Prayer

 For directions about our affections in prayer: three things are required, viz., fervency, reverence, confidence.
1. Fervency. That usually comes from two grounds, a broken hearted sense of our wants, and a desire of the blessing we stand in need of. For the broken-hearted sense of our wants, especially spiritual. Weaknesses are incident to the best. All Christians have continual need to cry to God. We have continual necessities both within and without. Go cry to God your Father without affectation, but not without affection, and seek your supplies from him. Let me tell you, the more grace is increased, the more sense of wants is increased; for sin is more hated, defects are less borne. And then, there must be a desire of the blessings, especially spiritual; our needs must stir up fresh longings and holy desires after God: Mat. vii. 7, ‘Ask, seek, knock;’ Luke xi. 8, ‘For his importunity, he will rise and give.’ We spend the earnestness of our spirits in other matters, in disputes, contests, earthly pursuits; our importunate earnestness runs in a worldly channel. No, no; it must be from simplicity and sincerity,
pouring out your hearts before him; no sacrifice without fire: James v. 16, ‘The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’
2. Reverence. A reverent respectful carriage towards our heavenly Father: Ps. ii. 11, ‘Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.’ Mark, there is in God a mixture of majesty and mercy; so in us there must be of joy and trembling. God’s love doth not abase his majesty, nor his majesty diminish his love. We ought to know our distance from God, and to think of his superiority over us; therefore we must be serious. Remember, ‘God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him,’ Ps. lxxxix. 7.
3. With confidence: Eph. iii. 12, ‘In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.’ There is boldness in pouring out our requests to God, who will certainly hear us, and grant what is good. We must rely upon his goodness and power in all our necessities. He is so gracious in Christ that he will do that which is best for his glory and our good, and upon other terms we should not seek it. If you would not turn prayer into babbling, much speaking to affectation of words, take heed of these abuses, and labour to bring your hearts to God in this manner.
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