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

Thus it was with Daniel, that mighty Prophet of the Lord. He understanding by Books, that the Captivity of the Children of Israel was hard at an end; Then according unto that word, he maketh his prayer to God.

I Daniel, (saith he, Dan. 9. 2, 3.) understood by Books, (viz. the Writings of Jeremiah) the number of the years whereof the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem. And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth ⟨p. 23⟩and ashes. So that, I say, as the Spirit is the helper and the governor of the Soul, when it prayeth according to the Will of God; so it guideth by and according to the Word of God, and his Promise. Hence it is that our Lord Jesus Christ himself did make a stop, although his Life lay at stake for it. I could now pray to my Father, & he should give me more than twelve legions of Angels; but how then must the Scripture be fulfilled, that thus it must be? Mat. 26. 53, 54. As who should say, were there but a word for it in the Scripture, I should soon be out of the hands of mine enemies, I should be helped by Angels; but the Scripture will not warrant this kind of praying, for that saith otherwise: It is a praying then according to the word & promise. The Spirit by the Word must direct, as well in the manner, as in the matter of Prayer. I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the Understanding also. But there is no understanding without the Word; For if they reject the Word of the Lord, what wisdom is in them? Jer. 8. 9.

I Daniel, (saith he, Dan. 9. 2, 3.) understood by Books, (viz. the Writings of Jeremiah) the number of the years whereof the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem. And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth