The Art of catechising, or, The compleat catechist in four parts ...

SECT. IV. Postulanda: Or, Things to be prayed for.

Of the Lord's Prayer.

Catechist.

MY good Child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thy self, nor to walk in the command∣ments

of God, and to serve him without his special Grace, which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent Prayer. Let me hear therefore if thou caust say the Lord's Prayer.

Answer.

Our Father, &c.

CAN we keep God's Commandments without his help? No.

Should we not daily pray to God for his Grace and Strength to do his Will? Yes.

Should any Christian pray less than twice every day? No.

Should not those who have leisure, do well to do it oftner? Yes.

Must our Heart go along with our Mouths, when we pray? Yes.

Should a Christian kneel upon his knees when he prays? Yes.

In our Prayers should we ever leave out the Lord's Prayer? No.

PREFACE.

Our Father which art in Heaven,

I. PETITION.

Hallowed be thy Name.

IS not God who created us our Father? Yes.

Are we not his Children by Adoption too? Yes.

Is he not then our Father by Creation, and our Father in Christ Jesus? Yes.

Is this good Father of ours unwilling to hear us, if we ask aright? No.

Is not this our Father in Heaven? Yes.

When you say Father, doth not this teach you to pray with the Affections of a Child and with reverential Love? Yes.

When you say Our Father, doth not this, teach you to pray for others, as well as your self? Yes.

When we say hallowed be thy Name, do we not mean, Sanctified be thy Name? Yes.

When we say hallowed be thy Name, do we not desire God to enable us to Worship, Glo∣rifie, and Honour him? Yes.

Can we Reverence, and Adore, and Glorifie him aright, unless he enable us? No.

Is it not fit therefore we should first desire him to strike an awe into our Hearts, while we are praying to him? Yes.

II. PETITION. Thy Kingdom come.

WHen we say Thy Kingdom come, do we not pray that God's Kingdom of Grace may come to us here? Yes.

And do we not pray that his Kingdom of Glory may come to us hereafter? Yes.

Can we pray for any thing better, or more desirable than the Kingdom of Grace here, and the Kingdom of Glory hereafter? No.

And do we not pray, that Satan's Kingdom may be destroyed in us? Yes.

So that do we not pray, that Christ, as King, may rule in our Hearts, by his Grace here? Yes.

And that the blessed time may hasten, when all his Saints shall reign with him in Glory hereafter? Yes.

III. PETITION. Thy will be done in Earth, As it is in Heaven.

WHen we say, Thy will be done, do we not pray, that God would enable us to obey his will? Yes.

Can we do God's will, unless he enable us? No.

And do we not pray, that God would ena∣ble us to suffer his will patiently, in all Af∣flictions? Yes.

So that, do we not mean, thy will be done by us, and thy will be done in us? Yes.

When we say, in Earth, as it is in Heaven, do we not pray, that we may do his will on Earth, with the like sincerity and chearful∣ness, as the Angels do in Heaven? Yes.

IV. PETITION. Give us this day our daily bread.

WHen we say, Give us this day our daily bread, do we not pray, that God would give us all things needful for our Bodies? Yes.

And do we not pray, that God would bless our lawful endeavours, in order to such Sup∣plies? Yes.

And do we not pray, that God would give us the continual Supply of his Grace, for our Souls? Yes.

Is it reasonable to expect Grace for the Soul, and Food and Raiment for the Body, unless we pray for it? No.

By saying Bread, are we not taught to pray for necessaries, not superfluities? Yes.

In saying our bread, do we not mean that which is procured by direct and honest means? Yes.

Our bread, that is, our own, not another's, is it not? Yes.

Do we not mean by daily bread, that which is convenient for our present condition and occasions? Yes.

In short, do we not here pray for all Bles∣sings, temporal and spiritual, to our Souls a•••• Bodies? Yes.

V. PETITION. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us.

WHen we say, Forgive us our trespasses, do we not pray for pardon of Sins? Yes.

Do we not pray, that God would for Jesus sake acquit us from the Guilt and Punishment of our Sins? Yes.

Can a Christian pray rightly to God, with hatred, malice, or desires of revenge in his heart? No.

Can we expect forgiveness of God, unless we forgive others their Offences against us? No.

But if a man have considerably trespassed us, may we seek reasonable satisfaction? Yes.

But may we seek it with any hatred, or ma∣lice, or revenge to the Person? No.

Must not a Christian then seek satisfaction for damages, without rigour, spight or bitter∣ness? Yes.

Is it not an unchristian thing to go to Law for trifles? Yes.

Or to go to Law for revenge and stoutness of Humour? Yes.

May I go to Law meerly because another has disquieted me by that means? No.

Must a Christian love his Enemies? Yes.

Though this be hard, yet is not Heaven a great reward for it? Yes.

Must a Christian do good to them that hate him, when it lies in his power? Yes.

Though this be hard, yet is not the promise of a Crown of Glory enough to make amends for it? Yes.

Should we Christians then return these in∣juries to others which we receive from them? No.

When we pray, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive, &c. do we not pray, that no man may fare the worse in the day of Judgment, for any wrongs done to us? Yes.

And do we not pray in this Petition, that God would give us the Grace of Charity and Forgiveness? Yes.

VI. PETITION. And lead us not into temptation;

ARE not the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, alway by their Temptations draw∣ing us to Sin? Yes.

Can we overcome their Temptations with∣out God's help? No.

When we say, Lead us not into Temptation, do we not pray, that God would not suffer us to be overcome by their Temptations? Yes.

Do we not pray, that God would not with∣draw his Grace from us? Yes.

Can we stand in Temptations, without his Grace? No.

Well then, do we not pray, that we may not be grievously tempted to sin? Yes.

Or if we are tempted, do we not pray that we may not fall into it? Yes.

And do we not pray, that we may not

live impenitently in sin, if we should fall into it. Yes.

Is it a sin to be tempted? No.

Does not the sin lie in yielding to the Tem∣ptation? Yes.

Can the Devil tempt us without God's permission? No.

In short, do we not pray, that God would either restrain the Temptation, or assist us in it? Yes.

And is there not daily need of this Petition? Yes.

VII. PETITION. But deliver us from evil:

WHen we say, Deliver us from evil, do we not pray, that God would deliver us from all Evils of this life, and that to come? Yes.

Especially, that he would deliver us from the Evils to which we are tempted? Yes.

Can we deliver our selves out of any Evil without God's help? No.

And do we not pray, that God would keep none of his wrath in store for us? Yes.

Do we pray, that God would deliver us from the evil One, that is, Satan? Yes.

And from the evil of Sin? Yes.

And from the evil of Punishment? Yes.

And from the evil World? Yes.

And from our own evil Heart? Yes.

From evil Thoughts, evil Words, and evil Actions. Yes.

The CONCLUSION. For thine is the Kingdom, the Pow∣er, and the Glory, for ever. Amen.

WHen we pray to God, should we ever omit to praise him too? No.

When we say, For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, do we not praise him? Yes.

Do we not in these Words acknowledge God to be of infinite Power and Glory? Yes.

Doth not this teach us, that the right end of our Prayers should be the Glory of God? Yes.

When we say Amen, do we not express our Belief that God can, and our desire that he will grant these Requests? Yes.

Is not this therefore an excellent Form of Prayer? Yes.

When a Christian prays to God, should he ever leave out this Prayer? No.

Question.

What desirest thou of God in this Prayer?

Answer.

I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father, — to send, &c.

DO we not solemnly own God in this Prayer, to be our heavenly Father? Yes.

Is not the word Father, an endearing word? Yes.

And should you not live in his sight, with the reverential Affections, the Love and O∣bedience of a Child? Yes.

And seeing he is a tender Father, should not this encourage us to pray to him? Yes.

Would any Man (methinks) be excused from asking good Things of him, who is the giver of all Goodness? No.

Is it not reasonable we should beg the Grace of God, seeing we can do no good thing with∣out it? Yes.

Can we worship him, serve him, and obey him, without the assistance of his Grace? No.

Is it not reasonable we should beg daily bread, all things needful for our Souls and Bo∣dies, of our Father, from whom alone they come? Yes.

Are we not undone for ever, if he be not merciful to us, and forgive us our Sins? Yes.

Should we therefore forget, earnestly to beg forgiveness daily? No.

Should not our expectation of God's for∣giveness, make us incline to forgive our Bre∣thren? Yes.

Are we not liable to Dangers, ghostly and bodily, every Day of our lives? Yes.

Is it not God's Protection and Grace, that secures us from any of them? Yes.

And have we not reason to beg him daily to save us from all dangers, ghostly and bodily, i. e. of Soul and Body? Yes.

Is it not by his restraining Grace that we are kept from all sin and wickedness? Yes.

Is it not by his Power and Providence that we are kept from our ghostly Enemy, the Devil? Yes.

Is it not by his Mercy, that we are kept one day more from everlasting death? Yes.

Can we desire any thing better, than to be kept by his Grace, from Sin, the Devil, and Hell? No.

Are not Sin, Hell, the Devil, and Everlasting Death, the most dreadful things imaginable? Yes.

And have we not reason to beg God daily to deliver us from them? Yes.

Are we not to trust, that our loving Father, for Christ's sake, will do these things for us? Yes.