For this you know, that there are two things in a regenerate man (for that you must take for granted by the way that no natural man is able to make a prayer acceptable to God, seeing there is no spirit in him, but in the regenerate man) there is I say flesh and spirit, now when we come to pour forth our hearts to the Lord, that which lies uppermost will be ready to be poured forth first; and that which is spiritual, it may be, lies in the bottom, and that is kept in, and so a man may make a carnal prayer, though he be a holy man; that is, when the flesh hath gotten the upper hand; as in some fits it may, when the mind is filled with worldly sorrow and worldly rejoicing, and worldly desires, and these would be expressed to the Lord; it is a prayer that the Lord regards not, though the man be holy, from whence it comes, but right prayer is this, when the regenerate part is acted and stirred up, and the flesh that hinders, is removed. For you must know this, that wheresoever there is a regenerate part in any man, there is a regenerate aptness in that to call upon God; and it cannot be disjoined from it, but that is not always in act. As we see a fountain, it hath always an aptness 1to pour forth water, it is ready to break into a current, but, if it be stopped with stones & mud, and other impediments, it cannot break out, so he that is a regenerate man, that hath a holy part in him, there is an aptness to prayer. Which is that which our Saviour saith, Math. 26. 41. The spirit is willing, that is, there is always a ⟨p. 10⟩2willingness that follows the spirit, or the regenerate part in a holy man, but saith he, The flesh is backward, that is, it stops this fountain, and therefore Rom. 8. 27. The spirit is said there to help our infirmities, 3and to make requests for us; that is, even as a man removes stones from a •ountaine with his hands, and when he hath done that, it breaks out into a current, so the holy Ghost removes this flesh, that stops up the current, the spirit takes away those carnal impediments that are in us. And not only so, but stirreth up the regenerate part, and when that is done, we are able to make a spiritual prayer to God in Christ Jesus;
For this you know, that there are two things in a regenerate man (for that you must take for granted by the way that no naturall man is able to make a prayer acceptable to God, seeing there is no spirit in him, but in the regenerate man) there is I say flesh and spirit, now when we come to powre forth our hearts to the Lord, that which lyes vppermost will be ready to be powred forth first; and that which is spirituall, it may be, lyes in the bottome, and that is kept in, and so a man may make a carnall prayer, though he be a holy man; that is, when the flesh hath gotten the vpper hand; as in some fits it may, when the mind is filled with worldly sorrow and wordly reioycing, and worldly desires, and these would bee expressed to the Lord; it is a prayer that the Lord regards not, though the man bee holy, from whence it comes, but right prayer is this, when the regenerate part is acted and stirred vp, and the flesh that hinders, is remooved. For you must know this, that wheresoeuer there is a regenerate part in any man, there is a regenerate aptnesse in that to call vpon God; and it cannot bee disioyned from it, but that is not alwayes in act. As we see a fountaine, it hath alwayes an aptnes 1to powre forth water, it is ready to breake into a current, but, if it be stopped with stones & mud, and other impediments, it cannot breake out, so he that is a regenerate man, that hath a holy part in him, there is an aptnesse to prayer. Which is that which our Saviour saith, Math. 26. 41. The spirit is willing, that is, there is alwayes a willing ⟨p. 10⟩2nesse that followes the spirit, or the regenerate part in a holy man, but saith he, The flesh is backeward, that is, it stops this fountaine, and therefore Rom. 8. 27. The spirit is said there to helpe our infirmities, 3and to make requests for vs; that is, even as a man remooues stones from a •ountaine with his hands, and when he hath done that, it breaks out into a current, so the holy Ghost removes this flesh, that stops vp the current, the spirit takes away those carnal impediments that are in vs. And not onely so, but stirreth vp the regenerate part, and when that is done, we are able to make a spirituall prayer to God in Christ Iesus;
- 1Simile.
- 2Mat• 26. 41.
- 3Rom. 8: 27.
