No particular posture of the body in prayer was enjoined, even under the law. 2 Sam. vii. 18. then went king David in, and sat before Jehovah, and he said. xii. 16. he lay all night upon the earth. Psal. xcv. 6. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before Jehovah our maker. cxlix. 5. let them sing aloud upon their beds. 1 Kings viii. 22. Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah. v. 54. he arose from kneeling on his knees. See also 2 Chron. vi. 12, 13. xx. 5. Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah-. v. 13. all Judah stood before Jehovah. Dan. vi. 10. he kneeled upon his knees and prayed. Luke xviii. 13. the publican standing afar off Connected with the posture of the body, is the deportment to be observed in prayer. On this subject Paul says, 1 Cor. xi. 4. every man praying or prophesying having his head covered, dishonoureth his head; but every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head. Why was this? Because at that time covering the head was, with both sexes alike,' a token of subjection; on I cannot see how he will escape that heathenish tautology of multiplying words, which Christ himself, that has the putting up of our prayers, told us would not be acceptable in heaven.' Animadversions upon the Remonstrant's Defence. I. 166. 9 Adam and Eve are represented in Paradise Lost as praying, sometimes in a standing posture, sometimes kneeling, sometimes prostrate: Thus they, in lowliest plight repentant stood, where all the commentators have mistaken the true import of the phrase. .....Since I sought By prayer th' offended Deity to appease, Kneel'd, and before him humbled all my heart-. Ibid. 148. They forthwith to the place Repairing where he judg'd them, prostrate fell Before him reverent, and both confess'd Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd. X. 1098. 1 She as a veil down to the slender waist Her unadorned golden tresses wore which implied Subjection. IV. 304. See 1 Cor. xi. 15. her hair is given her for a covering, where the marginal reading is for a veil. which account it was usual for men to pray or prophesy with their heads uncovered. Now, on the contrary, since the covering the head has become a token of authority, and the uncovering it of submission, it is the custom with most churches, especially those of Europe, in compliance not so much with the letter as with the spirit of the law (which is always to be preferred) to worship God uncovered, as being the mark of reverence prescribed by modern custom; but to prophesy covered, in token of the authority with which the speaker is invested; and likewise to listen to his instructions covered, as the deportment most emblematic, according to modern ideas, of our freedom and maturity as sons of God.' sons of God. On the other hand, it will be easily inferred from hence, that in countries where the cold is intense, as Livonia or Russia, or where custom will not allow the head to be uncovered without great impropriety, as in Asia or Africa, it is allowable to pray covered; as has been shown by Cappellus in a learned note on this passage, and by other commentators. With regard to the place of prayer, all are equally suitable.* 1 Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where. For private prayer, a retired place is most proper. Matt. vi. 6. enter into thy closet. xiv. 23. he went up into a mountain apart to pray. To offer private prayer in public is hypocritical. Matt. vi. 5. they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd. Paradise Lost, IV. 293. It was 3 Si forte in Livonia, Norvegia, Suedia, Moscovia, &c. hyberno tempore, capite adeoque et manibus tectis orant, ratio est manifesta; natura nempe cœli, ob aëris inclementiam, non patitur ut sint tum aperto capite: itaque etsi tum adversus To inτòv hujus canonis forte faciunt, non faciunt tamen adversus ejus mentem, et rationem qua nititur, consuetudinem nimirum civilem: nam tum apud eos ne supplices quidem caput forte aperire solent, aut inferiores coram superioribus, ob cœli, uti dixi, inclementiam stare.' Lud. Cappelli Spicilegium in 1 Cor. xi. 4. Compare however the whole passage, Sect. 1-15.. To teach thee that God attributes to place No sanctity, if none be thither brought By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. Paradise Lost, XI. 836. lawful however to offer private prayer in the sanctuary, and afterwards in the temple at Jerusalem, as in the instances of Hannah, David, and others, quoted above. Neither is there any time at which prayer may not be properly offered. Psal. cxix. 55. I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night. v. 62. at midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee. v. 164. seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgements. Luke xviii. 1. men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Eph. vi. 18. praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto—. Col. iv. 12. always labouring fervently for you in prayers. 1 Thess. v. 17. pray without ceasing. The seasons most appropriate for prayer, however, are evening, morning, and noon-day. Psal. lv. 17. evening and morning and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice. v. 3. my voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Jehovah; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee. lxxxviii. 13. in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. xcii. 1, 2. it is a good thing to give thanks unto Jehovah.... to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. cxix. 147. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried. v. 148. mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. Dan. vi. 10. he kneeled upon his knees three times a day. Mark i. 35. in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Acts x. 9. Peter went up on the house-top to pray about the sixth hour. FOR OURSELVES OR OTHERS; inasmuch as we are commanded not to pray for ourselves only, but for all mankind. 1 Tim. ii. 1—3. I exhort therefore that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. Particularly for the universal church and its ministers. Psal. xxviii. 9. save thy people, and bless thine inheritance. See also iii. 8. li. 18. do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion. Ixxiv. 2, &c. remember thy congregation. cii. 13. thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is 5 Super populum tuum sit benedictio tua maxime. Tremell. The precatory form is not preserved in our authorized translation: thy blessing is upon thy people. come. cxxii. 6. pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Matt. ix. 38. pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Eph. vi. 18, 19. with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit ...for all saints, and for me, that, &c.-. Col. iv. 3. withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ. For all magistrates; especially with a view to the peace of the church. Psal. lxxii. 1. give the king thy judgements—. Jer. xxix. 7. seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto Jehovah for it; for in the peace thereof ye shall have peace. 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Even for our enemies. Matt. v. 44. pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. Luke xxiii. 34. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Acts vii. 60. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Much more for the brethren. Rom. i. 8-10. without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers-. If however there be any whom we know certainly to be past remedy, we are not to pray for them. Jer. vii. 16. pray not thou for this people. See also xiv. 11, 12. John xvii. 9. I pray not for the world. 1 John v. 16. there is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it. We are even commanded to call down curses publicly on the enemies of God and the church; as also on false brethren, and on such as are guilty of any grievous offence against God, or even against ourselves. The same may be lawfully done in private prayer, after the example of some of the holiest of men. Gen. ix. 25. cursed be Canaan. Deut. xxvii. 13-26. these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse-. Judges v. 23. curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Psal. v. 10. destroy thou them, O God. cix. 6, &c. set thou a wicked man over him, and let Satan stand at his right hand. cxl. 10. let burning coals fall upon them. Similar imprecations occur in many other Psalms. 2 Kings ii. 24. he cursed them in the name of Jehovah. Jer. xviii. 19, &c.....deliver up their children to the famine....for they have digged a pit to take me—. Neh. iv. 4, &c. give them for a prey in the land of captivity. vi. 14. think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works. xiii. 25. I contended with them, and cursed them. Acts viii. 20. thy money perish with thee. Gal. v. 12. I would they were even cut off that trouble you. 2 Tim. iv. 14. the Lord reward him according to his works. It is expressly promised that supplications offered in a spirit of faith and obedience shall be heard. Psal. cxlv. 18. Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Isai. lix. 1, 2. neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; but..... your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. lxv. 24. it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Dan. ix. 20, &c. whiles I was speaking and praying....even the man Gabriel.... touched me, &c.-. x. 12. from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand...thy words were heard. John ix. 31. if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Hence our knowledge of God's will, or of his providence in the government of the world, ought not to render us less earnest in deprecating evil and desiring good, but the contrary. Exod. xxxii. 10. now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them, and I will make of thee a great nation : and Moses besought Jehovah his God, and said. 1 Chron. xvii. 25, 26. thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house; therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. John xvii. 1. Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, v. 5. O Father, glorify thou me. It frequently happens, however, that believers are not heard in all that they ask for themselves or others; namely, when they seek what is contrary to their own good, or to the glory of God. Deut. iii. 25, 26. I pray thee, let me go over and see....but Jehovah said unto me, Let it suffice thee, speak no more unto me of this matter. 1 Sam. xv. 11. it grieved Samuel, |