Should be devout.

unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

1001 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

107: 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

ness.

150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent great3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Mat. 26:30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Ac. 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Heb. 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Ps. 57: 7-11, and 92: 1-4, and 96: 1-4.

455. Praise should be offered with a devout heart.

Ps. 111:1 I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

1 Cor. 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Ep. 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms,

Duty of Prayer.

and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

PRAYER.

456. Prayer an important duty.

Is. 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Mat. 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and 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. 10 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 And 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

Secret Prayer-Mental Prayer.

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 Savior. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Heb. 4: 15 For 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.

. Jam. 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

1 Pet. 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

457. Secret prayer.

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

Mat. 6:6 But thou, 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 And 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 And 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 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

458. Mental prayer.

1 S. 1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying Defore 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

Audible Prayer.

daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

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

1 K. 8:22 And 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 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. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved.

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.

Nature of acceptable Prayer.

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 And 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 And 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 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.

7:59 And 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 charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him.

27:35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

460. How must acceptable prayer be made?

1. With love and obedience to God.

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

91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

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

Jn. 9:31 Now 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 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.