A Method for Prayer

English text of Matthew Henry’s A Method for Prayer (1710), with a Korean translation. Each paragraph carries its scripture proofs, opened in the KJV, BBE and 개역한글 parallel reader.

• TO THE READER

ADORATION OF GOD

• OF THE FIRST PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS ADDRESS TO GOD, ADORATION OF HIM, WITH SUITABLE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, PROFESSIONS, AND PREPARATORY REQUESTS
• WE MUST SOLEMNLY ADDRESS OURSELVES TO THAT INFINITELY GREAT AND GLORIOUS BEING WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO, AS THOSE THAT ARE POSSESSED WITH A FULL BELIEF OF HIS PRESENCE, AND A HOLY AWE AND REVERENCE OF HIS MAJESTY, WHICH WE MAY DO IN SUCH EXPRESSIONS AS THESE
• WE MUST REVERENTLY ADORE GOD AS A BEING TRANSCENDENTLY BRIGHT AND BLESSED, SELFEXISTENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENT, AN INFINITE AND ETERNAL SPIRIT, THAT HAS ALL PERFECTIONS IN HIMSELF, AND GIVE HIM THE GLORY OF HIS TITLES AND ATTRIBUTES
• WE MUST GIVE TO GOD THE PRAISE OF THAT SPLENDOR AND GLORY WHEREIN HE IS PLEASED TO MANIFEST HIMSELF IN THE UPPER WORLD
• WE MUST GIVE GLORY TO HIM AS THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD, AND THE GREAT PROTECTOR, BENEFACTOR AND RULER OF THE WHOLE CREATION
• WE MUST GIVE HONOUR TO THE THREE PERSONS IN THE GODHEAD DISTINCTLY, TO THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST, THAT GREAT AND SACRED NAME INTO WHICH WE WERE BAPTIZED, AND IN WHICH WE ASSEMBLE FOR RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, IN COMMUNION WITH THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
• WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEPENDANCE UPON GOD, AND OUR OBLIGATIONS TO HIM, AS OUR CREATOR, PRESERVER, AND BENEFACTOR
• WE MUST AVOUCH THIS GOD TO BE OUR GOD, AND OWN OUR RELATION TO HIM, HIS DOMINION OVER US, AND PROPRIETY IN US
• WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE IT AN UNSPEAKABLE FAVOUR, AND AN INESTIMABLE PRIVILEGE, THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY ADMITTED, BUT INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO DRAW NIGH TO GOD IN PRAYER
• WE MUST EXPRESS THE SENSE WE HAVE OF OUR OWN MEANNESS AND UNWORTHINESS TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD, AND SPEAK TO HIM
• WE MUST HUMBLY PROFESS THE DESIRE OF OUR HEARTS TOWARDS GOD AS OUR FELICITY AND PORTION, AND THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE AND ALL GOOD TO US
• WE MUST LIKEWISE PROFESS OUR BELIEVING HOPE AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD, AND HIS ALL-SUFFICIENCY, IN HIS POWER, PROVIDENCE, AND PROMISE
• WE MUST INTREAT GOD’S FAVOURABLE ACCEPTANCE OF US AND OUR POOR PERFORMANCES
• WE MUST BEG FOR THE POWERFUL ASSISTANCE AND INFLUENCE OF THE BLESSED SPIRIT OF GRACE IN OUR PRAYERS
• WE MUST MAKE THE GLORY OF GOD OUR HIGHEST END IN ALL OUR PRAYERS
• WE MUST PROFESS OUR ENTIRE RELIANCE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ALONE FOR ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD, AND COME IN HIS NAME

CONFESSION OF SIN

• OF THE SECOND PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS, CONFESSION OF SIN, COMPLAINTS OF OURSELVES, AND HUMBLE PROFESSIONS OF REPENTANCE
• WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT REASON WE HAVE TO LIE VERY LOW BEFORE GOD, AND TO BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES WHEN WE COME INTO HIS PRESENCE, AND TO BE AFRAID OF HIS WRATH, HAVING MADE OURSELVES BOTH ODIOUS TO HIS HOLINESS, AND OBNOXIOUS TO HIS JUSTICE
• WE MUST TAKE HOLD OF THE GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT GOD HATH GIVEN US TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE HIM WITH SORROW AND SHAME, AND TO CONFESS OUR SINS
• WE MUST THEREFORE CONFESS AND BEWAIL OUR ORIGINAL CORRUPTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF APOSTATE AND REBELLIOUS PARENTS, AND THE NATURE OF MAN IS DEPRAVED, AND WRETCHEDLY DEGENERATED FROM ITS PRIMITIVE PURITY AND RECTITUDE, AND OUR NATURE IS SO
• WE MUST LAMENT OUR PRESENT CORRUPT DISPOSITIONS TO THAT WHICH IS EVIL, AND OUR INDISPOSEDNESS TO AND IMPOTENCY IN THAT WHICH IS GOOD. WE MUST LOOK INTO OUR OWN HEARTS, AND CONFESS WITH HOLY BLUSHING
• WE MUST LAMENT AND CONFESS OUR OMISSIONS OF OUR DUTY, OUR NEGLECT OF IT, AND TRIFLINGS IN IT, AND THAT WE HAVE DONE SO LITTLE SINCE WE CAME INTO THE WORLD OF THE GREAT WORK WE WERE SENT INTO THE WORLD ABOUT, SO VERY LITTLE TO ANSWER THE END EITHER OF OUR CREATION OR OF OUR REDEMPTION, OF OUR BIRTH OR OF OUR BAPTISM, AND THAT WE HAVE PROFITED NO MORE BY THE MEANS OF GRACE
• WE MUST LIKEWISE BEWAIL OUR MANY ACTUAL TRANSGRESSIONS, IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED
• WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT EVIL THAT THERE IS IN SIN, IN OUR SIN; THE MALIGNITY OF ITS NATURE, AND ITS MISCHIEVOUSNESS TO US
• WE MUST AGGRAVATE OUR SINS, AND TAKE NOTICE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH MAKE THEM MORE HEINOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, AND MORE DANGEROUS TO OURSELVES
• WE MUST JUDGE AND CONDEMN OURSELVES FOR OUR SINS, AND OWN OURSELVES LIABLE TO PUNISHMENT
• WE MUST GIVE TO GOD THE GLORY OF HIS PATIENCE AND LONG-SUFFERING TOWARDS US, AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO BE RECONCILED
• WE MUST HUMBLY PROFESS OUR SORROW AND SHAME FOR SIN, AND HUMBLY ENGAGE OURSELVES IN THE STRENGTH OF DIVINE GRACE, THAT WE WILL BE BETTER AND DO BETTER FOR THE FUTURE

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS

• OF THE THIRD PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS PETITION AND SUPPLICATION FOR THE GOOD THINGS WHICH WE STAND IN NEED OF
• WE MUST EARNESTLY PRAY FOR THE PARDON AND FORGIVENESS OF ALL OUR SINS
• WE MUST LIKEWISE PRAY THAT GOD WILL BE RECONCILED TO US, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN HIS FAVOUR AND BLESSING, AND GRACIOUS ACCEPTANCE
• WE MUST PRAY FOR THE COMFORTABLE SENSE OF OUR RECONCILIATION TO GOD, AND OUR ACCEPTANCE WITH HIM
• WE MUST PRAY FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, AND ALL THE KIND AND POWERFUL INFLUENCES AND OPERATIONS OF THAT GRACE
• WE MUST PRAY FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, AND ALL THE KIND AND POWERFUL INFLUENCES AND OPERATIONS OF THAT GRACE
• 1. We must pray for grace to fortify us against every evil thought, word and work. Having been earnest for the removing of the guilt of sin, that we may not die for it as a crime; we must be no less earnest for the breaking of the power of sin, that we may not die by it as a disease; but that it may be mortified in us.
• 2. We must pray for grace to furnish us for every good thought, word, and work; that we may not only be kept from sin, but may be in every thing as we should be, and do as we should do.
• 3. More particularly we must pray for grace.
• 4. We must pray for grace to enable us, both to govern our tongues well, and to use them well.
• 5. We must pray for grace to direct and quicken us to, and to strengthen and assist us in our duty in the whole course of our conversation.
• 6. We must pray for grace to make us wiser and better every day than other.
• 7. We must pray for effectual support and comfort under all the crosses and afflictions that we meet with in this world.
• 8. We must pray for grace to preserve us to the end, and to fit us for whatever lies before us betwixt and the grave.
• 9. We must pray for grace to prepare us for death, and to carry us well through our dying moments.
• 10. We must pray for grace to fit us for heaven, and that we may at length be put in possession of eternal life.
• 11. We must pray for the good things of this life, with an humble submission to the will of God.
• 12. We must plead the promises of God for the enforcing of all our petitions, put these promises in suit, and refer ourselves to them.

THANKSGIVINGS FOR MERCY

• OF THE FOURTH PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS THANKSGIVING FOR THE MERCIES WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD, AND THE MANY FAVOURS OF HIS WE ARE INTERESTED IN, AND HAVE AND HOPE FOR BENEFIT BY
• WE MUST STIR UP OURSELVES TO PRAISE GOD, WITH THE CONSIDERATION BOTH OF THE REASON AND OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT WE HAVE TO PRAISE HIM
• WE MUST BE PARTICULAR IN OUR THANKSGIVINGS TO GOD
• 1. For the discoveries which He has made to us in His word of the goodness of His nature.
• WE MUST BE PARTICULAR IN OUR THANKSGIVINGS TO GOD › 2. For the many instances of His goodness.
• A) The goodness of His providence relating to our bodies, and the life that now is; and this,
• B) The goodness of His grace relating to our souls, and the life that is to come.
• WE MUST BE PARTICULAR IN OUR THANKSGIVINGS TO GOD › 2. For the many instances of His goodness. › B) The goodness of His grace relating to our souls, and the life that is to come. › 1) First, we must give God thanks for His kindness to the children of men relating to their better part and their future state, and His favours to the church in general.
• (a) We must give thanks for the gracious design and contrivance of man’s redemption and salvation, when he was lost and undone by sin.
• (b) For the eternal purposes and counsels of God concerning man’s redemption.
• (c) For the appointing of the Redeemer, and God’s gracious condescension to deal with man upon new terms, receding from the demands of the broken covenant of innocency.
• (d) For the early and ancient indications of this gracious design concerning fallen man.
• (e) For the many glorious instances of God’s favour to the old testament church.
• (f) For the wonderful and mysterious incarnation of the Son of God, and His coming into the world.
• (g) For God’s gracious owning of Him in His undertaking, and in the carrying of it on.
• (h) For His Holy life, His excellent doctrine, and the glorious miracles He wrought to confirm His doctrine.
• (i) For the great encouragements Christ gave to poor sinners to come to Him.
• (j) For the full satisfaction which He made to the justice of God for the sin of man by the blood of His cross, for the purchases, victories, and triumphs of the cross, and for all the precious benefits which flow to us from the dying of the Lord Jesus.
• (k) For His resurrection from the dead on the third day.
• (l) For His ascension into heaven, and His sitting at God’s right hand there.
• (m) For the intercession which He ever lives to make in the virtue of His satisfaction.
• (n) For the dominion and sovereignty to which the Redeemer is exalted.
• (o) For the assurance we have of His second coming to judge the world.
• (p) For the sending of the Holy Spirit to supply the want of Christ’s bodily presence, to carry on His undertaking, and to prepare things for His second coming.
• (q) For the covenant of grace made with us in Jesus Christ, and all the exceeding great and precious privileges of that covenant, and for the seals of it.
• (r) For the writing of the scriptures, and the preserving of them pure and entire to our day.
• (s) For the institution of ordinances, and particularly that of the ministry.
• (t) For the planting of the Christian religion in the world, and the setting up of the gospel church, in despite of all the oppositions of the powers of darkness.
• (u) For the preservation of Christianity in the world unto this day.
• (v) For the martyrs and confessors, the lights of the church, and the good examples of those that are gone before us to heaven.
• (w) For the communion of saints, that spiritual communion which we have in faith and hope and holy love, and in prayers and praises with all good Christians.
• (x) For the prospect and hope of eternal life, when time and days shall be no more.
• WE MUST BE PARTICULAR IN OUR THANKSGIVINGS TO GOD › 2. For the many instances of His goodness. › B) The goodness of His grace relating to our souls, and the life that is to come.
• 2) Secondly, we must give God thanks for the spiritual mercies bestowed upon us in particular, especially if we are called with an effectual call, and have a good work of grace begun in us.

INTERCESSION FOR OTHERS

• OF THE FIFTH PART OF PRAYER, WHICH IS INTERCESSION, OR ADDRESS AND SUPPLICATION TO GOD FOR OTHERS
• WE MUST PRAY FOR THE WHOLE WORLD OF MANKIND, THE LOST WORLD; AND THUS WE MUST HONOUR ALL MEN, AND ACCORDING TO OUR CAPACITY DO GOOD TO ALL MEN
• FOR THE PROPAGATING OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS, AND THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE CHURCH BY THE BRINGING IN OF MANY TO IT
• FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS
• FOR THE EASTERN CHURCHES THAT ARE GROANING UNDER THE YOKE OF MAHOMETAN TYRANNY
• FOR THE CHURCHES IN THE PLANTATIONS
• FOR THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH WHERE-EVER DISPERSED, AND FOR ALL THE INTERESTS OF IT
• FOR THE CONVICTION AND CONVERSION OF ATHEISTS, DEISTS, AND INFIDELS, AND OF ALL THAT ARE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRUTH, AND OF PROFANE SCOFFERS, AND THOSE THAT DISGRACE CHRISTIANITY BY THEIR VICIOUS AND IMMORAL LIVES
• FOR THE AMENDING OF EVERY THING THAT IS AMISS IN THE CHURCH, THE REVIVING OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, AND THE POWER OF GODLINESS, AND IN ORDER THEREUNTO, THE POURING OUT OF THE SPIRIT
• FOR THE BREAKING OF THE POWER OF ALL THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH, AND THE DEFEATING OF ALL THEIR DESIGNS AGAINST HER
• FOR THE RELIEF OF SUFFERING CHURCHES, AND THE SUPPORT, COMFORT AND DELIVERANCE OF ALL THAT ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE
• FOR THE NATIONS OF EUROPE, AND THE COUNTRIES ABOUT US
• FOR OUR OWN LAND AND NATION, THE HAPPY ISLANDS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, WHICH WE OUGHT IN A SPECIAL MANNER TO SEEK THE WELFARE OF, THAT IN THE PEACE THEREOF WE MAY HAVE PEACE

OCCASIONAL ADDRESSES TO GOD

• OF ADDRESSES TO GOD UPON PARTICULAR OCCASIONS, WHETHER DOMESTICK OR PUBLICK
• IN OUR MORNING PRAYERS
• IN OUR EVENING PRAYERS
• IN CRAVING A BLESSING BEFORE MEAT
• IN RETURNING THANKS AFTER OUR MEAT
• WHEN WE ARE GOING A JOURNEY
• WHEN WE RETURN FROM A JOURNEY
• ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE LORD’S-DAY
• ON THE MORNING OF THE LORD’S DAY
• AT THE ENTRANCE UPON THE PUBLICK WORSHIP ON THE LORD’S DAY BY THE MASTERS OF THE ASSEMBLIES
• IN OUR PREPARATION FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER
• IN THE CELEBRATING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
• AFTER THE CELEBRATING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
• UPON OCCASION OF THE BAPTISM OF A CHILD
• UPON OCCASION OF A FUNERAL
• UPON OCCASION OF A MARRIAGE
• UPON OCCASION OF THE ORDAINING OF MINISTERS
• UPON OCCASION OF THE WANT OF RAIN
• UPON OCCASION OF EXCESSIVE RAIN
• UPON OCCASION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
• UPON OCCASION OF FIRE
• UPON OCCASION OF GREAT STORMS
• UPON OCCASION OF THE CARES, AND BURDENS, AND AFFLICTIONS OF PARTICULAR PERSONS: AS,

THE CONCLUSION OF PRAYER

• OF THE CONCLUSION OF OUR PRAYERS
• WE MAY THEN SUM UP OUR REQUESTS IN SOME COMPREHENSIVE PETITIONS, AS THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER
• WE MAY THEN BEG FOR THE AUDIENCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF OUR POOR WEAK PRAYERS, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE
• WE MAY THEN BEG FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF WHAT HAS BEEN AMISS IN OUR PRAYERS
• WE MAY THEN RECOMMEND OURSELVES TO THE CONDUCT, PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE DIVINE GRACE, IN THE FURTHER SERVICES THAT LIE BEFORE US, AND IN THE WHOLE COURSE OF OUR CONVERSATION
• WE MAY CONCLUDE ALL WITH DOXOLOGIES, OR SOLEMN PRAISES OF GOD, ASCRIBING HONOUR AND GLORY TO THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST, AND SEALING UP ALL OUR PRAISES AND PRAYERS WITH AN AFFECTIONATE AMEN
• IT IS VERY PROPER TO SUM UP OUR PRAYERS IN THAT FORM OF PRAYER WHICH CHRIST TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES

A PARAPHRASE ON THE LORD’S PRAYER

• A PARAPHRASE ON THE LORD’S PRAYER, IN SCRIPTURE EXPRESSIONS
• OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN
• HALLOWED BE THY NAME
• THY KINGDOM COME
• THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
• GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
• AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
• AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
• FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOR EVER, AMEN

SOME FORMS OF PRAYER

• SOME SHORT FORMS OF PRAYER FOR THE USE OF THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COLLECT FOR THEMSELVES OUT OF THE FOREGOING MATERIALS
• ANOTHER PARAPHRASE ON THE LORD’S PRAYER, IN THE WORDS OF THE ASSEMBLIES SHORTER CATECHISM
• ANOTHER PRAYER DRAWN OUT OF MY PLAIN CATECHISM FOR CHILDREN (WHICH WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1703) WHICH WILL BE EASY TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAVE LEARNED THAT CATECHISM
• A MORNING PRAYER FOR A FAMILY
• AN EVENING PRAYER FOR A FAMILY
• A FAMILY PRAYER FOR THE LORD’S DAY MORNING
• A FAMILY PRAYER FOR THE LORD’S DAY EVENING
• A PRAYER PROPER TO BE PUT UP BY PARENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN
• A PRAYER FOR THE USE OF A PARTICULAR PERSON, BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
• ANOTHER AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
• AN ADDRESS TO GOD BEFORE MEAT
• ANOTHER
• AN ADDRESS TO GOD AFTER MEAT
• ANOTHER