An exposition of the Lords prayer in the way of catechism By William PerkinsAn exposition of the Lords praier in the way of catechisme By William Perkins

The second question is, what kind of action prayer is? Answer: it is no lip-labour, it is the putting up of a suit unto God, and this action is peculiar to the very hart of a man. Rom. 8. 26. The spirit makes request for us: But how? with groans in the hart. Exod. 14. 15. The Lord said to Moses, Why criest thou? Yet there is no mention made that Moses spake any word at all: the Lord no doubt, accepted the inward mourning and desire of his hart for a cry.

The second question is, what kinde of action prayer is? Answer: it is no lip-labour, it is the putting vp of a sute vnto God, and this action is peculiar to the verie hart of a man. Rom. 8. 26. The spirite makes request for vs: But how? with grones in the hart. Exod. 14. 15. The Lord said to Moses, Why criest thou? Yet there is no mentiō made that Moses spake any word at all: the Lorde no doubt, accepted the inward mourning and desire of his hart for a crie.

The third question is, what is the form or rule, according unto which we are to pray. Answer. It is the revealed will and word of God. A man in humbling his soul before God, is not to pray as his affections carry him, and for what he list▪ but all is to be done according to the express word. So as those things which God hath commanded ⟨p. 9⟩us to ask, we are to ask, and those things which he hath not commanded us to ask, we are in no wise to pray for. 1. John. 5. 14. This is the assurance which we have of him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us. This then is a special clause to be marked, that men must pray in knowledge, not in ignorance. Here weigh the case of poor ignorant people: they talk much of praying for themselves & others, they imagine that they pray very devoutly to God, but alas, they do nothing less: because they know not what to ask according to Gods will. They therefore must learn Gods word, and pray according to the same; else it will prove in the end, that all their praying was nothing but as mocking and flat dishonouring of God.