Westminster Larger Catechism

(The Westminster Larger Catechism, original of the year 1647).

In 1643, when the Long Parliament of England convened the Westminster Assembly to produce the Confession of Faith, it also laid down guidelines for a "Catechism."
The Assembly asked Herbert Palmer to draw up an outline of the Catechism, but Robert Baillie and the other Scottish commissioners were left disappointed.

In December a committee was appointed to write a catechism, and in January 1647 the Assembly gave up the idea of writing a single catechism and divided it into two: the Shorter Catechism, meant to be "brief and easy for beginners," and the Larger Catechism, more precise and comprehensive.

The catechism was completed in 1647, and the following year it was adopted by the General Assembly of Scotland.

Q. 185. How are we to pray?

A. We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God, and deep sense of our unworthiness, necessities, and sins; with penitent, thankful, and enlarged hearts; with understanding, faith, sincerity, fervency, love, and perseverance, waiting upon him, with humble submission to his will.

Ecclesiastes 5:1.
Genesis 18:27.
Genesis 32:10.
Luke 15:17-19.
Luke 18:13,14.
Psalms 51:17.
Philippians 4:6.
1 Samuel 1:15.
1 Samuel 2:1.
1 Corinthians 14:15.
Mark 11:24.
James 1:6.
Psalms 17:1.
Psalms 145:18.
James 5:16.
1 Timothy 2:8.
Ephesians 6:18.
Micah 7:7.
Matthew 26:39.

Q. 185. How are we to pray?▶︎

Q. 185. How are we to pray?