WHAT IT IS TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT.
What is it to pray in the Spirit ? Interpreters comprehend in this phrase, both the spirit of the person praying and the Spirit of God, by which our spirits are fitted for, and actuated in prayer. That is a prayer in the Spirit winch, by the help of the Holy Spirit, is performed with our soul and s])irit. These go ever together, we cannot exercise oin* spirit without the Holy Spirit ; alas ! that is like a linnp of clay in our bosoms, till he quickens it ; and we cannot but pray, when the Holy Spirit moves upon it. The Spirit's breath is vital. The ifoly Ghost doth not breathe in us, as one through a trumpet, which is a mere passive instrument ; but stirs and actuates our alfections in the duty. Prayer is called a 'pouring out of the soul to God.' The soul is the well, from which tlie water of prayer is poured ; but the Spirit is the spring that feeds, and the hand that helps to pour it forth ; the well would have no water without the spring, neither could it deliver itself without one to draw it.
From the words thus explained, arise these two observations. Praying in the spirit is opposed to lip-labour — ' They draw near to me with their lips, but their heart is removed far from me.' Parisiensis, glossing upon Hos. xiv. 2, ' So will we render the calves of our lips,' compares the duty of prayer to the calves in the legal sacrifices ; ' the composition of the words (saith he) in prayer, is as the skin or hide of the beast, the voice as the hair, the understanding as the flesh, the desires and affections of the heart, as the fat of the inwards ; this alone makes it a prayer in God's account.' ' My spirit prayeth,' 1 Cor. xiv. 14 ; and in ver. 15, ' I will pray with the spirit, — I will sing with the sjiirit.' ' God, whom I serve with my spirit,' Rom. i. 9. The melodious sound which conies from a musical instrument is formed within the belly of the instrument, and the deeper the belly the sweeter the music. The melodiousness of prayer comes from within the man ; ' We are the cireuincision, which worship God in the spirit;' and the deeper the groans are that come from thence, the sweeter the melody. There may be outward worship and inward atheism. There may be much pomp in the outward ceremony of the performance, when the person neither loves nor believes that God whom he courts with an external devotion. The blemishes which made the sacrifices in the law rejected, were not in the outward limbs of the beast only, the sick as well as the lame was refused, Mai. i. 8. We read of loud praises, when not a word was heard. But God owns it not as a prayer, that hath the vehemency of the voice, but not inspirited with the aftection of the heart. Separate the spirit from the body, and the man is dead; the heart from the lip, and there is a dissolution of prayer. Now we pray in our spirit : When ! First, when we pray with knowledge : secondly, in fervency : thirdly, in sincerity. By knowledge, the understanding is set on work ; by fervency, the afl'ections ; and by sincerity, the will ; all these are recpiircd before you can pray in the spirit. There may be knowledge with- out fervency, and this is cold, and quickens not; there may be heat without knowledge, and this is like courage in a blind horse ; there may be knowledge and fervency, and this is like a chariot with swift horses, and a skilful driver, but being dishonest, carries it the wrong way. Neither of these, nor both together, avail, because sincerity is wanting. He will have little thanks for his zeal, that is fervent in spirit, but serving himself with it, not the Lord.
CHAPTER II.
sheweth, that to pray in the spirit, it is required that we, pray with
understanding; and why; also what understanding.
In order to pray acceptably, it is necessary that wc pray with understanding. A blind sacrifice was rejected in the law, Mai. i. 8; how much more blind devotions under the gospel ! As knowledge aggravates a sin, so ignorance takes
744 ^^ '"'^^^ SPIRIT.
from the excellency of an action that is good. ' I bear them witness,' saith Paul, ' they have a zeal, but not according to knowledge.' ' Ye worship ye know not ■what; we know what v/e worship, for salvation is of the Jews,' John iv. 22. Where we see that the want of knowledge in acts of worship is such a fun- damental defect, that it brings damnation with it. But why is knowledge so necessai-y to acceptable praying ?