The Godly Man's Picture

7. A spiritual prayer is an humble prayer, Psa. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble. Prayer is the asking of an Alms, which requires humility, Luke 18. 13. The Publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a ^*sinner. Gods incomprehensible glory may even amaze us, and strike an holy consternation into us when we approach nigh to him, Ezra 9. 6. O my God I blush to lift up my face to thee: 'Tis comely to see a poor nothing lye prostrate at the feet of its Maker, Gen. 18. 27. Behold, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. The lower the heart descends, the higher the prayer ascends.

1. *Quanto cum tremore, quantâ humilitate, accedere debet à Palude sua repens ranuncula vilis Bern. de mod. Orandi.

8. A spiritual prayer is when we pray in the name of Christ: To pray in the name of Christ, is not only to name Christ in prayer, but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs mediation: as a Child claims his ⟨p. 124⟩Estate in the right of his Father who purchased it, so we come for mercy in Christs Name, who hath purchased it for us in his blood; unless we pray thus, we do not pray at all, nay, we rather provoke God; as it was with Uzziah, when he would offer Incense without a Priest, God was angry, and struck him with Leprosy, 2 Chron. 26. 16. So when we do not come in Christs Name in prayer, we offer up Incense without a Priest, and what can we expect but to meet with wrath?