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A65285 A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ... Watson, Thomas, d. 1686. 1692 (1692) Wing W1109; ESTC R32148 1,021,388 604

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Blood of a deeper Colour and can wash away Sin If Satan strikes us with his Darts of Temptation here is a precious Balm comes out of Christ's Wounds to heal us Isa. 53.5 What tho we feed upon the Bread of Affliction as long as in the Sacrament we feed upon the Bread of Life So that Christ received aright Sacramentally is an universal Medicine for the healing and an universal Cordial for the cheering of our distressed Souls III. The Benefits of our Redemption are applyed to us by Prayer Psalm 109.4 But I give my self to Prayer I shall not expatiate upon Prayer at large being to speak more fully to it in the Lords Prayer But to the words I give my self to Prayer It is one thing to Pray and another thing to be given to Prayer He who prays frequently is said to be given to Prayer as he who often distributes Almes is said to be given to Charity Prayer is a glorious Ordinance it is the Souls trading with Heaven God comes down to us by his Spirit and we go up to him by Prayer Quest. 1. What Prayer is Answ. It is an offering up of our desires to God for things agreeable to his Will in the Name of Christ. 1. Prayer is an offering up of our Desires Therefore it is called a making known of our Requests Phil. 4.6 In Prayer we come as humble Petitioners begging to have our Suit granted 2. 'T is offering up our Desires to God Prayer is not to be made to any but God The Papists pray to Saints and Angels but they know not our grievances Isa. 63.16 Abraham is ignorant of us And all Angel-worship is forbidden Col. 2.18 19. We must not pray to any but whom we may believe in Rom. 10.14 How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed But we cannot believe in an Angel therefore we must not pray to him Quest. Why must Prayer be made only to God Resp 1. Because he only hears Prayer Psal. 65.2 O thou that hearest Prayer Hereby God is known to be the true God in that he hears Prayer 1 Kin. 18.37 Hear me O Lord hear me that the people may know that thou art the Lord God 2. Because God only can help We may look to second Causes and cry as the Woman did 2 Kings 6.26 Help my lord O king And he said if the Lord do not help thee whence shall I help thee If we are in outward distress God must send from Heaven and save if we are in inward agonies he only can pour in the Oyl of Joy therefore Prayer is to be made to him only 3. For things agreeable to his Will When we pray for outward things for Riches or Children perhaps God sees these things are not good for us our Prayers must comport with Gods Will. We may pray absolutely for Grace For this is the will of God our Sanctification 1 Thess. 4.3 There might be no strange incense offered Exod. 30 9. When we pray for things which are not agreeable to Gods Will it is offering strange Incense 4. In the Name of Christ. To pray in the Name of Christ is not only to mention Christs Name in Prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs Merit 1 Sam. 7.9 Samuel took a sucking Lamb and offered it c. We must carry the Lamb Christ in the arms of our Faith and so we prevail in Prayer When Vzziah would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26.16 When we do not pray in Christs Name in the hope of his Mediation we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with rebukes and to have God answer us by terrible things Quest. 2. What are the parts of Prayer Answ. 1. There is the Confessory part which is the acknowledging of Sin 2. The Supplicatory part when we either deprecate and pray against some evil or request the obtaining of some good 3. The Gratulatory part when we give thanks for Mercies received which is the most excellent part of Prayer In Petition we act like Men in giving of Thanks we act like Angels Quest. 3. What are the several sorts of Prayer Resp. 1. There is Mental Prayer in the Mind 1 Sam. 1.13 2. Vocal Psalm 77.1 3. Ejaculatory which is a sudden and short elevation of the heart to God Neh. 2.4 So I prayed to the God of Heaven 4. Conceiv'd Prayer when we pray for those things which God puts into our heart Rom. 8.26 The Spirit helps us with sighs and groans Both the expressions of the tongue so far as they are right and the impressions of the heart are from the Spirit 5. Prescribed Prayer Our Saviour hath set us a pattern of Prayer God prescribed a set Form of Blessing for the Priests Numb 6.23 6. Publick Prayer when we pray in the audience of others Prayer is more powerful when many joyn and unite their forces Vis uni●a fortior Matth. 18.19 7. Private Prayer when we pray by our selves Mat. 6.6 Enter into thy closet Quest. 4. What is that Prayer which is most like to prevail with God Resp. When Prayer is rightly qualified That is a good Medicine which hath the right ingredients That Prayer is good and is most like to prevail with God which hath these seven ingredients in it 1. Prayer must be mixed with Faith Iam. 1.6 But let him pray in faith Believe God hears and will in his due time grant Believe Gods Love and Truth Believe that he is Love therefore will not deny you believe that he is Truth therefore will not deny himself Faith sets God a work Faith is to Prayer as the Feather is to the Arrow Faith feathers the arrow of Prayer and makes it fly swifter and pierce the Throne of Grace Prayer that is faithless is fruitless 2. A melting Prayer Psal. 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken heart The incense was to be beaten to typifie the breaking of the heart in prayer O saith a Christian I cannot pray with such gifts and elocution as others as Moses said I am not eloquent But canst thou weep Doth thy Heart melt in Prayer Weeping prayer prevails Tears drop as pearls from the eye Iacob wept and made supplication and had power over the Angel Hos. 12.4 3. Prayer must be fired with zeal and fervency Iam. 5.16 Effectual fervent Prayer prevails much Cold Prayers like cold Suitors never speed Prayer without fervency is like a Sacrifice without Fire Prayer is called a pouring out of the Soul 1 Sam. 1.15 to signifie vehemency Formality starves prayer Prayer is compared to Incense Psal. 141.2 Let my prayer be set forth as incense Hot Coals were to be put to the Incense to make it odoriferous and fragrant fervency of Affection is like Coals put to the Incense it makes prayer ascend as a sweet perfume Christ prayed with strong cryes Heb. 5.7 Clamor iste penetrat nubes Luther Fervent prayer like