A30158:121
I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also,…
I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also, or, A discourse touching prayer, from I Cor. 14.15 wherein is briefly discovered 1. What prayer is, 2. What it is to pray with the spirit, 3. What it is to pray with the spirit and with the understanding also / by John Bunyan.
London : Printed for the author, 1663
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But Prayer (as aforesaid) is not only a duty, but one of the most eminent duties; and therefore so much the more difficult. Therefore Paul knew what he said, when he said, I will pray with the Spirit. He knew well, it was ⟨p. 55⟩not what others writ or said, that could make him a praying person; nothing less than the Spirit could do it.
But Prayer (as aforesaid) is not only a duty, but one of the most eminent duties; and therefore so much the more difficult. Therefore Paul knew what he said, when he said, I will pray with the Spirit. He knew well, it was ⟨p. 55⟩not what others writ or said, that could make him a praying person; nothing lesse than the Spirit could do it.
Tenthly, It must be with the Spirit, or else, as there will be a failing in the act it self, so there will be a failing, yea a fainting in the prosecution of the work. Prayer is an Ordinance of God, that must continue with a soul so long as it is on this side glory.
But as I said before, it is not possible for a man to get up his heart to God in Prayer; so it is as difficult to keep it there, without the assistance of the Spirit.