The word Abba say others, signifies, Father in the Syriac Tongue, which the Apostle here retaineth, because it is a word full of affection, which young children retain almost in all Languages, when they begin to speak. And he adds the word Father, not only to expound the same, but also the better to express the eager movings, and the earnest and vehement desires and singular affection of believers, in their crying unto God; even as Christ himself redoubled the 1word Father to the same purpose, ⟨p. 247⟩when he was in his greatest distress. This little word Father, (saith Luther) lisped forth in prayer by a Child of God, exceeds the eloquence of Demosthenes, Cicero, and all other so famed Orators in the World. 'Tis certain that the Spirit of God helps the Saints in all their communions with God, viz. in their meditations of God, in their reading and hearing of the Word of God, in their communions one with another, and in all their solemn addresses to God. And as to this the Apostle gives us a most special instance in that Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. When we are to pray, there is in us sometimes an infirmity of ignorance, so that we know not what to pray for, either in regard of the matter or the manner. And there is in us at other times an infirmity of pride and conceitedness, ⟨p. 248⟩so that we cannot pray with that humility and lowliness of spirit as we should, spiritual pride having fly-blown our prayers. Sometimes there is in us an infirmity of deadness, dullness, drowsiness, &c. so that we cannot pray with that warmth, heat, life, spirit, and fervency, as we should, or as we would; and at other times there is in us an infirmity of unbelief and slavish fears, so that we cannot pray with that faith and holy boldness, as becomes Children that draw near to a Throne of Grace, to a Throne of Mercy, &c. But now the Spirit helps these infirmities by way of instruction, prompting, and teaching us what to pray for, and how we should spell our lesson; and by telling us as it were within, what we should say, and how we should sigh and groan; and by rousing and quickening, and stirring of us up to prayer; and by his singular influence and choice assistance opening and enlarging our hearts in prayer;
The word Abba say others, signifies, Father in the Syriack Tongue, which the Apostle here retaineth, because it is a word full of affection, which young children retain almost in all Languages, when they begin to speak. And he adds the word Father, not only to expound the same, but also the better to express the eager movings, and the earnest and vehement desires and singular affection of beleevers, in their crying unto God; even as Christ himself redoubled the 1word Father to the same purpose, ⟨p. 247⟩when he was in his greatest distress. This little word Father, (saith Luther) lisped forth in prayer by a Child of God, exceeds the eloquence of Demosthenes, Cicero, and all other so famed Orators in the World. 'Tis certain that the Spirit of God helps the Saints in all their communions with God, viz. in their meditations of God, in their reading and hearing of the Word of God, in their communions one with another, and in all their solemn addresses to God. And as to this the Apostle gives us a most special instance in that Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. When we are to pray, there is in us sometimes an infirmity of ignorance, so that we know not what to pray for, either in regard of the matter or the manner. And there is in us at other times an infirmity of pride and conceitedness, ⟨p. 248⟩so that we cannot pray with that humility and lowliness of spirit as we should, spiritual pride having fly-blown our prayers. Sometimes there is in us an infirmity of deadness, dullness, drowsiness, &c. so that we cannot pray with that warmth, heat, life, spirit, and fervency, as we should, or as we would; and at other times there is in us an infirmity of unbelief and slavish fears, so that we cannot pray with that faith and holy boldness, as becomes Children that draw near to a Throne of Grace, to a Throne of Mercy, &c. But now the Spirit helps these infirmities by way of instruction, prompting, and teaching us what to pray for, and how we should spell our lesson; and by telling us as it were within, what we should say, and how we should sigh and groan; and by rousing and quickening, and stirring of us up to prayer; and by his singular influence and choice assistance opening and enlarging our hearts in prayer;
- 1Mark 14. 36.
