is of God. Heb. 13, 21. Now the God of peace make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.

8. Q. By what means may we be enabled to live according to God's commandments?

A. By the special grace of the Holy Spirit ; which he never denies to any Christian, who heartily * prays for it, and duly improves that portion of it which God had before bestowed upon him.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.— Luke, xi. 9. And I say unto you, Ask, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. b Matt. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. xxv. 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. Luke, viii. 18. Take heed, therefore, how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. xix. 26. For I say unto you, that unto every one which hath, shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

9. Q. Does God always answer the prayers that are made to him?

A. He does, if they are made after such a manner as he requires, and for such things as he sees to be expedient for us, unless he should have some extraordinary reason to refuse us. In which case, though he may not grant us the very things which we desire, yet he will recompense us the more abundantly in some other way.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Matt. vii. 7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. xxi. 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive. John, xvi. 23, 24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. James, iv. 3. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it on your lusts. 1 John, iii. 22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 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.

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10. Q. After what manner ought we to pray to God? A. With faith, with diligence, with attention, with fervour, and with

perseverance.

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PROOFS SUBJOINED.- Mark, xi. 24. Therefore I say unto, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Tim. ii. 8. 1 will, therefore, that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath, and nothing doubting. James, i. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. Luke, xviii. 1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. xxi. 36. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always. Rom. xii. 12. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch

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in the same with thanksgiving. 1 Thess. v. 17. Pray without ceasing.

11. Q. Are these conditions so strictly required by God, that no prayers are heard by him which want any of them.

A. That may not generally be affirmed: there are great inequalities in the affections of the best men in their prayers; nor can any avoid all kind of wanderings and disturbances in them. That which is certain is this, that every man ought to pray as frequently as his circumstances of life will permit him; and when he does pray, ought to do it with the utmost zeal and attention that he is able to do. Which having sincerely endeavoured, he ought not to doubt but that God will pardon his infirmities in that, as well as in the other instances of his duty; and accept his prayers, and grant him his desires.

12. Q. What are the things which we ought to pray for?

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A. For those of this life we must pray only in general, unless it be upon some special occasions, and with an entire submission of ourselves to God's will, in whatsoever he shall please to order for us. But as to the graces which are necessary for us, in order to the other life, we are to pray particularly, earnestly, absolutely, and without any qualifications; because we know these things to be always proper for us to ask, and always suitable to the will of God to give to us.

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PROOFS SUBJOINED.- Psalm xxxvii. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. Iv. 22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. Matt. vi. 25.

Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment. Heb. xiii. 5, 6. Be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man can do unto me. Prov. xvi. 3. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. xxx. 8. Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

↳ Luke, xi. 9. And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. John, xiv. 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. xv. 7, 8. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. James, i. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. v. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 2 Thess. i. 11, 12. Wherefore always we pray for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power; that the name of our

and ye in

Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

13. Q. At what times ought we to pray?

A. Continually and without ceasing. Not that we are to account ourselves thereby obliged to spend our whole time in prayer, but to look upon those expressions to imply a constant attendance upon this duty every day, as our state and condition shall permit; besides such other occasions as the Providence of God shall minister to us for the farther performance of it.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Luke, xviii. 1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought, always to pray and not to faint. xxiv. 53. And they were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Rom. i. 9. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. Rom. xii. 12. Continuing instant in prayer. 1 Thess. iii. 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. v. 17. Pray without ceasing. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. Coloss. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

14. Q. What is the general proportion which every Christian ought to observe in the times of his daily prayers?

A. If he has opportunity for it, and can have leisure so to do, it were to be wished that he should come every day to the public prayers of the church; but if this cannot be done, he must at least, every

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