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

First, a sense of the want of mercy, by reason of the danger of sin. The soul, I say, feels, and from feeling, sighs, groans, and breaks at the heart. For right Prayer bubbleth out of the heart when it is over-pressed with grief and bitterness, as blood is forced out of the flesh, by reason of some heavy burden that lieth upon it, 1 Sam. 1. 10. David roars, cries, weeps, faints at the heart, fails at the eyes, loseth ⟨p. 9⟩his moisture, &c. Psal. 69. 3. & 38. 8, 9, 10. Hezekiah mourns like a dove, Isa. 38. 14. Ephraim bemoans himself, Jer. 31. 18. Peter weeps bitterly, Mat. 26. 57. Christ hath (Heb. 5. 7.) strong cryings and tears; and all this from a sense of the justice of God, the guilt of sin, the pains of Hell and destruction. The sorrows of Death compassed me about, the pains of Hell got hold upon me, and I found trouble and sorrow. Then cried I unto the Lord, Psal. 116. 3, 4. And in another place, Psal. 77. 2. My sore ran in the night. Again, Psal. 38. 6. I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long. In all these instances, and in hundreds more that might be named, you may see, that Prayer carrieth it in a sensible feeling disposition, and that first from a sense of sin.

First, a sence of the want of mercy, by reason of the danger of sin. The soul, I say, feels, and from feeling, sighs, groans, and breaks at the heart. For right Prayer bubleth out of the heart when it is over-pressed with grief and bitterness, as blood is forced out of the flesh, by reason of some heavy burthen that lyeth upon it,