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

Of the use of the Lords prayer.

Of the vse of the Lords praier.

The principal use of the Lords prayer is, to direct God his Church, in making their prayers in all places, at all times, and upon all occasions, though their prayers should be innumerable: and unless they be framed after this, they can not be right.

THe principal vse of the Lords prayer is, to direct God his Church, in making their praiers in all places, at al times, and vpon all occasions, though their praiers should be innumerable: and vnles they be framed after this, they can not be right.

In the using of it for direction, there be three things required. 1 The first is, the knowledge of the Lords prayer, and all the parts thereof. He that would pray by it, must understand the meaning thereof, the wants therein to be bewailed, and the graces to be desired, for which end it hath bin expounded. 2. Knowing this, there is in the second place required thus much skill, that he be able to refer every want & grace to one of the six petitions: for example: feeling in himself pride of heart, he must be able to say, this is a want in the ⟨image 70⟩first petition: and feeling a rebellion & slowness in doing Gods commandment, he must be able to say, this is a sin to be prayed against in the 3. petition. Thus, every want he must refer to his proper head; again, he must refer every grace to be desired, to one of the six petitions: is strength in temptation to the sixth; affiance in Gods providence to the fourth; knowledge of God to the first, &c. and so in the rest. 3. In the third place, he must before he pray, consider what be his wants and imperfections, which most trouble him, as also the graces which he would obtain: then, for the helping of his memory, he must go to the petitions, and he must set those things first in his mind, which do concern the first petition; and those which concern the second petition, must have the second place in his mind and so he must proceed in order as