Ans. 1. Because he only hears prayer, Ps. Ixv. 2., " O thou that hearest prayer !" Hereby God is known to be the true God, in that he hears prayer, I Kings xviii. 37., " Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God !"
A. 2. Because God only can help. We may look to second causes, and cry, as the woman did, 2 Kings vi. 20, 27., " Help, my Lord, O King ! And he said, if the Lord doth not help tlice, whence shall I
help thee ?" If we are in outward distress, God must send from heaven and save; if we are in inward agonies, he only can pour in the oil of joy ; therefore prayer is to be made to him only.
3^/. " For things agreeable to his will." When we pray for outward things, — for riches or children, — perhaps God sees these things are not good for us ; our prayers must comport with God's will. We may pray absolutely for grace: " for this is the will of God, our sanctification," 1 Thess. iv. 3. There might be no strange incense offered, Exod. xxx. 9. AVhen we pray for things which are not agreeable to God's will, it is offering strange incense.
Atli. " In the name of Christ." To pray in the name of Christ, is not only to men- tion Christ's name in prayer, but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christ's me- rits, 1 Sam. vii. 9., " Sanmel took a suck- ing lamb and offered it," &c. Wc must carry the Iamb Christ in the arms of our faith, and so we prevail in prayer. When Uzziah would offer incense without a priest, God was angry, and struck him with lepro- sy, 2 Chron. xxvi. 16. When we do not pray in Christ's name, in the hojie of his mediation, we offer up incense, without a priest ; and what can we expect but to meet with rebukes, and to have God answer us by terrible things?
Quest. 2. What are the parts of prayer ?
Ans. \st. There is tlie confessory part, which is the acknowledgment of sin. 2d. The supplicatory part, when we either dep- recate and pray against some evil, '"r re- quest the obtaining of some good. '3d. The gratulatory part, when we give thanks for mercies received, which is the most excel- lent part of prayer. In petition, we act like men ; in giving thanks, we act like angels.
Quest. 3. W hat are the several sorts of prayer ?
Ans. \st. There is mental prayer in the mind, 1 Sam. i. 13. 2d. Vocal, Ps. Ixxvii.
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1. 3</. Ejaculatory, which is a sudden and cold suitors, never speed. Prayer, without sliort elevation of the heart to God, Neh. ii. fervency, is like a sacrifice without fire. 4., " So I prayed to the God of heaven." Prayer is called a pouring out of the soul, ith. Conceived prayer; when we pray for 1 San. i. 15., to signify vehemency. For- those things which God puts into our heart, mality starves prayer. Prayer is compared Rom. viii. 26. The Spirit helps us with ' to incense, Ps. cxli. 2., " Let my prayer sighs and groans. Both the expressions of be set forth before thee as incense." Hot the tongue, so far as they are right, and the ' coals were to be put to the incense, to make impressions of the heart, are from the Spi- , it odoriferous and fragrant ; fervency of af-
rit, bth. Prescribed prayer ; our Saviour hath set us a pattern of prayer. God pre- scribed a set form of blessing for the pi'iests, Numb. vi. 23. Qth. Public prayer; when we pray in the audience of others. Prayer is more powerful, when many join and u- nite their forces. Vis unita forlior, Mat. xviii. 19. Ith. Private prayer; when we pray by ourselves. Mat. vi. 6., " Enter into thy closet."
Quest. 4. JVhat is that prayer which is most like to prevail with God ?
Ans. When prayer is rightly qualified. That is a good medicine which hath the right ingredients ; that prayer is good, and is most like to prevail with God, which hath these seven ingredients in it :
(1.) Prayer must be mixed with faith, James i. 6., " But let him pray in faith." Believe God hears, and will in his due time grant; believe God's love and truth; be- lieve that he is love, therefore will not deny you; believe that he is truth, therefore will not deny himself. Faith sets prayer a-work. Faith is to prayer, as the feather is to the arrow : faith feathers the arrow of prayer, and makes it fly swifter, and pierce the throne of grace. Prayer that is faithless is fruitless.
(2.) A melting prayer, Ps. li. 17., "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." The ince:is(' was to be beaten to typify the bi'cak- iiig of the heart in prayer. " O !" saith a C'hrislian, " I cannot pray with such gifts and elocution as others ; as Moses said, * I am not eliXjuent.' " But canst thou weep? Doth thy heart melt in prayer? Weeping pra} cr prevails. Tears drop as pearls from the eye. " Jacob wei)t and made suppli- cation ; and had power over the angel," Hosea xii. 4.
(3.) Prayer must be fired with zeal and fervencv, James v. 16., " Effectual fervent prayer pre\ails much." Cold prayers, like