Wab. Your discourse doth lead me out to inform you in a great point of the grace and kingdom of Jesus Christ, and that is the gift and grace of Prayer, which the Spirit of Jesus Christ teacheth every new born Soul to perform: for so the Scripture saith, Rom. 8.15. He hath given the Spirit of his Son, whereby we cry, and crying is an earnest manner of praying; and the matter of our cry is to s•y Abba, Father, that is, to call God our Father, and to ask him a Child's portion in the Name of Jesus Christ, as he hath promised, that whatever we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ, it shall be surely granted, either the same thing or a better; for we are foolish children, and know not what is best for our selves, but our Father doth: and therefore when we make our prayers and request to God, we must leave the matter to his love & wisdom, to give us what, and when, and how he will.
And because we are ignorant what to pray for, therefore the Spirit of God who dwelleth in our heart, he is called the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication; and Rom. 8.26, 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings, which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the Saints, according to the will of God. Where we see that our weakness is supplied by the assistance of the Spirit, and he helpeth us to pray for such things as please God; and in such a manner as pleaseth God. And this is the condition of every true converted believer, that he can pray, and desires to pray, and is ever lifting up his heart to G•d in prayer: and therefore I like it well that my motion of spending this night in prayer, is so acceptable to you, a good sign it is that the Spirit of Jesus Christ hath taken possession of your Soul.
Wab. Your discourse doth lead me out to inform you in a great point of the grace and kingdome of Jesus Christ, and that is the gift and grace of Prayer, which the Spirit of Jesus Christ teacheth every new born Soul to perform: for so the Scripture saith, Rom. 8.15. He hath given the Spirit of his Son, whereby we cry, and crying is an earnest manner of praying; and the matter of our cry is to s•y Abba, Father, that is, to call God our Father, and to ask him a Childes portion in the Name of Jesus Christ, as he hath promised, that whatever we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ, it shall be surely granted, either the same thing or a better; for we are foolish children, and know not what is best for our selves, but our Father doth: and therefore when we make our prayers and request to God, we must leave the matter to his love & wisdome, to give us what, and when, and how he will.
And because we are ignorant what to pray for, therefore the Spirit of God who dwelleth in our heart, he is called the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication; and Rom. 8.26, 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings, which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the Saints, according to the will of God. Where we see that our weakness is supplied by the assistance of the Spirit, and he helpeth us to pray for such things as please God; and in such a manner as pleaseth God. And this is the condition of every true converted believer, that he can pray, and desires to pray, and is ever lifting up his heart to G•d in prayer: and therefore I like it well that my motion of spending this night in prayer, is so acceptable to you, a good sign it is that the Spirit of Jesus Christ hath taken possession of your Soul.
