Prayer, all Expositors affirm, consisteth in three parts (as I hinted before): 1. In confession of Sin, &c. 2. In supplication for what we stand in need of. And, 3. In giving of Thanks, or in Praising of God with raised affections, for what Mercies we have received from him. As if the Apostle should say, I will confess my Sins and Wants to God by ⟨p. 17⟩•he help of God's Spirit, and with the inward attention, and utmost intention of my own spirit, or greatest devotion and Fervour of Affections imaginable; and so will I seek to him, •nd supplicate his holy Majesty for what I •ant, and so will I praise him, and give •hanks to him for all the good things I have •eceived at his most bountiful Hands. See our •ate Annotation, Phil. 4. 6. They mention there a Petition or Apprecation of Good to our selves or others; and also in Prayer, a Deprecation of Evils felt or feared. 3. A grateful acknowledgement of Mercies received, Benefits conferred, and Deliverances vouchsafed; Implying (saith he) that no Prayer is acceptable to God without this Ingredient of thankful resentment of his Favours. Nor can I think that any gracious Soul doth ever leave out this sweet and great part of Prayer when he is at the Throne of Grace, viz. Praising of God: Therefore this the Apostle would do when he prayed. But observe, besides this, and as something quite distinct from it, he adds, And when I sing, I will sing with the Spirit, &c. If therefore Singing were comprehended in Prayer, or praising of God when we pray unto him, then the Apostle uses as great and palpable a Tautology as can possibly be; nay, and leaves all Men under a Cloud and Mistake, if he meant nothing else (or no more) than praising of God in Prayer; since all the World ever understood a clear distinct ⟨p. 18⟩difference between those two things, viz. Prayer, or praising of God, and singing of his Praises: for though all right Singing to God is a praising of him, (nay, and in the highe•• manner that we in our mortal Bodies are capable to do;) yet all praisings of God are not singing of his Praise. Moreover, the difference there between Prayer, &c. and Singing, […] clearly hinted by the Apostle James, where he exhorts those in Affliction in an extraordinary manner to pray: James 5. 13. Is any afflicted? let him pray. And is any merry? let them sing Psalms.
Prayer, all Expositors affirm, consisteth in three parts (as I hinted before): 1. In confession of Sin, &c. 2. In supplication for what we stand in need of. And, 3. In giving of Thanks, or in Praising of God with raised affections, for what Mercies we have received from him. As if the Apostle should say, I will confess my Sins and Wants to God by ⟨p. 17⟩•he help of God's Spirit, and with the inward •ttention, and utmost intention of my own •pirit, or greatest devotion and Fervour of Af•ections imaginable; and so will I seek to him, •nd supplicate his holy Majesty for what I •ant, and so will I praise him, and give •hanks to him for all the good things I have •eceived at his most bountiful Hands. See our •ate Annotation, Phil. 4. 6. They mention there a Petition or Apprecation of Good to our selves or others; and also in Prayer, a Deprecation of Evils felt or feared. 3. A grateful acknowledgment of Mercies received, Benefits conferred, and Deliverances vouchsafed; Implying (saith he) that no Prayer is acceptable to God without this Ingredient of thankful resentment of his Favours. Nor can I think that any gracious Soul doth ever leave out this sweet and great part of Prayer when he is at the Throne of Grace, viz. Praising of God: Therefore this the Apostle would do when he prayed. But observe, besides this, and as something quite distinct from it, he adds, And when I sing, I will sing with the Spirit, &c. If therefore Singing were comprehended in Prayer, or praising of God when we pray unto him, then the Apostle uses as great and palpable a Tautology as can possibly be; nay, and leaves all Men under a Cloud and Mistake, if he meant nothing else (or no more) than praising of God in Prayer; since all the World ever understood a clear distinct ⟨p. 18⟩difference between those two things, viz. Prayer, or praising of God, and singing of his Praises: for though all right Singing to God is a praising of him, (nay, and in the highe•• manner that we in our mortal Bodies are capable to do;) yet all praisings of God are not singing of his Praise. Moreover, the difference there between Prayer, &c. and Singing, clearly hinted by the Apostle James, where he exhorts those in Affliction in an extraordinary manner to pray:
