3. In this world, wherein we enjoy the means of grace, none are the subjects of prayer but man. The Psalmist, indeed, speaks of God’s giving to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry, Psal. cxlvii. 9. and elsewhere it is said, He provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, Job. xxxviii. 41. The meaning of which is, not that brute creatures formally address themselves to God for a supply of their wants, having no idea of a divine being; but, that, when they complain for want of food, the providence of God supplies them, though they know not the hand from whence it comes.
4. Though it be the duty of all men in the world to pray; yet none can do this by faith, and, consequently, in an acceptable manner, but believers, concerning whom the apostle says, Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, Abba, Father, Rom. viii. 15.
As for the first part of prayer, viz. petition, or supplication. This will be particularly considered under several following answers, and especially those that contain an explication of the Lord’s prayer; which is a directory for what we are to ask of God: Therefore we shall, at present, only consider the other two parts of prayer, viz. confession of sin, and thanksgiving for mercies.
(1.) Concerning confession of sin; and accordingly,
[1.] We shall prove, that it is an indispensable duty incumbent on all men; and that, not only on those who are in a state of unregeneracy, and consequently under the dominion of sin, but on believers themselves, who are in a justified state. This will appear, if we consider, that not to confess sin, is, in effect, to justify ourselves in the commission of it; and, as it were, to deny that which is so well known to the heart-searching God, as well as to our own consciences. It also contains in it a charging God with injustice, when he inflicts on us the punishment that is due to it; which is contrary to what Ezra says; Thou, our God, hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, Ezra ix. 13.
Moreover, none was ever truly humbled in the sight of God, or obtained mercy and forgiveness of sin, but he was first brought to confess it with suitable affection, and brokenness of heart; which are ingredients in true repentance: Thus it is said, He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light, Job xxxiii. 27, 28. It is also said elsewhere, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy, Prov. xxviii. 13. This duty is so evident, that, one would think, no one, who duly considers what he is, or how contrary his actions are to the revealed will of God, should have the front to deny it: However, it is well known, that many seem designedly to wave all confession of sin in prayer; and, others argue against it, more especially, as to what concerns the case of believers: Accordingly,
Object. It is objected, that believers ought not to confess sin; since that is inconsistent with a justified state: It is, in effect, to plead guilty, though God has taken away the guilt of sin, by forgiving it for the sake of the atonement which Christ has made: It is a laying open the wound that God hath healed and closed up, or bringing to remembrance that which he hath said, he will remember no more, Heb. x. 67. and it is contrary to the grace of God, who hath said, none shall lay any thing to the charge of his elect, since it is God that justifieth, Rom. viii. 33. for a believer to lay any thing to his own charge, which he does when he confesses sin.
Answ. To this it may be replied;
1st, That we must distinguish between a believer’s desert of punishment or condemnation, and his being actually punished by God, as a sin-revenging judge, according as his iniquities deserve. That a believer shall not eventually fall under condemnation, is true, because his sins are forgiven; and with respect to such, the apostle says, There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, ver. 1. Nevertheless, though he be in a justified state, and, as the consequence hereof, shall be undoubtedly saved; yet, according to the tenor of his own actions, he being a sinner, contracts guilt in the sight of God; and, a desert of punishment is inseparably connected with every sin, though a person may be in a justified state who commits it. It is one thing to be liable to condemnation, and another thing to deserve to be condemned: The former of these is, indeed, inconsistent with a justified state; but the latter is not: And it is in this sense that we are to understand the Psalmist’s words, If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand, Psal. cxxx. 3. And, accordingly, the best believer on earth, though he have a full assurance of his being forgiven by God; yet, inasmuch as he is a sinner, he is obliged to confess that he deserves to be cast off by him, or, if God should deal with him according to what he finds in him, without looking upon him as he is in Christ, his head and surety, he would be undone and lost for ever.
2dly, Believers are daily sinning, and therefore contracting fresh guilt; as it is said, There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not, Eccl. vii. 20. and, indeed their sin is sometimes so great, that they grieve the Holy Spirit, wound their own consciences, and act very disagreeably to their character as believers. This therefore ought to be confessed with shame and self-abhorrence; as the prophet says, That thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth anymore, because of thy shame; when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God, Ezek. xvi. 63. Moreover, it is certain that believers, when they have had a discovery that their sin was pardoned, have, at the same time, confessed it with great humility. Thus, immediately after Nathan had reproved David for his sin, and told him, upon his repentance, that the Lord had put it away, 2 Sam. xii. 13. yet he makes a penitent confession of it before God, and says, Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, Psal. li. 4.