Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
... Sacred Scripture records sundry prayers conceived and uttered by one, but assented to by sundry others, whereby they became also the prayers of those others. The 102. Psalm bears this title, A Prayer for the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. This title apparently sheweth that the Prophet who first penned this Psalm, did it in the persons and for the use of any poor distressed servant of GOD.
So as we thereby are taught what to pray when our sins lie heavy upon us, or when we are in any other distress. It is expressly said that John taught his Disciples to pray, Luke 11. 1. This questionless was done by prescribing unto them a form of prayer. Whereupon when a Disciple of Christ said unto him, LORD teach us to pray as John also taught his Disciples, he said unto them, when ye pray, say Our Father which art in Heaven, &c. ...
For more, see William Gouge on the lawfulness of forms of prayer.
So as we thereby are taught what to pray when our sins lie heavy upon us, or when we are in any other distress. It is expressly said that John taught his Disciples to pray, Luke 11. 1. This questionless was done by prescribing unto them a form of prayer. Whereupon when a Disciple of Christ said unto him, LORD teach us to pray as John also taught his Disciples, he said unto them, when ye pray, say Our Father which art in Heaven, &c. ...
For more, see William Gouge on the lawfulness of forms of prayer.