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of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Pray without ceasing3. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving". Building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life'.

SECT. 6. The qualifications of an acceptable worshipper, and of the prayers offered up by him.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. For the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination. This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me; but have removed their heart far from med. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me, saith the Lord? When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations: incense is an abomination unto me: the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I

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cannot away with it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons, and your appointed feasts, my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow".

God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens. We have transgressed, and have rebelled". O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces. O my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens ; since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him'.—If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand"?-God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble". -God be merciful to me a sinner.

O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord hearken, and do, and defer not, for thine own name's sake, O my God'. O Lord, we have waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early-The effectual fervent prayer of

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a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are; and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit'.-Put on the whole armour of God, praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the spirit; and watching thereunto with all perseverance'. Continuing constant in prayer'.

If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift". Our Father, which art in heaven, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses; neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses*. Jesus saith, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus". It is Christ that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them". Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having an High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us therefore come

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a Matt. v. 23, 24.

a 1 John, ii. 1.

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d Heb. vii. 25.

Rom. xii. 12.

y John, xiv. 6.

1 Tim. ii. 5.

Heb. x. 19-22.

boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in time of need'.

SECT. 7. We are to pray for others, and to pray in the spirit of diffusive benevolence*.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now, say, Peace be within thee: because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace; and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; send thee help from the sanctuary; and strengthen thee out of Zion. Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. The Lord fulfil all thy petitions".

I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour ". Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified'. I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may

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"The duty of praying for our brethren of mankind, was considered by the prophet Samuel as indispensable. When the people were terrified by the thunder of the Lord," they said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not. And Samuel said unto the people, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray for you. 1 Sam. xii. 19, 20, 23.

be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints". Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak'.

I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as you, have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes, before our God? night and day praying exceedingly, that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith'. Wherefore I also cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers". I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named ", always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy. We pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power P. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you; always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect, and complete in all the will of God.

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