WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING.
Queries and Objections answered.
Now, to answer a query or two, and so to pass on to the next thing.
Query First. But what would you have us poor creatures to do that cannot tell how to pray? The Lord knows I know not how to pray, or what to pray for.
Answ. Poor heart! thou canst not, thou complainest, pray. Canst thou see thy misery? Hath God showed thee that thou art by nature under the curse of his law? If so, do not mistake. I know thou dost groan, and that is most bitter. I am persuaded thou canst scarcely be found doing any thing in thy calling, but prayer breaketh from thy heart. Have thy groans gone to heaven from every corner of thy house? (Rom 8:26). I know it is thus; and so also doth thine own sorrowful heart witness thy tears, thy forgetfulness of thy calling, &c. Is not thy heart so full of desires after the things of another world, that many times thou dost even forget the things of this world? Prithee read this scripture, Job 23:12.
Query Second. Yea, but when I go into secret, and intend to pour out my soul before God, I can scarce say anything at all.
Answ. 1. Ah! Sweet soul! It is not thy words that God so much regards, as that he will not mind thee, except thou comest before him with some eloquent oration. His eye is on the brokenness of thine heart; and that it is that makes the very bowels of the Lord to run over. "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psa 51:17).
2. Stopping thy words may arise from overmuch trouble in thy heart. David was so troubled sometimes that he could not speak (Psa 77:3, 4). But this may comfort all such sorrowful hearts as thou art, that though thou canst not through the anguish of thy spirit speak much, yet the Holy Spirit stirs up in thine heart groans and sighs, so much the more vehement: when the mouth is hindered, yet the spirit is not. Moses, as aforesaid, made heaven ring again with his prayers, when (that we read of) not one word came out of his mouth (Exo 14:15). But,
3. If thou wouldst more fully express thyself before the Lord, study, first, thy filthy estate; secondly, God's promises; thirdly, the heart of Christ. Which thou mayest know or discern, (1.) By his condescension and bloodshed. (2.) By the mercy he hath extended to great sinners formerly, and plead thine own vileness, by way of bemoaning; Christ's blood by way of expostulation; and in thy prayers, let the mercy that he hath extended to other great sinners, together with his rich promises of grace, be much upon thy heart. Yet let me counsel thee, (a.) Take heed that thou content not thyself with words. (b.) That thou do not think that God looks only at them, neither. But, (c.) However, whether thy words be few or many, let thine heart go with them; then shalt thou seek him, and find him, when thou shalt seek him with thy whole heart (Jer 29:13).
Objection. But you have seemed to speak against any other way of praying, but by the Spirit, you can give direction on how to pray.
Answ. We ought to prompt one another forward to prayer, though we ought not to make forms of prayer for each other. Exhorting them to pray with Christian direction is one thing, and making stunted forms to tie up the Spirit of God to them is another thing. The apostle gives them no form to pray withal, yet directs to prayer (Eph 6:18; Rom 15:30-32). Let no man, therefore, conclude that because we may, with allowance, give instructions and directions to pray, it is lawful to make forms of prayer for each other.
Object. But if we do not use forms of prayer, how shall we teach our children to pray?
Answ. I believe that men go the wrong way to teach their children to pray, in going about so soon to teach them any set company of words, as is the everyday use of poor creatures to do.
For to me it seems to be a better way for people betimes to tell their children what cursed creatures they are, and how they are under the wrath of God because of original and actual sin; also to say to them the nature of God's wrath, and the duration of the misery; which if they conscientiously do, they would sooner teach their children to pray than they do. Men learn to pray by conviction of sin, which is the way to make our sweet babes do so, too. But the other way, namely, to be busy in teaching children forms of prayer, before they know anything else, is the following way to make them cursed hypocrites, and to puff them up with pride. Teach therefore your children to understand their wretched state and condition; tell them of hell-fire and their sins, of damnation, and salvation; the way to escape the one, and to enjoy the other, if you know it yourselves, and this will make tears run down your sweet babes' eyes, and hearty groans flow from their hearts. Then also you may tell them to whom they should pray, and through whom they should pray: you may tell them also of God's promises, and his former grace extended to sinners, according to the word.
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