Luke xi. 1. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his Disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his Dis- ciples.
SCARCELY any thing can more strongly mark our defection from God, than our inability to pray. It might well be supposed, that, considering how many sins we have to be forgiven, how many wants to be supplied, and how many blessings to be acknow- ledged, that we should never be at a loss for matter in our addresses at the throne of grace, or for a suit- able frame in drawing nigh to God. But the truth is, that there is no duty more difficult than that of prayer: for as, on the one hand, "we know not what to pray for as we ought ;" so neither, on the other hand, are we able to plead with God as we ought, unless " the Holy Spirit help our infirmities, and assist us in relation to every part of this dutyV The Apostles themselves felt their need of instruction upon this head, and received from their Divine Master a form of prayer fitted for the use of the Church in all ages. From this circumstance, I shall take occasion to shew,
I. The importance of sound formularies of instruction and prayer, for the use of the Church of Christ —
Every society has some ground of mutual agree- ment, and some principle on which the members are formed into one collective body. Now the Church of Christ is a society collected out of the world, and united in one common sentiment of adherence to Christ, as their only Lord and Saviour. There have been minor differences between the different parts of this body ; and different societies have been formed, to confirm in their respective views the members attached to each. But on the subject of these differ- ences I have at present no call to speak : my purpose,
a Rom. viii. 26.