him and found him, who have ſet their Seal to it, that they did find him as good as his Word; that he ſometimes anſwered them before they cried; and that when they ſought him be delivered them which made them to reſolve to call upon him as long as they live: And they have called on others to improve their Examples, to eſtabliſh their Faith in calling upon God; as, Pſal. 34.6, 8. And thus uſeful is the whole Word of God for our help in this neceſſary duty, which tells us how profitable it is for us meditate much on it; for our better attending on the duty of Prayer.
II. THAT the ſpecial Rule of Direction, is that Form of Prayer, which Chriſt taught his Diſciples, which is commonly called, the Lord's Prayer. Chriſt's Diſciples, being deeply ſenſible of their own Ignorance in this great Duty earneſtly beſought him to inſtruct them in this matter, whereupon he directed this Prayer to them for their help in this; on which account it hath this Title put upon it; and though there is nothing in it, but what is agreable to the Word of God in general, yet it contains in it a ſummary or compleaſent Rule for our guidance in this affair; and whatſoever belongs to a right Prayer is to be gathered from it: for that there is ſpecial uſe to be made of this by us if we would know how to Pray Methodically, and after what manner to repreſent our deſires to God. But there is not a little diſpute in the World about this F…m of Prayer which Chriſt hath left us for our Direction, viz. Whether Chriſt hath left it on record as a preſcribed Form to be uſed in our Praying in the very Words of it; or only as a Pattern from which we are to regulate ourſelves in the manner of our Praying to God: nor are all Proteſtants agreed in their Judgments on this account. I ſhall not here, long inſiſt, but only offer a few Conſiderations to be weighed in this regard.
Here then obſerve:
1. THAT it is beyond juſt doubt, that it is lawful to Pray to God in the Words of the Lord's Prayer. There is the moſt exact and comprehenſive Form of a Prayer in it; as will be evident when we come to conſider it in all its parts: if it contains in it the ſubſtance of all Prayers, and there can be nothing uſed aright in it, but may be reduced to one head or other in it; and that according to the Preſcription of Chriſt himſelf, who is the Lawgiver in his Church, it may ſurely then be uſed in the expreſs Words of it; always provided, that it be without Superſtition, and vain Repetition; or making of it a Charm, or as if there were more Vertue in theſe Words than in others of a like import.
2. THAT it is a Pattern of Prayer given by Chriſt to all Chriſtians to regulate their Prayers by, is alſo not to be doubted: For he gave it to his Diſciples to teach them to Pray, Luk 11 begin. And it muſt therefore needs be a perfect Rule by which all our Prayers are to be meaſured: There is nothing we are to Pray for, but is comprized in it; it therefore ſets the bounds to our Deſires and Petitions, if we would have them agreable to God's Will. It points us to the Object of Prayer; to the Manner of our attending on it that we may have Communion with this Object; and to the Circumſtances which are to be attended in it, and to the Kinds of Prayer and Graces to be exerciſed in it: all of which come will into conſideration in their place.
3. THAT we are not bound preciſely to keep ourſelves to theſe Words, and not to uſe others in our Prayers. Some there are who Preface their Prayer with ſuch a formality, Let us Pray for the Pardon of our ſins; for the Converſion of Sinners; for the Peace of the Church, for the Succeſs of the Goſpel, for the Ruine of its Enemies; and let us do it in the Form preſcribed by Chriſt, and only ſay over the Lord's Prayer; but we have no Rule or Precept for this Mode; and Formaliſts themſelves acknowledge that we are not tied up to this in all our Prayers: and we have no inſtance in the Goſpel of Chriſt himſelf, or any of his Apoſtles that ever uſed this Form, though we have many of their Prayers there upon record; though they ever kept themſelves within the limits of this Directory. Nor do the Words of this Prayer work as a ſpell, for we are to Pray with underſtanding, and to know what we go to God for, and to Pray not by Ro…e, but with our Hearts, ſenſible of our wants. Beſides we are not bound always to inſiſt upon every Article of Prayer, but there are the ſeveral Caſes of the Children of God, which are particularly to be carried to him; as we have ſeveral inſtances for in the Goſpel. And as in Preaching of the Word; though we are to Preach nothing but what is agreable to it, yet we are to open the Word, prove it, and apply it, in other words ſuitable. So in Prayer we are indeed to Pray for nothing but what God hath revealed his Will in; but we are to expatiate both in our Petitions, Confeſſions, and Thankſgivings as the caſe before us calls for. Beſides in the Goſpel this Prayer recorded by the two Evangaliſt, Matthew and Luke, is laid down in different words, and there is more in Man u… than in Luke; which makes it at leaſt uncertain whether the whole of Chriſt's Directory is here recited, but only the ſummary heads of it. And we read of Praying all Night, which ſurely cannot be thought to be nothing elſe but a meer Repetition of the Lords Prayer; but a purſuing of the matter, with words and arguments ſuitable.
4. THAT there is no Rule in the Goſpel, …ind …. uſe the Lords Prayer in the … Pr…ers, to put any … …erfeti…n to them. S…me them be who think, that though we are not tied up to this form, yet that it is proper for us, when … have pro…ed our Deſires to God in ſuch expreſſions, as our reſentments either of Wa…ts or Mercies have put us upon offering up to God, we …ght in ſenſe of our imperfection and ſh…rt c…ing, to rehearſe the Lord's Prayer, to fill up thoſe …, and this is practiſed by many. who would not allow themſelves willingly in any Superſtition: But theſe ſeem to … of a groundleſs miſt be, and build upon a wrong Principle, without Scripture warrant. … plead that this is the Word of God, whereas our other expreſſions are the words of …e, ſeems inſufficient; for d…ubtleſs as whatſoever is agreable to God's Word▪ may truly as ſaid to be his; ſo we may make the expreſs Words of Scripture to be our own words, and ought to be ſo when we put them into our Petitions, though directed to by God; and though we plead this is the unerring Rule, & therefore to be adhered to, yet if we know nothing of the mind and meaning of it, it is no Rule at all to us, but expoſeth us to a deluſion; and to pretend It to be to ſupply the de…iveneſs or forgetfulneſs of any thing in our Petitions, is. I think, a miſtake, or a w…ak argument. For as we are not obliged to offer up every thing in every Prayer; ſo if we do not underſtand what is therein contained, we cannot expreſs our particular enlarged deſires in it. Not that we are to condemn thoſe who make uſe of it; but to caution againſt making it a neceſſary Duty, which cannot be proved by a… Precept given for it, not Example of it in t… whole Scripture: and for Chriſtians to … thoſe who do not uſe this Made as guilty of the neglect of a moral Duty, is ungrounded uncharitableneſs. And for any to think that they have attained hereby to more perfection in the practice of Religion, is to deceive themſelves. And tho' we muſt not deny the lawfulneſs and uſefulneſs of Perſons uſing a Form of Prayer, eſpecially ſuch as labour of much ignorance about the concerns of Religion; yet let it be conſidered, that every Chriſtian that would Pray acceptably to God, and obtaining gracious returns from him, ought to be very careful of Formality in it, as knowing that although this may be an help to them who want the Gift; yet if they do not labour to get theſe things imprinted on their Hearts, ſo as in them to preſent their true & ſincere deſires unto God, their Praying will certainly prove to be nothing better than vain habling; and will be an abomination to God, who locks at the Heart, which if abſent, he and his Prayer wil be rejected.
BY what hath been thus offered, of the ſpecial uſefulneſs of the Lords Prayer for our direction and help in Praying to God, we are given to underſtand the neceſſary Duty incumbent on us, to labour to get a diſtinct acquaintance with it, and the particular Rules contained in it, in order to our being the better able to make the right improvement of it in our attendance upon it. And for this end we have a particular account given of the mind or meaning of every Article contained in it, in the remainder of the Catechiſm; which we may take into diſtinct Conſideration: And to make way for this, we may obſerve the diſtribution of it in its parts; and the uſual diſtribution given, and which our Divi…es do follow; viz. the Preface. or Introduction; the Body of the Prayer, including in it the ſeveral Petitions, which ſtand as ſo many Heads of Matter, or the ſeveral things about which our Requeſts are to be made, and preſented to God: And theſe do contain in them comprehenſively … Conce…s about which we are to of…er our Supplications to God: And the Conci… ſ…; containing in it a Doxology. Every of which will ſtand in need of being enquired into by the People of God. And touching theſe Petitions, there are divers thoughts about the dividing of them; which I ſhall not labour in, it being moſt neceſſary that we know what is contained in them. Sword… S…me there be who make Seven of them; but our Divines, with many others, reduce them to Six, whom we may ſafely follow in it; as will appear in the Explication of them. And this Method of Prayer is moſt agreable to the nature of it; and muſt proper to the Subjects who draw near to God in it. It is meet that we ſhould come into the Preſence of God duly pre…ed, eſpecially in our more ſet and ſolem Addreſſes, and not to ruſh into his Preſence indeliberately. It is alſo neceſſary that we know what we have to ſay when we put up our Petitions to him; for we do not Pray to inform him, but duly to affect our own Hearts with our wants, and for that reaſon to conſider what we have to requeſt when we come before him: It is meet alſo that we both uſe argument to fortify our Faith in our Praying to him, and to give him the due acknowledgment of his Glorious Perfections, which are both the encouragements of our coming to him, and by which we are to reach after the laſt end of all our ſerving and worſhipping of him, viz. that he may have the Glory of all aſcribed to him: For if we do not thus, we do not Pray aright, and do but beſpeak a rejection from him. Let us then ſet our Hearts upon theſe things; which may, God willing, be hereafter offered to us.