The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

5. That this faith is most suitably expressed in Prayer. That prayer is a duty of Natural worship, the light of Nature, as well as the word of God, informeth us: that we should carry our wants to God in Prayer, appears from the nature of it; that all our Prayers are to be made in faith, we are assured, because such Prayers only is Effectual. We must ask all in the Name of Christ; we have no other way of access to God. Now forgiveness is one of our great wants; and that to pray in faith for it is most suitable, will appear, if we consider,

1. Herein we testify our felt want of it. It is sense of need that drives men to Prayer. All formalities without this feeling, are but idle strains of complement which God hath no regard for. And indeed ⟨p. 292⟩the end of Prayer is not to acquaint him with our necessities, for He knows them before, Math 6. 8. but to affect our selves with them. God would have us know our need, that we may put the better value on his kindness: it is therefore upon felt want that we are advised to ask, Jam. 1 5.

1. Herein we testify our felt want of it. It is sence of need that drives men to Prayer. All formalities without this feeling, are but idle strains of complement which God hath no regard for. And indeed ⟨p. 292⟩the end of Prayer is not to acquaint him with our necessities, for He knows them before, Math 6. 8. but to affect our selves with them. God would have us know our need, that we may put the better value on his kindness: it is therefore upon felt want that we are advised to ask, Jam. 1 5.