pend
much time in prayer, how much more, such weak and sinful creatures as
we, who are surrounded with temptations without, and beset with
corruptions within! Prayer is necessarily so intermingled with every
duty, that the idea of a prayerless Christian is an absurdity.

Prayer not only secures to us the blessings which we need, but it brings
our minds into a suitable frame for receiving them. We must see our
need, feel our unworthiness, be sensible of our dependence upon God, and
believe in his willingness to grant us, through Christ, the things that
are necessary and proper for us. An acknowledgment of these things, on
our part, is both requisite and proper; and, without such
acknowledgment, it might not be consistent with the great ends of his
moral government for God to grant us our desires.

Prayer is the offering up of the sincere desires and feelings of our
hearts to God. It consists of _adoration_, _confession_, _supplication_,
_intercession_, and _thanksgiving_. _Adoration_ is an expression of our
sense of the infinite majesty and glory of God. _Confession_ is an
humble acknowledgment of our sins and unworthiness. By _supplication_,
we ask for pardon, grace, or any blessing we need for ourselves. By
_intercession_, we pray for others. By _thanksgiving_, we express our
gratitude to God for his goodness and mercy towards us and our
fellow-creatures. All these several parts are embraced in the prayers
recorded in Scripture, though all of them are not generally found in the
same prayer. The prayer of Solomon, at the dedication of the temple,
commences with adoration, and proceeds with supplication and
intercession. The prayer of Daniel, in the time of the captivity,
commences with adoration, and proceeds with confession, supplication,
and intercession. The prayer of the Levites, in behalf of the people,
after the return from captivity, commences with thanksgiving and
adoration, and proceeds with confession, supplication, and intercession.
The prayers of David are full of thanksgiving. The prayer of Habakkuk
consists of adoration, supplication, and thanksgiving. The prayer of the
disciples, after the joyous return of the apostles from the council of
their persecutors, consists of adoration, a particular rehearsal of
their peculiar circumstances, and supplication. The apostle Paul
particularly enjoins "prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving." If
you wish to learn _how_ to pray, I would advise you to look out and