Chapter 6: Occasions

Of addresses to God upon particular occasions, whether domestice or public,

Iv is made our duty, and prescribed as a remedy against disquieting care, that in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, (Phil 4:6,) we should make our requests known unto God. Heb 10:19. And it is part of the Parrhesia, the boldness, the liberty of speech, (so the word signifies,) which is allowed us in our access to God, that we may be particular in opening our case, and seeking to him for relief; that, according as the sore and the grief is, accordingly the prayer and the supplication may be by any man, or by the people of Israel. 2 Chr 6:29. Not that God needs to be particularly informed of our condition ; he knows it better than we ourselves do, and our souls too in our adversity ; but it is his will that we should thus acknowledge him in all our ways, (Prov 3:6,) and wait upon him for the direction of every step, (Ps 37:23,) not prescribing, but subscribing to infinite wisdom, humbly showing him our wants, burdens, and desires, and then referring ourselves to him, to do for us as he thinks fit.

We shall mention some of the occasions of ~ particular address to God, more or less usual, which may either be the principal matter of a whole prayer, or inserted in our other prayers, and in some cases that are more peculiar to ministers, or others, in common to them with masters of families and private Christians. As there may be something particular,

The heads

• 1. In our morning prayers.
• 2. In our evening prayers.
• 3. In craving a blessing before meat.
• 4. In returning thanks after our meat.
• 5. When we are going on a journey.
• 6. When we return from a journey.
• 7. In the evening before the Lord’s day.
• 8. On the morning of the Lord’s day.
• 9. At the entrance upon the public worship on the Lord’s day, by the masters of the assemblies.
• 10. In our preparation for the Lord’s supper.
• 11. In the celebrating of the Lord’s supper.
• 12. After the celebrating of the Lord’s supper.
• 13. Upon occasion of the baptism of a child.
• 14. Upon occasion of a funeral.
• 15. Upon occasion of marriage.
• 16. Upon occasion of the ordaining of ministers.
• 17. Upon occasion of the want of rain.
• 18. Upon occasion of excessive rain.
• 19. Upon occasion of infectious diseases.
• 20. Upon occasion of fire.
• 21. Upon occasion of great storms.
• 22. Upon occasion of the cares, and burdens, and afflictions of particular persons ; as
• 1. When we pray with, or for those that are troubled in mind, and melancholy, and under doubts and fears about their spiritual state.
• 2. Those that are under convictions of sin, and begin to be concerned about their souls and their salvation, and to inquire after _ Christ.
• 3. When we pray with, or for those that are sick and weak, and distempered in body, that those who are sick and in sin-may be convinced, those who are sick and in Christ comforted.
• 4. When we pray with, or for those that are deprived of the use of their reason.
• 5. When we pray with, or for sick children.
• 6. When we pray with, or for families where death is, especially such as have lost their head.
• 7. When we pray with, or for those women that are near the time of travail, or in travail.
• 8. When we pray with, or for those that are recovered from sickness, or are delivered in child-bearing, and desire to return thanks to God for his mercy.
• 9. When we pray with, or for those parents, whose children are a grief to them, or such as they are in fear about.
• 10. When we pray with, or for those that are in prison.
• 11. When we pray with, or for condemned malefactors, that have but a little while to live.
• 12. When we pray with, or for those that are at sea.

Henry’s text is in the public domain. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, No. 265 Chestnut Street. Undated, about 1840 to 1860. The preface is dated Chester, March 25, 1710. From the Internet Archive scan. The KJV text is in the public domain.