sins, (1) and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies. (2)

Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God only?

A. God only being able to search the heart, (3) hear the request, (4) pardon the sins, (5) and fulfil the desires of all; (6) and only to be believed in, (7) and worshipped with religious worship: (8) prayer, which is a

(1) Dan. ix. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession. Ps. xxxii. 5, 6.-I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found.

(2) Phil. iv. 6.-In every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

(3) 1 Kings viii. 39.-Thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men. Acts i. 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen. Rom. viii. 27.

(4) Ps. lxv. 2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

(5) Mic. vii. 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?

(6) Ps. cxlv. 16, 19. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.—He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him.

(7) 2 Sam. xxii. 32. For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock save our God? John xiv. 1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God. (8) Matt. iv. 10. thee hence, Satan: ship the Lord thy

serve.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get for it is written, Thou shalt worGod, and him only shalt thou

special part thereof, (1) is to be made by all to him alone, (2) and to none other. (3)

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

A. To pray in the name of Christ, is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake: (4) not by bare mentioning of his name; (5) but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation (6)

(1) 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. (2) Isa. xlii. 8. I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Luke iv. 8. Ps. 1. 15. (3) Jer. iii. 23.

Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in n the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. Jer. xiv. 22. Rom. x. 14.

(4) John xiv, 13, 14. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. Dan. ix. 17.

(5) Luke vi. 46. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?! Matt. vii. 21.

(6) Heb. iv. 14, 15, 16. Seeing then that we have a great high-priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 1 John v. 13, 14, 15.

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?

A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that he can have no access into his presence without a mediator, (1) and there being none ⚫ in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone, (2) we are to pray in no other name but his only. (3)

Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray?

A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts,(although

(1) John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Eph. iii. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

(2) Heb. vii. 25, 26, 27. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high-priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high-. priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. John vi. 27.

(3) Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Heb. xiii. 15. By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

not in all persons, nor at all times in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces, which are requisite for the right performance of that duty. (1)

Q. 183. For whom are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth, (2) for magistrates, (3) and ministers, (4) for ourselves, (5) our brethren, (6) yea, our enemies, (7) and for all sorts of men living, (8) or that shall live hereafter; (9) but

(1) Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Ps. 1xxx. 18.-Quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Ps. x. 17. Zech. xii. 10.

Ps.

(2) Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints. xxviii. 9. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: also, and lift them up for ever.

feed them. ii. 1, 2. I exhort therefore, that, first of

(3) 1'

all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority.

(4) 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. Col. iv, 3.

(5) Gen. xxxii. 11. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

(6) James v. 16.-Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. 2 Thess. i. 11.

(7) Matt. v. 44.-Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

8) 1 Tim. ii, 1, 2. See figure (3), above.

9) John xvii. 20. Neither pray I for these alone; but

not for the dead, (1) nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto death. (2)

Q. 184. For what things are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God, (3) the welfare of the church, (4) our own (5) or others' good; (6) but not for any thing that is unlawful. (7) Q. 185. How are we to pray?

A. We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God, (8) and deep sense

for them also which shall believe on me through their word. 2 Sam. vii. 29.

(1) 2 Sam. xii. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

(2) 1 John v. 16.-There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

(3) Matt. vi. 9.-Our Father which art in heaven; hallowed be thy name.

(4) Ps. li. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Ps. cxxii. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

(5) Matt. vii. 11. If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

(6) Ps. cxxv. 4. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. 1 Thess. v. 23, and 2 Thess. iii. 16.

(7) 1 John v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. James iv. 3. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss.

(8) Ps. xxxiii. 8. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Ps. xcv. 6. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.