BUT when ye pray, ufe not vain Repetitions, as the Heathen

do: for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking, Matt. vi. 7.

Prayer requires more of the Heart than of the Tongue, of Sighs than of Words, of Faith than of Difcourfe. The Eloquence of Prayer confifts in the Fervency of Defire, in the Simplicity of Faith, and in the Earneftness and Perfeverance of Love. The Abundance and choice of fine Thoughts, ftudied and vehement Motions, and the Order and Politeness of the Expreffions, are Things which compofe a meer human Harangue, not an humble and Christian Prayer. Our Truft and Confidence ought to proceed from that which God is able to do in us, not from that which we can fay to God.

Through my Redeemer's Name.

So fhall the Vifits of thy Love
My Soul in fecret blefs,

While my warm Vows to Thee afpire, So fhalt thou deign in Worlds above

Thy Suppliant to confefs.

BE

E not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what Things ye have need of, before ye afk him. Mat. vi. 8.

Prayer is not defigned to inform God, but to give Man a Sight of his Mifery, to humble his Heart, to excite his Defire, to inflame his Faith, to animate his Hope, to raise his Soul towards Heaven, and to put him in mind that there is his Father, his Country, his Inheritance, &c. He is a Father to whom we pray; let us go to him with Confidence; he knows our Wants; let us remove far from us all anxious Difquiet and Concern.

For th' Omnifcient's Information,

Need we formal Prayers repeat?
To excite his flow Compaffion,
God, the gracious God intreat?
Alas! I know not how to pray,
But all my Wants are known to Thee,
Father inftruct me what to say,

Lord, our Hearts are before Thee,

Lord, to ALL thy Bowels move,
Help us, for our Wants implore Thee,
Love us with a Father's Love.
Or interceed thyself for me,
Then hearken to thy Spirit's Groan,
Speak, Father, am I not thy Son.

AFTER this Manner therefore pray ÿe- Mått. vi. 9.

The Prayer, which JESUS CHRIST here gives us, is the Pattern of all Chriftian-Prayer, and an Abridgement of the Gofpel. What Satisfaction is it to learn from God himself, with what Words and in what Manner he would have us to pray to Him, fo as not to pray in vain! A King, who himself draws up the Petition, which he allows to be prefented to himself, has furely a very great Defire to grant the Request. We do not fufficiently conceive the Value of this Prayer; the Respect and Attention, which it requires the Preference to be given to it, its Fulness and Perfection, the frequent Ufe we should make of it, and the Spirit we should bring along with us to it. The Order of the Petitions is the Order of our Defires, and of our Duties; it is here we ought to be particularly mindful of them.

Send, O fend me how away,
By granting my Request,
Still I follow Thee, and pray,
And will not let Thee reft:

Ever crying after Thee,

'Till Thou my Helplessness remove,

Mercy, Mercy upon me,

Thou Son of David have.

OUR Father which art in Heaven,

We must, in the first Place, fay this Prayer with the Heart of an heavenly Child, difengaged from the Earth by his new Birth, animated with the Spirit of the divine Adoption, and full of Defire to be united to his Father and Author. The Heart of a Child of God is a brotherly Heart, in refpect of all other Chriftians; it afks nothing but in the Spirit of Unity, Fellowfhip, and Chriftian Charity, defiring that for its Brethren which it defires for itself. Let us adore God, in the Unity and Simplicity of his Effence, in the Trinity and Fellowship of his Perfons, as the Father of Chriftians, the Source and Model of all Paternity both in Heaven and Earth, and the Author of all created Good..

› Father of Earth and Sky,
Thy Name we magnify;
O that Earth and Heaven might join
Father of all, whofe pow'rful Voice
Call'd forth this universal Frame,
Whose Mercies over all rejoice.

Thro' endless Ages ftill the fame :

Thy Perfections to proclaim,
Praise the Attributes divine,

Fear and love thy awful Name.
Thou by thy Word upholdest all,

Thy bounteous Love to all is fhew'd, Thou hear'ft thy every Creature's Call, And filleft every Mouth with Good.

HAllowed be thy Name,

We must say it with the Heart of a Prieft, all inflamed with Zeal for God's Glory, and for the Sanctification of Souls, and with the Defire of that Holiness, which fhould render him like to God as to his Father. In the Sanctification of his Children, God is pleafed to place his Glory; and therefore this Glory and this Sanctification we ought to defire and to pray for, before all Things. Let us adore the Holinefs of God; let us defire that his holy Name may be every where known; let us labour to this Purpose with all our Power, beginning first with ourselves.

Dear Lord, we pant for Holiness,

And inbred Sin we mourn,
To the bright Path of thy Commands
Our wand'ring Footsteps turn.

Not more fincerely would we wifh
To climb the heav'nly Hill,
Than here, with all our utmost Power,
Thy Pleasure to fulfill.

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