What Rule Hath God Given for Our Direction in Prayer?

Answ. The whole word of God is of use to
direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction, is that form of prayer which Christ
taught his disciples, commonly called the
‘Lord’s Prayer.

Q. Hath God given us any rule for our direction in prayer? A. Yes y he has given his whole word m

general, and the Lords prmjer in particular.

Q. What in the word of God directs us in prayer? A. The prayers, histories, doctrines, threatenings, promises, and precepts therein contained.

O. How do the prayers contained in scripture direct us? A. They shew us to whom, for what and whom, and in what manner we should pray, Dan. ix. 1 Kings viii.

O. How do the threatenings and histories of God’s judgments direct us in prayer?

A. They shew us what sins we ought to confess, and what evils we should pray for thepreventing or removal of. Q. How doth the history of God’s merciful providences direct iv* in prayer?

A. They encourage us to it, and shew us what good things God is ready to bestow.

Q. Trow do the doctrines of God’s word direct us in prayer? A. They shew us what God is, and is disposed to do; what we are and need; and in what manner we may come to’God for the supply of our wants.

Q. How do the precepts of God’s word direct us in prayer? A. They shew us what sins we ought to

confess, and seek deliverance from j what graces we should’1 crave j and what duties we need-strength to perform.

Qj How do the promises of God direct us in prayer?

A. They shew the various cases we may be in, and-’ what blessings God hath engaged, and is ready to give us.

Q. What doth God by promise engage’himself to give us? A. Mercies suiting every case: outward blessings -, suitable relief under trouble; spiritual graces, comforts, and remedies 5 with encouragement-in duty,

Q. What outward, blessings hath God promised to us ?:

A. Health,, strength, food, raiment, peace, safety, comfort, and success to us and our children. - Q. What spiritual mercy is promised in connection with-’ these outward blessings? Jk» Holy joy, thankfulness, and heavenly-mindedness, Isa. lx. Ezek. xxxvi.

Q. VVhat afflicted cases do God’s promises respect?

A. The case of temptation, desertion, sickness, poverty, persecution, oppression, calumny, &c.

Qj What doth God promise with respect to afflictions?

A. That he will either preserve from, or support iiv them moderate their rigour-, shorten their duration 3 and bring good out of them, Isa. xliii.and xxvii. 91

Q. What spiritual grace hath God promised to us?

A. Regeneration, knowledge, faith, hope, repentanceJf love, humility, patience, increase of grace, fear of God, and obedience to his command?, Ezek. xxxvi, xxxvii.

Q.. What spiritual comforts has God promised to us?

A. Justification, adoption, assurance of his love, peace - of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and eternal glory.

Q. What spiritual plagues hath God promised to cure?

A. Hardness of heart, ignorance- of God, forgetfulnessof his truths and providences unthankfulness for his mercies, pride, envy, lust, desponding fears of death, want of grace, greatness of sin, or future apostacy from God, le — gaiity, carnal-mindedness, &c.

Q. In what duties doth God promise encouragement?

A. In prayer, meditation, public worship, fasting, alms-giving, suffering for Christ, sanctifying the Sabbath, &c.

Q. What encouragement in duty hath God promised?

A. Preparation for it, assistance in it, and a gracious reward of our work, Psal. x. 17. and xix. 11: Phil. li. 13.

Q> How are we to improve God’s promises in prayer I

A- By pleading and expecting that for Christ’s sake he would do to us and others as he hath promised.

Q. What special rule of direction in prayer hath God given us? A. That form of prayer which Christ

taught his disciples, which is commonly called the Lords <prayer, because the Lord Jesus prescribed it.

0. D:d Chr’st prescribe it as a form, the express words of winch we are bound to use? A. No; but as a

pattern of prayer, directing us what we should pray for, and in what order we should offer our requests.

Q. How prove you that Christ did not prescribe it as an express form of prayer? A. Because in Matthew,

who relates this form most exactly, Christ only says, After this manner prey ye; Matthew and Luke relate it differently ‘, and Christ, and his prophets and apostles, used different expressions in prayer, Matth.xi. and xxiv. Actsi. and iv. Eph. iii. John xvii. &.c.

Q. May none use set forms of prayer?

A. Yes; young children, and such as through weakness are incapable to conceive prayer, may use them.

Q. Why may not others confine themselves to set forms of prayer? A. Because to do so checks the teaching

of God’s Spirit, inverts the order of prayer, encourageth to sloth, and is most absurd and unreasonable.

Q. How doth confining ourselves to set forms of prayer check the teaching of the Spirit?

A. As the form teacheth us what to pray for, which is the work ascribed to the Holy Ghost, Rom. viii. 26.

Q. How doth it invert the order of prayer?

A. As by this means, instead of our heart’s regulating our words, the words of the form must regulate our heart.

Q. How doth it encourage sloth?

A. As it makes us careless of self-examination, and of study of the scriptures for instruction in prayer, and stirring up of our heart to seek after the gift or gi ace of prayer.

Q. How is it most absurd and unreasonable?

A. It is as if a hungry beggar could not ask alms, or a drowning man cry for relief, without an express form.

Q. Is not the Lord’s prayer a most excellent pattern?

A. Yes; for it is a short, full, and orderly prayer.

Qj. How many parts does the Lord’s prayer consist of?

A. A preface, six petitions, and a conclusion.