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without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.

III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, is by God required of all men and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son", by the help of his Spirit, according to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance'; and, if vocal, in a known tongue". IV. Prayer

John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. 1 Tin. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Eph. ii. 18. For through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father. Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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h John xiv. 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Ver. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

i Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

k 1 John 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.

1 Psal. xlvii. 7. For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. Eccl.

v. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Ver. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. Gen. xviii. 27. And Abrahami answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. James 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. James i. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind, and tossed.

F 4

Ver. 7.

IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful", and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death a.

Ver. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Mark xi. 24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Matth. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Ver. 14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Ver. 15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

m 1 Cor. xiv. 14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

n

IV. [1 John v. 14. See letter k.]

1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. John xvii. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. 2 Sam. vii. 29. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy ser

V. The

vant be blessed for ever. Ruth iv. 12. And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, (whom Tamar bare unto Judah,) of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.

P 2 Sam. xii. 21. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. Ver. 22. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? Ver. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. With Luke xvi. 25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Ver. 26. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot ; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. Rev. xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, say. ing unto me, Write; Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

91 John v. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not

unto

V. The reading of the scriptures with godly fear; the sound preaching, and conscionable hearing of the word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith, and reverence; singing of psalms with grace in the heart"; as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God": besides religious oaths*

unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

V. Acts xv. 21. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. Rev. i. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand..

$2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.

James i. 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Acts x. 33. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Matth. xiii. 19. When any one heareth the word of the, kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he which received seed by the way-side. Heb. iv. 2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Isa. lxvi. 2.

and

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord; but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

u Col. iii, 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Eph. v. 19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. James v. 13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

w Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [1 Cor. xi. 23. to Verse 29.] Acts ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

X Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. With Neh. x. 29. They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our F5 God,

and vows, solemn fastings" and thanksgivings upon special occasions, which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner.

VI. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is, now under the gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by, any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed: but God is to be worshipped every where in spirit and in truth; as

God, and his judgments and his

statutes.

y Isa. xix. 21. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifie and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. With Eccl. v. 4. When thou vow'est a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Ver. 5. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

2 Joel ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. Esth. iv. 16. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. Matth. ix. 15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

1 Cor. vii. 5. Defraud

in

with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

a [Psal. cvii. throughout.] Esth.ix. 22. As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

b Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

VI. © John iv. 21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

d Mal. i. 11. For from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. 1 Tim, ii. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

John iv. 23. But the hour com

ye not one the other, except it be eth, and now is, when the true wor

shippers

f

in private families daily ", and in secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God, by his word or providence, calleth thereunto i..

shippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Ver. 24. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

fiJer. x. 25. Pour out thy fury. upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate. Deut. vi. 6. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart: Ver. 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children; and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Job i. 5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent al sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings, according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 2 Sam. vi. 18. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt-offerings, and peaceofferings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. Ver. 20. Then David returned to bless his household. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs

VII. As

together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Acts x. 2. A devout man, and one that feareth God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Matth. vi. 11. Give us this day our daily bread.

h Matth. vi. 6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints..

i Isa. lvi. 6. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath. from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant: Ver. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and . their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Heb. x. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but ex-.. horting one another and so much. the more, as ye see the day ap-.. proaching. Prov. i. 20. Wisdom crieth without, she uttereth her voice in the streets : Ver. 21. She crieth in the chief place of concourse, F.6

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