Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

Q. 1. What is Prayer? Ans. Prayer is a making known the desires of our hearts before God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, concerning things agreeable unto his will.

In this description of Prayer, there are four Particulars contained, which express the nature of it; and may be spoken unto under so many distinct Propositions.

Prop. 1. Prayer is a making known our hearts desire before the Lord, Rom 10. 1. My hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Prayer doth not consist so much in ⟨p. 5⟩words & outward expressions (though those are also sometimes necessary) as in hearty desires, which the Lord alone is witness of, Isai. 26. 8 9. In the way of thy Judgements O Lord have we […] thee. [the desire of•our soul] is towards thy Name, [with my Soul have I desired thee] in the […] •ea, with my spirit will I seek thee early. The Lords people there, make solemn profession that they […] continue praying to God, and were resolved that they would do so still, •oth day and night continually, notwithstanding all the judgements he had had experience of, they would not thereby be discouraged from praying and humble seeking to him Hence Prayer is expressed by that of lifting up the heart, Lam. 3. 4•. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the Heavens. And tis called a pouring out of the heart▪ Psal 62.8. Pour out your heart before him. And a lifting up of the soul unto God, Psal 25. 1. and a pouring out of the soul before him,