children, to be set, one at the right, and the other at the left hand of Christ in his kingdom. God never gave us leave thus to indite our own prayers, by the dictate of our private spirit, but hath bound us up to ask only what he hath promised to give. Fourthly, A knowledge of the manner how wc are to pi'ay, in whose name, and what qualifications are required in the prayer and person praying. We find Paul begging prayers, — ' That ye strive together with me in your prayers ;' in another place he tells us of a lawful striving, 2 Tim. ii. 5. There is a law of prayer, which must be observed : even in false worship they go by some rule in their addresses to their gods; therefore those Samaritans, 2 Kings xvii. 2(), when a plague was on them, concluded the reason to be, be- cause they knew not the manner of the god of the land. The true God will be served in due order.
Section III. — How few, then, pray in the Spirit? Were this the only cha- racter to try many by, would they not be exposed as mere babblers ? As, first, those in the Popish Church, where most know not a word that they say in prayer. If it be a weakness to subscribe a petition to a king, which we never read nor understood, what shall we think of such brutish prayers as these, sent to heaven ? Yea, amongst oiu-selves, many, who, though they pray in their mother-language, are ignorant as to the matter of their prayers, how else could they mutter over the creed and commandments with their blind devotion, instead of prayers ? Are there more deplorable ruins of mankind to be found among the Indians? Yea, when they join with their minister in prayer, neither know that God to whom the prayer is directed, nor the Mediator under the favour of whose name it is presented. Before Nebuchadnezzar could bless God, he had the understanding of a man given him. Do you not think such ignorant wretches as these might be easily persuaded to kneel before an image, or to put their letter into some angel or saint's hand for despatch, being made to believe that it will find a kinder welcome by the mediation of such favourites ? O, what a darkness is there even at this day upon the face of our waters ! on which, had but the pope's instruments opportunity to sit brooding awhile, they might soon bring their desired work to perfection among the multitude. We see there is need not only to stir up our j^eople to pi'ay, but also to teach them how they may pra\\ It teaches to all that are the mouth of God for others in prayer, so to pray, that those who join with them may clearly understand what they put up to God for them, who is more to be blamed, he that prayeth in an unknown tongue, or he that useth such uncouth phrases, and high-flown expressions, as are not understood by half the assembly ? Suppose thine own spirit prays, yet thy un- derstanding is unfruitful unto them : they are at a loss and stand gazing, as the disciples did, when the cloud parted Christ from them. Either come down from thy high, towering expressions, or help them up to thee. They may say of thee as those of Moses, 'We know riot what has become of the man.' No wonder, if while they cannot keep sight of the matter in hand, their thoughts rove about some object of their own framing. Dost thou pray to be admired for thy rolling tongue, height of gifts, &c.? Consider what low and base end thou propoimdest in so high a service. What, no net to fish with for applause but a sacred ordi- nance ? The whip Avhich Christ made in the gospel belongs to thy back, when he was all on fire with zeal to see his house of prayer made a house of mer- chandise. O, how his soul loathes the baseness of thy mercenary spirit who dost the same, though in another dress,
CHAPTER III.
FERVENCY NECESSARY IN ORDER TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT.
The second thing required in praying with our spirit is fervency. The soul keeps the body warm while it is in it. So much as there is of our soul and spirit in a duty, so much is there of heat and fervency. If the prayer be cold, we may certainly conclude that the heart is idle, and bears no part in the duty. Our spirit is an active creature; what it doth is with a force, whether bad or good. Hence, in Scripture, the poor labouring man is said to set his heart on his wages, Deut. xxiv. 15 ; the hopes of what he shall luive at night make him sweat at his work in the day. Darias ' set his heart on Daniel to deliver him ;' and
74G ^^ "^^^^ SPIRIT.