DISCOURSE CONCERNING PRAYER. Part I. CHAPTER I. OF THE NATURE OF THIS DUTY. RAYER, in the strict use of the word, PRA signifies the petitions we make to God, either for the bestowing on us good things, or the averting from us evil. And thus it is distinguished from praises of His divine perfections, from Whom those benefits we ask are derived; and from thanksgivings for them, when they are conferred on us, according to our desires. Which, though they ought to accompany all our prayers, and it is impossible to pray aright, without such acknowledgments of God's incomparable perfections, and thankfulness to Him for His benefits; yet they are not the things which are strictly and properly meant by Prayer. Which is taken sometimes in a stricter sense still; merely for petitioning for good things: and so is distinguished by St. Paul, (1 Tim. ii. 1.) from Supplications; which are petitions for the averting evil things from us. In which restrained senses I do not intend to treat of it; but by address of our soul to Prayer, understand an God, the Author and request of Him those Fountain of all good, to things, which we feel we want, and of which we are desirous. 1. It supposes, therefore, first, that we are in want: for if we were full, we should long for nothing. We want wisdom, and God's Holy Spirit, both the graces and comforts thereof; together with His pardoning and sparing mercy; His gracious protection and safeguard; provision for all the necessities of our outward man; besides all the needs of others, especially of God's Church, and of that Church and kingdom in particular, whereof we are now immediate members. A supply of all which we would either receive, or have them preserved to us, if we already enjoy these blessings. That is, we either want the things themselves, or their continuance; and therefore we ask them. 2. But further, it necessarily supposes also that we have a sense and feeling of our wants. For if a man be sick or empty, yet if he think himself well, or feel no hunger, he will neither call for his physician, nor for food. Though men be in the very jaws of hell; though they lie under the power of the devil, and be led captive by him at his will; though their lusts and passions tyrannize and insult over them; though sin, as the Apostle speaks hath the dominion in their hearts, and they are so governed and ruled by vicious affections and desires, that they are no better than slaves to |