Important and necessary.

nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7 Aud give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Ezk. 36: 37 Thus saith the Lord Gon; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.

10

Mat. 5: 44 Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 6: 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us

not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. -26: 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Lk. 18: 1 He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

Ep. 6: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Ph. 4: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Col. 4: 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

1 Th. 3: 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?-5: 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks.

1 Tim. 2: 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Heb. 4: 15 We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

16

Jam. 5: 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

Secret Prayer-Mental Prayer - Audible Prayer required.

1 Pet. 4:7 The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. [See 64.]

531. Secret prayer required and exemplified.

Ps. 119: 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.

Mat. 6: 6 When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.-14: 23 When he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Mk. 1: 35 In the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Lk. 5: 16 He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. [See 665.]

532. Mental prayer exemplified.

1 S. 1: 12 It came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Neh. 2: 4 The king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

533. Prayer, verbal and audible, required and exemplified.

1 K. 8: 22 Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation. of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 28 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his

Audible Prayer required.

supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to-day: 29 That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.. 30 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place: and when thou hearest, forgive.

Ps. 55: 16 As for me, I will call upon God: and the LORD shall save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.—86: 3 Be merciful unto me, O LORD: for I cry unto thee daily.

Dan. 9: 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 20 And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

Hos. 14: 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

Joel 1: 14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.

Mat. 26: 39 He went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Mk. 8: 6 He commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

Ac. 1: 24 They prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.—7:59 They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their

Nature of acceptable Prayer.

charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.-20: 36 When he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

NATURE OF ACCEPTABLE PRAYER.

534. Devout prayer includes love and obedience to God.

Ps. 37: 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart.

Pr. 28: 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Jn. 9: 31 We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

1 Jn. 3: 22 Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. [See 289.]

535. Acceptable prayer includes faith in God.

Heb. 10: 22 Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.-11: 6 Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Jam. 1: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [See 293.]

536. True prayer includes submission to God.

Ps. 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. -40: 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Mat. 6: 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 26: 39 He went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Lk. 22: 41 He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if

Nature of acceptable Prayer.

thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, nɔt my will, but thine, be done.

Ac. 21: 14 When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. [See 278, 298.]

537. Prayer includes humility, confession, and repentance.

2 Ch. 7: 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.—33: 12 When he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

Ps. 9: 12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Lk. 18: 13 The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

[See 124, 356-7, 663.]

538. Prayer includes a supreme regard for God's glory.

1 K. 18: 36 It came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

Ps. 25: 11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.—79: 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.-143: 11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Is. 37: 20 O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

Dan. 9: 17 O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and