Chapter 27: Of Prayer and Other Means of Growing in Faith

Q. What is the general nature of prayer?

A. Not only a wish or desire after this, or that; for a man may have so much and never pray (James 4:2).

Q. What is it then?

A. Prayer is an opening of the desire of the heart before God, whether it be by sighs and groans, or by words, and other means.

Q. To whom must we pray?

A. To him that knows the heart, and is almighty, and so able to help, to him that is to be worshipped, and believed in, which is none but God.

Q. Whether must we pray to God directly and immediately, or through a Mediator?

A. Only through the mediation of Jesus Christ (John 14:6 & 16:23; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25).

Q. What are the parts of prayer?

A. Petition and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 11).

Q. What is petition?

A. A prayer wherein we ask the preventing or removing of things hurtful, and the bestowing of things needful (Matthew 7:7, 8, 9, 10).

Q. What is thanksgiving?

A. A prayer wherein we desire that honor and glory may be given to God for what we have received, or do believe we shall receive hereafter.

Q. Whether is not confession of our sins and miseries, and vows and promises to God, parts of prayer?

A. They may be called adjuncts of prayer, because they are to be expressed or understood in every prayer.

Q. How may that appear?

A. By this, because to come to God for mercy without an acknowledgement of our unworthiness and misery, and to desire him to perform what he requires of us, is little better than a mocking of God.

Q. Are there any for whom we must not pray?

A. Yes; we must not pray for the dead, because we cannot do it of faith, as having neither precept nor example, nor any good warrant for it in the world (Romans 14:23).

Q. Why else may we not pray for the dead?

A. Because such prayers cannot avail at all, but are altogether vain (1 Peter 3:19; Hebrews 9:27).

Q. For whom else must we not pray?

A. We must not pray for the salvation of all men living universally, for that is contrary to the revealed will of God; nor for any in particular that have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost.

Q. For whom then must we pray?

A. For all other sorts of men now living, both ourselves and others, whether they be friends or enemies, and for some that shall live hereafter.

Q. Is there any rule of direction according to which we ought to frame our prayers?

A. Yes, the whole will of God revealed for this purpose in the word, and that pattern of prayer given by Christ to his disciples.

Q. Seeing God knows all our wants before we pray, and has determined with himself what he will do for us, therefore then should we pray?

A. Not to inform him, as if he were ignorant of our estates, for he understands our thoughts afar off; nor to change his mind, for his purpose is unchangeable.

Q. Why then?

A. We are therefore to pray, because God has appointed prayer to be the way and means whereby he will accomplish that which he has purposed to do for us.

Q. How must we pray that we may be accepted?

A. The persons praying must be righteous, humble, and upright, and the matter of prayer must be something lawful and promised.

Q. And what must be the manner of praying, and the end aimed at therein?

A. The manner must be in sense and feeling of our wants; with faith, fervency, and perseverance; and the end must not be that we may consume it upon our lusts, but for the glory of God.

Q. What other means are there for the increasing of faith?

A. Diligent reading of the holy Scriptures, and serious meditation therein, with frequent and holy conference with others.