[2.] The manner.
(1.) With faith. What faith have we in prayer ? With respect to God, that he is able and willing to help his people ; that we need not run to other shifts, and be divided between God and carnal means, James i. 6-8. As to the acceptance of our persons, we must pray that we do not weaken our confidence by any allowed sin: 1 John iii. 20, 21, 'For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things ; if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God; 'we sin away our peace, and then cannot come cheerfully to God. As to the particular blessings asked, necessary, that are absolutely promised, must be absolutely expected. But the promise of the common blessings of this life is not absolute ; these things are dispensed as shall be for God's glory and our good. The saints themselves express themselves with some hesitancy about these things, though inclined to hope the best ; as David, 2 Sam. xii. 22, ' Who can tell whether the Lord will not be gracious to me, that the child may live ? ' God knoweth what we most really want, and what is most agreeable to our desires, being able to choose for us better than we can for ourselves : Joel ii. 14, ' Who knoweth if he will return and leave a blessing ? '
(2.) With fervency, or that life and seriousness which will become addresses to God : Mat. vii. 7, ' Ask, seek, knock ; ' we are not in good earnest unless we set ourselves to seek the Lord, Dan. ix. 3. Christ taught us to pray in two parables ; one for the Spirit, Luke xi., by a man coming to his friend for loaves at midnight ; for right done to the church, Luke xviii. 1, in the parable of the widow and unjust judge. Persevere till jn-ayer be answered, Mat. xv. 26, 27 ; keep wrestling and striving with God : Eom. xv. 30, ' Now I beseech you, brethren, for
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the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive ton;ether with me in your prayers to God for me.'
(3.) With humility ; we must come as 'less than the least of his mercies,' Gen. xxxii. 10 ; Ezra ix. 6, ' 0 my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee my God ; ' as the publican, Luke xviii. 13, ' God be merciful to me a sinner ; ' as Abraham, Gen. xviii. 27, ' Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.'
(4.) With holy ends, that God may be glorified : John xiv. 13, ' And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son ; ' in the Spirit, John xvi. 14, ' He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you ; ' Ps. cxv. 1, ' Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory ;' Joel ii. 14, 'Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord our God ? '
2dly, The reasons why the prayers so made must be acceptable to God.
1. Because here all the divine persons concur. We pray according to God's will, in Christ's name and mediation, by the motion and instinct of the Spirit. Every one is a ground of hope ; therefore it will not be lost labour, or breath poured out into the air : 2 Sam. xiv. 1, ' When Joab perceived that the king's heart was towards Absalom, ' he makes use of the advantage. Christ's merit breeds confidence : Heb. x. 19, ' Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.' And then the Spirit's motion ; God acceptelh what Cometh from himself : Ps. x. 17, ' Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear,' what is excited and stirred up in us by his Spirit.
2. On man's part, the person is qualified, the petition just, the end right, and the heart excited.
Use. Is to show us what prayers are heard ; such as (1.) cometh from God, and (2.) are made to God. Certainly such shall be dealt with as friends ; God will bestow marks of abundant favour upon them, and reward their love and obedience by hearing their prayers ; he delights to do great things for their sakes, and will have it known that their supplication is acceptable to him. Oli ! pray thus by the Spirit.
1. Is your prayer such a praj'er as cometh from God? such a prayer as is inspired by the Spirit, holy and fervent ? Holy, for he is a holy and heavenly spirit, and puts us mainly upon holy and heavenly things ; things that always make us better, not worse ; and in other things referring our choices to God, what he liketh and thinketh best for us, not what we do for ourselves : ' not my will, but thine be done.' Then fervent, 8eriac<; evepyov/LievT] : James v. 16, ' The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man,' when it looketh like wrestling with God.