Q. 117. How is the sabbath or the Lord’s day to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath or Lord’s day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day,^[624] not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful;^[625] and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy^[626]) in the public and private exercises of God’s worship:^[627] and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.^[628]

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days;^[145] and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship,^[146] except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.^[147]

Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

8: This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of 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,^[441] 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.^[442]

Q. 116. What is required in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment requireth of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word, expressly one whole day in seven; which was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world; which is the Christian sabbath,^[622] and in the New Testament called The Lord’s day.^[623]

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath;^[143] and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.^[144]

Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

7: As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, He has particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:^[437] 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,^[438] which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s Day,^[439] and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.^[440]

Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

6: 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:^[430] but God is to be worshipped everywhere,^[431] in spirit and truth;^[432] as, in private families^[433] daily,^[434] and in secret, each one by himself;^[435] so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calls thereunto.^[436]

Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

5: The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear,^[420] the sound preaching^[421] and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith and reverence,^[422] singing of psalms with grace in the heart;^[423] as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ, are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God:^[424] beside religious oaths,^[425] vows,^[426] solemn fastings,^[427] and thanksgivings upon special occasions,^[428] which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner.^[429]

Q. 184. For what things are we to pray?
A. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God,^[1178] the welfare of the church,^[1179] our own^[1180] or others, good;^[1181] but not for anything that is unlawful.^[1182]

Q. 183. For whom are we to pray?
A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth;^[1168] for magistrates,^[1169] and ministers;^[1170] for ourselves,^[1171] our brethren,^[1172] yea, our enemies;^[1173] and for all sorts of men living,^[1174] or that shall live hereafter;^[1175] but not for the dead,^[1176] nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto death.^[1177]

Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

4: Prayer is to be made for things lawful;^[416] and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter:^[417] but not for the dead,^[418] nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.^[419]

Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray?
A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times, in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are requisite for the right performance of that duty.^[1167]

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?
A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator;^[1164] and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone,^[1165] we are to pray in no other name but his only.^[1166]

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?
A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake;^[1161] not by bare mentioning of his name,^[1162] but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation.^[1163]

Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God only?
A. God only being able to search the hearts,^[1152] hear the requests,^[1153] pardon the sins,^[1154] and fulfill the desires of all;^[1155] and only to be believed in,^[1156] and worshipped with religious worship;^[1157] prayer, which is a special part thereof,^[1158] is to be made by all to him alone,^[1159] and to none other.^[1160]

Q. 178. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God,^[1147] in the name of Christ,^[1148] by the help of his Spirit;^[1149] with confession of our sins,^[1150] and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.^[1151]

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 98. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God,^[200] for things agreeable to his will,^[201] in the name of Christ,^[202] with confession of our sins,^[203] and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.^[204]