to hold correspondence with their God; permit it to do all the service it can.

Had I found any treatise that had answered my designs, I had never given myself the trouble of writing this at first, nor ventured to expose it now. There are, indeed, several well-composed forms of devotion in the world, written by ministers of the conformist, and non-conformist persuasions; and these are of excellent use to instruct us, in the matter and language of prayer, if we maintain our holy liberty, and do not tie our thoughts down to the words of men. Mr. Henry's Method of Prayer is a judicious collection of scriptures, proper to the several parts of that duty. Mr. Murray has composed a volume of addresses to God, which he calls Closet Devotions on the Principal Heads of Divinity, in the Expressions of Scripture. Both these, if rightly used, will afford happy assistance to the humble and serious worshipper. Those Six Sermons of Prayer, published since this was written, are the useful labors of some of my valuable friends, and have many divine thoughts in them; but they take in the whole compass of this subject, in all the inward as well as outward parts of the worship; and, therefore, could not allow sufficient room to enlarge upon that which is my great design.

It is not necessary to inform the world, that Bishop Wilkins, in his discourse of the Gift of Prayer, has been my chief assistant toward the second chapter of this book; nor need I tell my reader what writings I have consulted of the learned and pious Dr. Owen, and others that have written for or against the work of the Spirit in Prayer, in order to gain a clearer light; nor what hints I have borrowed from the treatise of a very judicious author, with a fanciful title imposed

upon it by an unknown hand, and called the Generation of Seekers, wherein several practical cases about the aids of the Spirit are largely and well handled, though I had the opportunity of knowing and consulting it only since this was in the press.

But if there are any advances made here beyond the labors of great men in the last age, I hope the world will excuse this attempt; and if younger Christians, by perusal of these papers, shall find themselves improved in the holy skill of prayer, when they get nearest to the throne of grace, I entreat them to put in one petition for the author, who has languished under great weakness for some years past, and is cut off from all public service. If ever he be restored again, he shall rejoice in farther labors for their good; he shall share in the pleasure of their improvements, and assist them in the work of praise.

GUIDE TO PRAYER.

INTRODUCTION.

PRAYER is a word of an extensive sense in Scripture, and includes not only a request or petition for mercies, but is taken for the address of a creature on earth to God in heaven, about every thing that concerns his God, his neighbor, or himself, in this world or the world to come. It is that converse which God hath allowed us to maintain with himself above, while we are here below. It is that language wherein a creature holds correspondence with his Creator; and wherein the soul of a saint often gets near to God, is entertained with great delight, and, as it were, dwells with his Heavenly Father, for a short season, before he comes to heaven. It is a glorious privilege that our Maker hath indulged to us, and a necessary part of that obedience which he hath required of us, at all times and seasons, and in every circumstance of life;-according to those scriptures, 1 Thess. v. 17. "Pray without ceasing." Phil. iv. 6. "In every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be

made known to God." Eph. vi. 18. “Praying always, with all prayer and supplication."

Prayer is a part of divine worship that is required of all men, and is to be performed either with the voice, or only in the heart, and is called vocal or mental prayer. It is commanded to single persons in their private retirements, in a more solemn and continued method or manner: and, in the midst of the business of life, by secret and sudden liftings up of the soul to God. It belongs also to the communities of men, whether they be natural, as families, or civil, as corporations, parliaments, courts, or societies for trade and business; and to religious communities, as when persons meet on any pious design, they should seek their God: it is required of the churches of Christians in an especial manner; for the house of God is the house of prayer. Since, therefore, it is a duty of such absolute necessity for all men, and of such universal use, it is fit we should all know how to perform it aright, that it may obtain acceptance of the great God, and become a delightful and profitable exercise to our own souls, and to those that join with us.

To this end I shall deliver my thoughts on this subject in the following order:

First, I shall speak of the nature of prayer as a duty of worship,

Secondly, As it is to be performed by the gifts or abilities God has bestowed upon us.

Thirdly, As it must be attended with the exercise of our graces.

Fourthly, As we are assisted in it by the Spirit of God: And,

Fifthly, Conclude all with an earnest address to Christians, to seek after this holy skill of converse with God.

CHAPTER I.

THE NATURE OF PRAYER.

In the discourse of prayer, considered as a duty of worship required of us, that we may understand the whole nature of it better, let it be divided into its several parts; and 1 think they may be all included in these following, namely:

Invocation, Adoration, Confession, Petition, Pleading, Profession or Self-dedication, Thanksgiving and Blessing-of each of which I shall speak particularly.

SECTION I.

OF INVOCATION.

THE first part of prayer is Invocation, or calling upon God; and it may include in it these three things:

1. A making mention of one or more of the names or titles of God; and thus we do, as it were, bespeak the person to whom we pray: as you have abundant instances in the prayers that are delivered down to us in Holy Scripture; "Oh Lord my God,