A30158:169
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.
The People of God are not ignorant how many wiles, tricks, and temptations the Devil hath to make a poor soul, who is truly willing to have the Lord Jesus Christ, and that upon Christ's terms too; I say, to tempt that soul to be weary of seeking the face of God, and to think that God is not willing to have mercy on such a one as him. I, saith Satan, thou mayest pray indeed, but thou shalt not prevail. Thou seest thine heart is hard, cold, dull and dead, thou dost not pray with the Spirit, thou dost not pray in good earnest, thy thoughts are running after other things, when thou pretendest to pray to God. Away hypocrite, go no further, it is but in vain to strive any longer.
Here now, if the soul be not well informed in its understanding, it will presently cry out, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me, ⟨p. 70⟩Isa. 45. 27. Whereas the soul rightly informed and enlightened, saith, Well, I will seek the Lord, and wait; I will not leave off, though the Lord keep silence, and speak not one word of comfort, Isa. 49. 14.
Here now, if the soul be not well informed in its understanding, it will presently cry out, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me, ⟨p. 70⟩Isa. 45. 27. Whereas the soul rightly informed and enlightned, saith, Well, I will seek the Lord, and wait; I will not leave off, though the Lord keep silence, and speak not one word of comfort, Isa. 49. 14.