Standing being enlightned, that they might know what was the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the faints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power towards them that believe* : -And again; That they might be frengthned with might, by his fpirit in the inner man; that Chrift might dwell in their hearts by faith; that they might be rooted and grounded in love, and know the love of Chrift, which passeth knowledge+:-And for the Philippians he alfo prays, That their love might abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment; that they might approve things that are excellent; that they might be fincere, and without offence, until the day of Cbrift; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jejus Chrift unto the glory and praife of God For the Coloffians he alfo prays, That they might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and fpiritual understanding : That they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleafing, being fruitful in every good work, and increafing in the knowledge of God; ftrengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-fuffering with joyfulness \\. CHRIST prayed for all his elect; Holy Father, keep thro' thy own name those whom thou haft given me : I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the

-Thus

world,

↑ Eph. 16, 17, 19. Col. i. 9, 10, 11.

world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil: Sandlify them thro thy truth, thy word is truth. And the Pfalmift prays, Order my steps in thy word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. -From thefe and fuch like Scriptures every Christian may gather what he ought to pray for, and what to deprecate, or pray against.

Thus the Use and End of prayer is manifeftly this, that we may know, and love, and ferve, and enjoy God in Chrift, thro' the Spirit, more and more abundantly to the praife of his glory.

7. A Christian ought diligently to attend public prayer, both in the Church and family; not only for his own profit, but that he may alfo encourage and ftrengthen the hands of his brethren; and fo be a fellow helper with the faints unto their mutual furtherance in faith and love and confolation in CHRIST JESUS.

Certain it is that CHRIST, by his Spirit, is in the midst of his people, when they affemble themfelves together with one heart and one mouth to glorify Gon, thro' his name, by prayer and fupplication with thanksgiving. For it is written; I bave not concealed thy loving kindness, and thy truth,

from the great congregation: And again, I wi praise thee among much people +: And again he faith, Wherefoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them ‡:

Forfake not therefore the affembling of yourselves together, both for hearing the word of truth, and prayer with thanksgiving.

A fet form, on public occafions, may have its ufe, and be profitable, as a means to prevent the spreading of errors by men of corrupt minds, (which feems to be the cafe in our day;) or when he that fpeaketh as the mouth of the whole Church, hath not fufficient gifts to pray fcripturally and confiftently without: But, where this is not the cafe, unwritten, or extempore prayer, is without all difpute the moft rational, fcriptural, and profitable manner of praying: For our wants and neceffities are various, and not always the fame; as are also those of our brethren, which we often know not, and which no form can fully and feasonably express; but the Holy Spirit knoweth all our neceffities, which is alfo given to us of God to help our infirmities in prayer, and make interceffion for us, because of ourselves we know not how or what to pray for as we ought: We cannot fo much as make our wants or requests known unto God,

or ask to have our wants fupplied in a right and acceptable manner without the Spirit: But this is denied by those who entirely confine themselves and others to a prefcribed form, whereby they quench the Spirit; and hence their prayers for the most part are performed in a careless, sleepy, and lifeless manner.

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But whatever excufe may be made for the use of a fet form in public; yet fure I am no reasonable excufe can be made for it in private; where the perfon is heard and feen by none but GoD only; before whom he may pour out his whole foul freely, and fully, without the leaft fear of being reproached or upbraided for want of gifts or human learning. If he caft himself upon the mercies of GOD in CHRIST, as a helpless, perishing finner, he affuredly finds acceptance with him: or if, as a perplexed and tempted Chriftian, he cries unto God for wisdom help and falvation thro' JESUS CHRIST, his GOD will hear him: Whether he speak little or much, whether his language be grammatical or not, it is the fame with GOD, provided his heart and words go together; or if he cannot speak at all, but groan or figh only, yet God knows, and regards his prayer; for it is the cry of the heart, and the prayer of faith, not the labour of the lips, Gg 4 accuracy

accuracy of speech, or elegance of expreffion, that GOD regards. Yea, the Holy Spirit maketh interceffion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

LASTLY; I fhall conclude this Difcourfe with a few inferences.

1. The manner of our calling upon GoD according to Scripture, which is the rule of every Chriftian's faith and practice, is to pray unto the.... Father thro' JESUS CHRIST. But, if thou art in doubt, and perplexed with Satan's temptations, whether it be right for thee to pray unto CHRIST at all: Be affured it is the will of God, that we fhould bonour the Son even as we honour the Father: For thou canst not pray to CHRIST aright, without praying to the Father alfo; thou canst not fo much as know the Son, nor fee him, without knowing and feeing the Father likewife; for the Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father: Hence he faith, be that bath feen me, bath feen the Father alfo t Therefore when thou prayeft to CHRIST, don't in thy imagination feparate the human from his divine nature, and pray to him as man only; but confider him as he really is, the very God, that was manifefled in fef: Therefore in Chrift dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. But, as we before obferved,

+ John xiv. 9.