2. In point of assistance prayer is a work too hard for us, we can •abble of our selves, but we cannot pray without the Holy Ghost, we can put words into prayer, but 'tis he Spirit puts affections, without which 'tis but a little cold prattle and spiritless talk, our necessities may sharpen our prayers, but they cannot enliven our prayers, a carnal man may feel the impulsions of a natural fervency, and so cry unto God as the young Ravens cry unto him, and in all creatures there is a desire of relief, the •ude Mariners in the tempest were very earnest, Jonah 1. 6. but now gracious affection is quite another thing than this natural fervency; there may be cold and raw wishes after grace, but not serious volitions and spiritual desires, these we must have from the Holy Ghost▪ surely if we did consider what prayer is, we should see the need of this assistance, 'tis a work which will cost us travel of heart, Acts 1. 14. [Greek or Hebrew] and James 5. 16. [Greek or Hebrew], 'tis expressed by striving, Rom. 15. 30. Strive with me in prayers, and Col. 4. 12. Labouring for you fervently in prayers, &c. [Greek or Hebrew], 'tis a striving with God himself, and then there is no setting upon God but by his own strength, this was figured in Jacobs wrestling, Gen. 32. 25. to the end, which is explained, Hosea 12. 4. Yea, he had power over ⟨p. 508⟩the Angel and prevailed, yea, he wept and made supplication, the party that Jacob wrestled with is called a man, an Angel, and God; a man for the shape and form assumed, an Angel to note the second person who is the Messenger of the Covenant, and God, Gen. 32. 30. 'Twas such an Angel as blessed him, which is proper to God, now in the assumed body Jacob wrestled with him, which was symbolical; the Prophet referreth it to his Prayers, but how is it said he could not prevail against Jacob? With a blast of his mouth he might have confounded him, and it had been as easy for him to maim and destroy every joint, as to make him halt and same of one thigh. I answer, he could not because he would not, he gave out but such a measure of strength to the body assumed, and the Lord did wrestle both in and against Jacob, in Jacobo Deus est seipso fortior, he wrestleth against us with his left hand, and strengtheneth us with his right, so that Gods power prevaileth over himself; all this is spoken to show what need we have of a divine power;
2. In point of assistance prayer is a work too hard for us, we can •abble of our selves, but we cannot pray without the Holy Ghost, we can put words into prayer, but 'tis he Spirit puts affections, without which 'tis but a little cold prattle and spiritless talk, our necessities may sharpen our prayers, but they cannot enliven our prayers, a carhal man may feel the impulsions of a natural fervency, and so cry unto God as the young Ravens cry unto him, and in all creatures there is a desire of relief, the •ude Mariners in the tempest were very earnest, Jonah 1. 6. but now gracious affection is quite another thing than this natural fervency; there may be cold and raw wishes after grace, but not serious volitions and spiritual desires, these we must have from the Holy Ghost▪ surely if we did consider what prayer is, we should see the need of this assistance, 'tis a work which will cost us travel of heart, Acts 1. 14. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and James 5. 16. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, 'tis expressed by striving, Rom. 15. 30. Strive with me in prayers, and Col. 4. 12. Labouring for you •ervently in prayers, &c. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, 'tis a striving with God himself, and then there is no setting upon God but by his own strength, this was figured in Jacobs wrestling, Gen. 32. 25. to the end, which is explained, Hosea 12. 4. Yea, he had power over ⟨p. 508⟩the Angel and prevailed, yea, he wept and made supplication, the party that Jacob wrestled with is called a man, an Angel, and God; a man for the shape and form assumed, an Angel to note the second person who is the Messenger of the Covenant, and God,
