A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

7. Pray for the spirit, that ye may pray in and by the spirit. Awaken the North and the South to blow upon thy garden that the spices thereof may flow forth. ¹Then thou mayest invite Christ, Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits; that the soul may enjoy him and hold sweet communion with him. All successful prayer is from the breathing of the spirit of God, when he inspires and indites, when he directs the heart as to matter, and governs the tongue as to utterance.² God graciously hears the sighs of his own Spirit formed in us. He sent forth his spirit and the waters flow. That I may allude: the waters of contrition flow upon the breathing of the spirit and the soul is as it were all afloat before the throne of grace, when these living waters issue from under the threshold of the sanctuary. Sequitur lachrymosa devotio flante spiritu sancto. Devout tears drop down from the spirit's influences. Melting supplications follow the infusions of grace by the spirit. Then they shall mourn for piercing of Christ, says the Prophet, and be in bitterness as for a first-born: like the mourning at the town of Hadadrimmon where Josiah ⟨p. 283⟩was slain. Then^(a) in that day what inundations of mercy shall refresh the Church, when the Lord will extend her peace like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: great things to the Church, and gracious things to the soul. Inter orationem suspiria cognoscit, holy sighs in prayer give intelligence of great mercies to follow. Nay to withstand powerfully all the wiles of Satan: one means is,⁴ to consecrate every part of the spiritual armour by prayer in the Spirit.

7. Pray for the spirit, that ye may pray in and by the spirit. Awaken the North and the South to blow upon thy garden that the spices thereof may flow forth. ¹Then thou mayest invite Christ, Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits; that the soul may enjoy him and hold sweet communion with him. All successful prayer is from the breathing of the spirit of God, when he inspires and indites, when he directs the heart as to matter, and governs the tongue as to utteranee.