HenryWSC 104

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 104

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Are we to pray for the good things of this life? Yes: for the Lord is for the body,
1 Cor. 6:13
. Must we go to God for them? Yes: for he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things,
Acts 17:25
. Must we go to him for the comfort of them? Yes: for he gives us richly all things to enjoy,
1 Tim. 6:17
. Do we deserve the good things of this life? No: we are less than the least of all God’s mercies,
Gen. 32:10
. Must we therefore beg them of God as a free gift? Yes: God gives the dew of heaven,
Gen. 27:28
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Are we to pray for riches? No: lest we be full, and say who is the Lord?
Prov. 30:9
. Are we to pray for dainties? No: Be not desirous of dainties, for they are deceitful meat,
Prov. 23:3
. Are we to be content with such a competent portion of these things as God sees fit for us? Yes: Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content,
1 Tim. 6:8
. Are we to pray for that? Yes: Feed me with food convenient for me,
Prov. 30:8
. And need we desire any more? No: If God will be with me, and keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come to my heavenly Father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God,
Gen. 28:20–21
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Are we to pray each day for the bread of the day? Yes: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself,
Matt. 6:34
. And must we pray for our bread honestly gotten? Yes: for with quietness we must work, and eat our own bread,
2 Thess. 3:12
. And have we encouragement to pray for this? Yes: for godliness hath the promise of the life that now is,
1 Tim. 4:8
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Do we herein pray for health? Yes: for God is our life, and the length of our days,
Deut. 30:20
. And for success in our callings? Yes: Establish thou the work of our hands upon us,
Ps. 90:17
. And for sleep? Yes: for so he giveth his beloved sleep,
Ps. 127:2
. And for seasonable weather? Yes: Ask ye of the Lord rain,
Zech. 10:1
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Must we pray for God’s blessing on what we have? Yes: for man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,
Matt. 4:4
. And is it then comfortable to us? Yes: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer,
1 Tim. 4:5
. Must we pray most earnestly for bread for our souls? Yes: Lord, evermore give us that bread,
John 6:34
. Are we to pray for others’ prosperity, as well as for our own? Yes: I wish that thou mayest prosper, and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth,
3 John 2
. And for the supply of the poor and needy? Yes: that he will abundantly bless our provision, and satisfy our poor with bread,
Ps. 132:15
.
HenryWSC 104