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PART II.

GUIDE TO PRAYER.

BY

ISAAC WATTS, D.D.

GUIDE TO PRAYER.

INTRODUCTION.

PRAYER is a word of an extensive sense in Scripture, and includes not only a request or petition for mercies, but is taken for the address of a creature on earth to God in heaven, about every thing that concerns his God, his neighbor or himself, in this world or the world to come. It is that converse which God hath allowed us to maintain with himself above, while we are here below. It is that language wherein a creature holds correspondence with his Creator; and wherein the soul of a saint often gets near to God, is entertained with great delight, and, as it were, dwells with his Heavenly Father, for a short season before he comes to Heaven. It is a glorious privilege that our Maker has indulged to us, and a necessary part of that obedience which he hath required of us, at all times and seasons, and in every circumstance of life;-according to those scriptures, 1 Thess. v. 17. " Pray without ceasing." Phil. iv. 6. "In every thing by prayer

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and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God." Eph. vi 18. "Praying always, with prayer and supplication."

Prayer is a part of divine worship that is required of all men, and is to be performed either with the voice, or only in the heart, and is called vocal or mental prayer. It is commanded to single persons in their private retirements, in a more solemn and continued method er manner: and, in the midst of the business of life, by secret and sudden liftings up of the soul to God. It belongs also to the communities of men, whether they be natural, as families; or civil, as corporations, parliaments, courts, or societies for trade and business; and to religious communities, as when persons meet on any pious design, they should seek their God: it is required of the churches of Christians in an especial manner; for the house of God is the house of prayer. Since, therefore, it is a duty of such absolute necessity for all men, and of such universal use, it is fit we should all know how to perform it aright, that it may obtain acceptance of the great God, and become a delightful and profitable exercise to our own souls, and to those that join with us.

To this end I shall deliver my thoughts on this subject in the following order:

First, I shall speak of the nature of prayer as a duty of worship.

Secondly, As it is to be performed by the gifts or abilities God has bestowed upon us.

Thirdly, As it must be attended with the exercise of our graces.

Fourthly, As we are assisted in it by the Spirit of God: And,

Fifthly, Conclude all with an earnest address to Christians, to seek after this holy skill of converse with God.

CHAPTER I.

THE PARTS OF PRAYER.

In the discourse of prayer, considered as a duty of worship required of us, that we may understand the whole nature of it better, let it be divided into its several parts; and I think they may be all included in these following, namely:

Invocation, Adoration, Confession, Petition, Pleading, Profession or Self-dedication, Thanksgiving and Blessing:-of each of which I shall speak particularly.

SECTION I.

OF INVOCATION.

THE first part of prayer is Invocation, or calling upon God; and it may include in it these three things:

1. A making mention of one or more of the names or titles of God; and thus we do, as it were, bespeak the person to whom we pray: as you have abundant instances in the prayers that are delivered down to us in Holy Scripture; "Oh

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