A30158:298
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.
1. That Scripture in Luke 11. 8. is very encouraging to any poor soul that ⟨p. 100⟩doth hunger after Christ Jesus. In the 5th, 6th, and 7th verses, he speaketh a parable of a man that went to his friend to borrow three loaves, who, because he was in bed, denied him, yet for his importunity-sake he did arise and give him; clearly signifying, that though poor souls through the weakness of their faith cannot see that they are the friends of God, yet they should never leave asking, seeking, and knocking at God's door for mercy, Mat. 7. 7, 8.
Mark, saith Christ, I say unto you, Although he will not arise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity (or restless desires) he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.
Poor heart! thou criest out that God will not regard thee, thou dost not find that thou art a friend to him but rather an enemy in thine heart by wicked works, Col. 1. 21. and thou ar• as though thou didst hear the Lord saying to thee, Trouble me not, I cannot ⟨p. 101⟩give unto thee; as he in the parable; Yet I say, continue knocking, crying, moaning and bewailing thy self: I tell thee, though he will not arise and give thee, because thou art his friend; yet because of thy importunity he will arise and give thee as many as thou needest.