3. With Gratitude. When we come to pray, we must remember, not only what we want, but what we have received, acknowledging we have all from him, he is our Father, Deut. 32. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish People, and unwise? Is not he thy Father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee and established thee? We must acknowledge the good we have, as well as that we expect to come from him. Therefore, if we would have a praying Frame, and be eased of our Solicitude, and that anxious care which is a disparagement to Providence, it is good to take up God under the Notion of a Father, which makes us rest upon him for all things. Mat. 6. 25. Take no thought for your Life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your ⟨p. 93⟩Body, what ye shall put on, Why? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. You that are able Fathers would take your selves disparaged, if that your Children should filch and steal for their Living, and beg, and be solicitous, and go up and down from Door to Door for their Maintenance and Support, and not trust to your Care and Provision. A Believer, which knoweth he hath a Heavenly Father, will not be negligent in his Calling, but be active and industrious in his way, and use those lawful means which by the Providence of God he hath been brought up in, and then, Be careful for nothing, as the Apostle's advice is, Phil. 4. 6. And in every thing, by Prayer and Supplication, make your request known unto God. O could we turn Carking into Prayer, and run to our Father, it would be happy for us. Care, and Diligence, and necessary Provision, that's our work and labour; but for the Success and Event of Things, leave it to God. When we are carking in the World with such anxiousness, and troubled with restless Thoughts; how we should be provided for in old Age, and what will become of us and ours, we take God's work out of his Hands; this is a disparagement to our Heavenly Father, and a reproach to his Providence and Fatherly Care. Well then, certainly this is of great advantage in Prayer.
3. With Gratitude. When we come to pray, we must remember, not only what we want, but what we have received, acknowledging we have all from him, he is our Father, Deut. 32. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish People, and unwise? Is not he thy Father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee and established thee? We must acknowledg the good we have, as well as that we expect to come from him. Therefore, if we would have a praying Frame, and be eased of our Sollicitude, and that anxious care which is a disparagement to Providence, it is good to take up God under the Notion of a Father, which makes us rest upon him for all things. Mat. 6. 25. Take no thought for your Life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your ⟨p. 93⟩Body, what ye shall put on, Why? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. You that are able Fathers would take your selves disparaged, if that your Children should filch and steal for their Living, and beg, and be sollicitous, and go up and down from Door to Door for their Maintenance and Support, and not trust to your Care and Provision. A Believer, which knoweth he hath a Heavenly Father, will not be negligent in his Calling, but be active and industrious in his way, and use those lawful means which by the Providence of God he hath been brought up in, and then, Be careful for nothing, as the Apostle's advice is, Phil. 4. 6. And in every thing, by Prayer and Supplication, make your request known unto God. O could we turn Carking into Prayer, and run to our Father, it would be happy for us. Care, and Diligence, and necessary Provision, that's our work and labour; but for the Success and Event of Things, leave it to God. When we are carking in the World with such anxiousness, and troubled with restless Thoughts; how we should be provided for in old Age, and what will become of us and ours, we take God's work out of his Hands; this is a disparagement to our Heavenly Father, and a reproach to his Providence and Fatherly Care. Well then, certainly this is of great advantage in Prayer.
