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SD 22.3 Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.3

Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of natural worship, is by God required of all men; but that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son by the help of his Spirit, according to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others in a known tongue. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.

See also in WCF: 21.1 Compare: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath
Phil. 4:6
[6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Ps. 65:2
[2] O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.
John 14:13, 14
[13] Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
1 Pet. 2:5
[5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Rom. 8:26
[26] Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
1 John 5:14
[14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Ps. 47:7
[7] For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
Eccles. 5:1, 2
Heb. 12:28
[28] Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Gen. 18:27
[27] Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
James 5:16
[16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 1:6, 7
[6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Mark 11:24
[24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Matt. 6:12, 14, 15
[12] and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [14] For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, [15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Col. 4:2
[2] Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Eph. 6:18
[18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
1 Cor. 14:14
[14] For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
See also in WCF

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Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day

The regulation of worship and the Sabbath

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.1

The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is just, good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart, and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.2

Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and to him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures; and since the fall, not without a Mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.3

Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of natural worship, is by God required of all men; but that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son by the help of his Spirit, according to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others in a known tongue. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.4

The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, singing of psalms; as also the administration of baptism and the Lord's Supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience unto God with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear. Solemn humiliations, with fastings and thanksgivings upon special occasions, are in their several times and seasons to be used in a holy and religious manner.

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.5

Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth, as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself, so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God by his Word or providence calleth thereunto.

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.6

As it is of the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time by God's appointment be set apart for the worship of God; so by his Word in a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath to be kept holy unto him; which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord's Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

Section 22.7

This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations; but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.