I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also,…

The want of this is that which God complains of, Ezek. 33. That they draw ⟨p. 51⟩nigh to him with their mouth, and honour him with their lips, but their hearts were far from him, (but chiefly) they that walk after the Commandments and Traditions of men: as the scope of Matth. 15. 8, 9. doth testify.

The want of this is that which God complains of, Ezek. 33. That they draw ⟨p. 51⟩nigh to him with their mouth, and honour him with their lips, but their hearts were far from him, (but chiefly) they that walk after the Commandments and Traditions of men: as the scope of Matth. 15. 8, 9. doth testifie.

And verily, may I but speak my own Experience, and from that tell you the difficulty of Praying to God as I ought; it is enough to make your poor, blind, carnal men, to entertain strange thoughts of me. For, as for my heart, when I go to pray, I find it so loth to go to God, and when it is with him, so loth to stay with him, that many times I am forced in my Prayers; first, to beg of God that he would take mine heart, and set it on himself in Christ, and when it is there, that he would keep it there (Psal. 86. 11.) Nay, many times I know not what to pray for, I am so blind, nor how to pray I am so ignorant; only (blessed be Grace) the Spirit helps our infirmities.

And verily, may I but speak my own Experience, and from that tell you the difficulty of Praying to God as I ought; it is enough to make your poor, blind, carnal men, to entertain strange thoughts of me. For, as for my heart, when I go to pray, I find it so loth to go to God, and when it is with him, so loth to stay with him, that many times I am forced in my Prayers; first, to beg of God that he would take mine heart, and set it on himself in Christ, and when it is there, that he would keep it there (