What Doth the Conclusion of the Lord's Prayer Teach Us?

Answ. The conclusion of the Lord’s prayer (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen) teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him. And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen,

Q. What things are here ascribed to God?
A. An eternal kingdom, power, and glory.

Q. Why are these things ascribed to God?

A. A.s an adoration of him, and as arguments for his accepting and answerng our prayers, Dan. ix.. ’

Q. What do you mean by ascribing these things to God as an adoration of him? A. Our acknc ledging with fear, love, admiration, joy, and thankfulness, that these things belong to him, Neh. ix. 5, 6.

Qj, Why are we in our prayers to praise God?

A. Because praise glorifies him, Psalm 1, 23.

Q. What do you mean by improving God’s eternal kingdom, power, and gloiy, as arguments it prayer?

A. Our pleading with God, for the sake of these things, would accept our prayers, and grant our requests.

Q. How is God’s eternal kingdom a reason why he should gram our requests?

A. Since he is a sovereign and everlasting King, it becomes him” to maintain his own honour, advance his kingdom, make his subjects obey his will, provide for, pardon, preserve, and deliver them from all his and their enemies, Palm lxxxiii.

Q. How is God’s eternal power a reason why he should grant our requests?

A. A> it renders him easily and constantly able to maintain all his own prerogatives, and bestow his blessings on his subjects. Num. xiv. 17, 18 19.

Q^. How U God’s eternal ’ glory a reason of his granting our requests?

A. As to maintain the honour cf his name, advance his kingdom, cause his subjects obey his will, provide for. pardon, and preserve them, will brightly display the glory of all his perfections.

Qj C m our arguments in praver change the will or purpose of God? A. No; He is of one mind, and w/ie can turn him? Job xxiii. 13.

Qj Of what use then are our arguments in prayer?

A. They enlarge our heart to receive God’s blessings, and encourage us to expect and wait for them.

Q. From whom is all our encouragement and arguments in p-ayer to be taken? A. From God only.

£). How then do scripture saints nlead from the great* Iiess of their sin. distress, and dange*?

A. That is only an argument, as it gives opportunity

for God’s great mercy, power, and wisdom, to vent itself.

Q. What doth Amen which is ordinarily added to prayer, signify? A. So let it be; or so shall it be,

Q. Why is Amen to be added in our prayers?

A. To testify our desire and assurance to be heard.

Q. What is the foundation of our assurance of God’s hearing our prayers and granting our requests?

. A. His perfections, covenant, and promise j and the infinite merit, and powerful intercession of Christ.