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thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord forgive; O Lord, hearken, and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my Gon: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. Dan. 9. 3-5, 8 -10, 14, 18, 19. || and 9. I—23. (r)

105. What is the summary of Ezra's prayer?

And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my heaviness and, having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees,and spread out my hands unto the Lord myGoD. And said,OmyGOD! I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my Gob: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. And now, O! our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this. Should we again break thy coinmandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day behold, we are before thee, in our trespasses for we cannot stand before thee because of this. Ezra 9. 5, 6, 10, 13—15.

(r) See Appendix, Note R.

106. How are we directed to pray? (s)

GOD is a Spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. Take with you words and turn to the Lord; say unto him, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously so will we render the calves of our lips. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. John 4. 24. Hos. 14. 2. Heb. 4. 15, 16. Hab. 3. 2. || 2 Sam. 7. 18, 28, 29. 2 Kin. 19. 15, 16, 19. Hab. 1, 12, 13. I Chron. 4. 10. Heb. 10. 22.

107, When are we to pray?

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.. And shall not GOD avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? Pray without ceasing. Ps. 5. 3. and 55. 17. Luke 18. 1, 7. 1 Thes, 5, 17. || Ps. 86. 3. and 119. 147, 164. Dan. 6, 10. Luke 6. 12. Ps. 22. 2. and 88. 13. and 130. 6. Is. 26. 9. Mark 1. 35. Jam. 5, 13. (s) See Appendix, Note S.

108. For whom are we to pray?

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet, and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of GoD our Saviour. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. 1 Tim. 2. 1-3. Ps. 122 6. Mat. 9. 88. Luke 6. 28. Eph. 6. 18. || Jam. 5. 14—18. 1 John 5. 16. Hab. 3. 2. Is. 62. 6, 7. Jer. 29. 7. Ps. 141. 5. 2 Thes. 3. 1.

109. In what name and through whose assistance, should our prayers be offered?

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 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. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. John 14.13, 14. and 16. 24. Rom. 8. 26, 27, || Col. 3. 17. Gaļ. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 15.

110. Whose prayers will be heard and answer: ed?

Now we know that God heareth not sinners : but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be hea ed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. John 9. 31. Ps. 34. 15, 17. Jam. 5. 16. || 1 Tim. 2. 8. Ps. 4. 3. and 26. 6. Prov. 15. 29.

111. What is said respecting the prayer and sacrifice of the wicked?

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight. But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, Prov. 28. 9. and 15. 8. Heb. 11. 6. || Ps. 66. 18. and 109. 7, Is. 1. 10-17. Mat. 23. 14.

112. Are not the carriage, the conduct, and even the thoughts of the wicked displeasing to GOD?

An high look, and a proud heart, and the ploughing of the wicked, is sin. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination

to the Lord but the words of the pure are pleas ant words. Because the carnal mind is enmity against GOD for it is not subject to the law of GOD, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please GOD. Prov. 21. 4. and 15. 9, 26. Rom. 8. 7, 8. || Prov. 1. 27-29. Is. 55.7. and 59, 1, 2.

113. Are oaths before a magistrate lawful?

That he

Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him, and shalt swear by his name: who blesseth himself in the earth, shall bless himself in the GoD of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth, shall swear by the GoD of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. And thou

shalt swear, the Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Deut. 6. 13. Is. 65. 16. Jer. 4. 2. Heb. 6. 16. || Jer. 12. 16. 2 Chron. 15. 12, 14, 15. Ex. 22. 10, 11. Lev. 5. 1. Mat. 26. 63, 64.

114. Is not false swearing a very heinous and destructive sin?

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. And ye shall not swear by my name, falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy GoD: I am the Lord. These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord. Then I turn

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