HenryWSC 107

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 107

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Are we in prayer to plead with God? Yes: I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments,
Job 23:4
. Are our pleadings to move God? No: For he is in one mind, and who can turn him,
Job 23:13
. Are they to move ourselves? Yes: that we may stir up ourselves to take hold on God,
Isa. 64:7
.
Can we in prayer plead any merit of our own? No: We do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness,
Dan. 9:18
. Must we therefore take our encouragement from God only? Yes: Defer not for thine own sake, O my God, ver. 19. And must we depend on that encouragement? Yes: Now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee,
Ps. 39:7
.
May we plead that his is the kingdom? Yes: Art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen?
2 Chron. 20:6
. And that his is the power? Yes: There is nothing too hard for thee,
Jer. 32:17
. And that his is the glory? Yes: Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name,
Ps. 79:9
.
May we also plead his mercy? Yes: Save me for thy mercy’s sake,
Ps. 6:4
. And his promise? Yes: Remember thy word unto thy servant,
Ps. 119:49
. And our own experience of his goodness? Yes: Thou hast delivered my soul from death, wilt thou not deliver my feet from falling? Ps. 56:18. But must we especially plead the mediation of his Son? Yes: Look upon the face of thine Anointed,
Ps. 84:9
. And may we hope to prevail in these pleadings? Yes: for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,
James 5:16
. Is it God’s grace in us which alone qualifies us for his favour? Yes: Thou wilt prepare their heart, and then thou wilt cause thine ear to hear,
Ps. 10:17
.
Are we in prayer to praise God? Yes: Every day will I bless thee,
Ps. 145
. Are we to ascribe kingdom, power, and glory to him? Yes: Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne,
Rev. 5:13
. Must we acknowledge them to be his? Yes: Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty,
1 Chron. 29:11
. Must we acknowledge them to be his for ever? Yes: Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
Ps. 145:13
. And must we desire to be for ever praising him? Yes: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being,
Ps. 104:33
. Is the work of praise good work? Yes: it is pleasant, and praise is comely,
Ps. 147:1
.
Does Amen signify our desire to be heard? Yes: So be it, O Lord,
Jer. 11:5
. And our hope that we shall be heard? Yes: we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him,
1 John 5:15
. Is it therefore proper to conclude our prayers and praises with Amen? Yes: Let all the people say, Amen. Hallelujah,
Ps. 106:48
.
HenryWSC 107