Section 6: Of Prayer

Wherefore is Prayer necessary for Christians?

Because it is the chief part of that thankfulness which God requireth of us, and also because God giveth them only his Grace and Holy Spirit, who with unfeigned gronings beg them continually of him and yeild him thanks for them.^a

Wherefore is Prayer necessary for Christians?

Because it is the chief part of that thankfulness which God requires of us, and also because God gives them only his Grace and Holy Spirit, who with unfeigned groanings beg them continually of him and yield him thanks for them.^a

What is required unto that Prayer which shall please God, and be heard of him?

That we ask of the only true God, who hath^a manifested himself in his Word, all things which he hath commanded to be^b asked of him with a true affection and desire of our Heart, and through an inward^c feeling of our need and misery cast our selves down prostrate in the presence of his Divine Majesty, and^d build our selves on this sure foundation, that we though unworthy, yet for Christ’s sake are^e certainly heard of God, even as he hath^f promised us in his Word.

What is required unto that Prayer which shall please God, and be heard of him?

That we ask of the only true God, who has^a manifested himself in his Word, all things which he has commanded to be^b asked of him with a true affection and desire of our Heart, and through an inward^c feeling of our need and misery cast our selves down prostrate in the presence of his Divine Majesty, and^d build our selves on this sure foundation, that we though unworthy, yet for Christ’s sake are^e certainly heard of God, even as he has^f promised us in his Word.

What are those things which he commandeth us to ask of him?

All things^a necessary both for Soul and Body, which our Lord Jesus Christ hath comprised in that Prayer, which himself hath taught us.

What are those things which he commands us to ask of him?

All things^a necessary both for Soul and Body, which our Lord Jesus Christ has comprised in that Prayer, which himself has taught us.

What Prayer is that?

Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this Day our daily Bread: And forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil: for thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

What Prayer is that?

Our Father which are in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this Day our daily Bread: And forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil: for your is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

Are Christians tied to this very Form of Prayer?

We are not; our Lord here delivereth to his Church a brief Sum of those things which we are to ask of God, but yet Christ will have us also to descend unto specials, and to ask particular Benefits: for this Form prescribed is nothing else but a Set or Course of certain Heads or Generals, whereunto all Benefits both corporal and spiritual may be referred; but yet all particulars of Prayer must agree & correspond with this general Form, although we are not tied to this Form, as appeareth from James 1:5 where the Apostle exhorts the Saints, if any did lack Wisdom, they should ask of God, which giveth to all liberally, but these as touching the Words, are not in the Form of Prayer particularly expressed, though they are included. Besides, we have Examples of Prayer both in the old and new Testament, which are not the very Form here expressed, albeit, all they asked was comprehended in this Prayer, wherefore the Form of Prayer delivered unto us by Christ, is wholly a thing indifferent.

Are Christians tied to this very Form of Prayer?

We are not; our Lord here delivers to his Church a brief Sum of those things which we are to ask of God, but yet Christ will have us also to descend unto specials, and to ask particular Benefits: for this Form prescribed is nothing else but a Set or Course of certain Heads or Generals, whereunto all Benefits both corporal and spiritual may be referred; but yet all particulars of Prayer must agree & correspond with this general Form, although we are not tied to this Form, as appears from James 1:5 where the Apostle exhorts the Saints, if any did lack Wisdom, they should ask of God, which gives to all liberally, but these as touching the Words, are not in the Form of Prayer particularly expressed, though they are included. Besides, we have Examples of Prayer both in the old and new Testament, which are not the very Form here expressed, albeit, all they asked was comprehended in this Prayer, wherefore the Form of Prayer delivered unto us by Christ, is wholly a thing indifferent.

Why doth Christ teach us to call God our Father?

That presently in the very Entrance and Beginning of the Prayer, he might stir up in us such a Reverence, and Confidence of God as is meet for the Sons of God, which must be the ground and foundation of our Prayer, to wit, that God through Christ is made our^a Father, and will much less deny us these things which we ask of him with a true Faith, than our earthly Parents deny unto us earthly things.

Why does Christ teach us to call God our Father?

That presently in the very Entrance and Beginning of the Prayer, he might stir up in us such a Reverence, and Confidence of God as is meet for the Sons of God, which must be the ground and foundation of our Prayer, to wit, that God through Christ is made our^a Father, and will much less deny us these things which we ask of him with a true Faith, than our earthly Parents deny unto us earthly things.

Why is that added, which art in Heaven?

That we^a conceive not basely nor terrenely of God’s Heavenly Majesty, and also that we^b look for, and expect from his Omnipotency whatsoever things are necessary for our Soul and Body.

Why is that added, which are in Heaven?

That we^a conceive not basely nor terrenely of God’s Heavenly Majesty, and also that we^b look for, and expect from his Omnipotency whatsoever things are necessary for our Soul and Body.

What is the first Petition?

Hallowed be thy Name; that is, grant us, first to^a know thee right, and worship, praise,^b and magnifie thy Almightiness, Goodness, Justice, Mercy and Truth, shining in all thy Works; and further also to direct our whole Life, Thoughts, Words, and Works to this end, that thy most Holy Name be not reproach’d by us, but rather be^c renowned with Honour, and Praises.

What is the first Petition?

Hallowed be your Name; that is, grant us, first to^a know you right, and worship, praise,^b and magnify your Almightiness, Goodness, Justice, Mercy and Truth, shining in all your Works; and further also to direct our whole Life, Thoughts, Words, and Works to this end, that your most Holy Name be not reproach’d by us, but rather be^c renowned with Honor, and Praises.

What is the second Petition?

Thy Kingdom come; that is, rule for us so by thy Word and Spirit, that we may^a humble and Submit our selves more and more unto thee. Also preserve and increase thy^b Church, destroy the Works of the Devil, and all Power that lifteth up it self against thy Majesty; make all those Councils frustrate, and void, which are^c taken against thy Word, until at length thou raign fully and perfectly, when thou shalt be all^d in all.

What is the second Petition?

Your Kingdom come; that is, rule for us so by your Word and Spirit, that we may^a humble and Submit our selves more and more unto you. Also preserve and increase your^b Church, destroy the Works of the Devil, and all Power that lifts up it self against your Majesty; make all those Councils frustrate, and void, which are^c taken against your Word, until at length you reign fully and perfectly, when you shall be all^d in all.

What is the third Petition?

Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. That is, grant that we, and all Men, renouncing^a and forsaking our own Will, may readily, and without any^b grudging, obey thy Will, which is only holy; and that so every one of us may^c faithfully perform that Duty and Charge which thou hast committed unto us, even as the blessed Angels do^d in Heaven.

What is the third Petition?

Your Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. That is, grant that we, and all Men, renouncing^a and forsaking our own Will, may readily, and without any^b grudging, obey your Will, which is only holy; and that so every one of us may^c faithfully perform that Duty and Charge which you have committed unto us, even as the blessed Angels do^d in Heaven.

What is the fourth Petition?

Give us this Day our daily bread; that is, give unto us all things which^a are needful for this Life, that by them we may acknowledg and confess thee to be the only Fountain from whence all good things^b flow; and all our Care and Industry, and even thine own Gifts to be unfortunate^c and noisom unto us except thou bless them; wherefore grant that turning our Trust away from all Creatures, we^d place and repose it in thee alone.

What is the fourth Petition?

Give us this Day our daily bread; that is, give unto us all things which^a are needful for this Life, that by them we may acknowledge and confess you to be the only Fountain from whence all good things^b flow; and all our Care and Industry, and even your own Gifts to be unfortunate^c and noisome unto us except you bless them; wherefore grant that turning our Trust away from all Creatures, we^d place and repose it in you alone.

What is the fifth Petition?

Forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. That is, even for the Blood of Christ do not^a impute unto us most miserable and wretched sinners all our Offences, neither that Corruption which still cleaveth unto us, even as we also feel this Testimony of thy Grace in our Hearts, that we stedfastly purpose unfeignedly from^b our Hearts, to pardon and forgive all those who have offended us.

What is the fifth Petition?

Forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. That is, even for the Blood of Christ do not^a impute unto us most miserable and wretched sinners all our Offences, neither that Corruption which still cleaves unto us, even as we also feel this Testimony of your Grace in our Hearts, that we steadfastly purpose unfeignedly from^b our Hearts, to pardon and forgive all those who have offended us.

What is the sixth Petition?

Lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil. That is, because we our selves, are so feeble and weak by Nature, that^a we cannot stand so much as one Moment or Instant, and our most deadly Enemies^b Satan, the^c World, and our own^d Flesh do incessantly oppugne and assault us, uphold thou us, and establish and strengthen us by the might of thy Spirit, that we may not in this spiritual^e Combat yield as vanquished, but may so long stoutly withstand them, until at length^f we get the full and perfect victory.

What is the sixth Petition?

Lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil. That is, because we our selves, are so feeble and weak by Nature, that^a we cannot stand so much as one Moment or Instant, and our most deadly Enemies^b Satan, the^c World, and our own^d Flesh do incessantly oppugn and assault us, uphold you us, and establish and strengthen us by the might of your Spirit, that we may not in this spiritual^e Combat yield as vanquished, but may so long stoutly withstand them, until at length^f we get the full and perfect victory.

How concludest thou this Prayer?

For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory for ever. That is, we ask and crave all these things of thee, because seeing both thou art our King, and art Almighty, thou art both willing and able^a to give them all unto us; and these things we therefore ask, that out of them, not unto us, but unto thy holy Name all Glory^b may redound.

How concludest you this Prayer?

For your is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory for ever. That is, we ask and crave all these things of you, because seeing both you are our King, and are Almighty, you are both willing and able^a to give them all unto us; and these things we therefore ask, that out of them, not unto us, but unto your holy Name all Glory^b may redound.

What meaneth this Particle, Amen?

That the thing is sure, and out of doubt: for my Prayer is much more certainly heard of God, than I feel in my Heart that I unfeignedly^a desire the same.

What means this Particle, Amen?

That the thing is sure, and out of doubt: for my Prayer is much more certainly heard of God, than I feel in my Heart that I unfeignedly^a desire the same.