290 WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER. [BOOK VII.
of <svvavTi\ai^dvira.i ralg aehvsiaig ^(iZiv, which yet in the text doth plainly denote a help and assistance given unto our weaknesses, that is, unto us who are weak, in the discharge of the duty of prayer, as both the words themselves and the ensuing reasons of them do evince. Wherefore, neither the grammatical sense of the words, nor the context, nor the analogy of faith, will admit of this new and un- couth exposition.
In like manner, if it be inquired why it is said "that he who search - eth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit/' — which plain- ly refers to some great and secret work of the Spirit in the heart of man, — if the intercession of Christ be intended, nothing is offered but this paraphrase, "And then God, that, by being a searcher of hearts, knoweth our wants exactly, understands also the desire and intention of the Spirit of Christ/' But these things are avpoehidvutsa, and have no dependence the one on the other; nor was there any need of the mentioning the searching of our hearts, to introduce the approbation of the intercession of Christ. But to return.
That is wrought in the hearts of believers in their duty which is pervious to none but Him that searcheth the heart. This frame in all our supplications we ought to aim at, especially in time of dis- tress, troubles, and temptations, such as was the season here especially intended, when commonly we are most sensible of our own infirmities : and wherein we come short hereof in some measure, it is from our unbelief, or carelessness and negligence; which God abhors. I do acknowledge that there may be, that there will be, more earnestness and intension of mind, and of our natural spirit therein, in this duty, at one time than another, according as outward occasions or other motives do excite them or stir them up. So our Saviour in his agony prayed more earnestly than usual; not with a higher exercise of grace, which always acted itself in him in perfection, but with a greater vehemency in the working of his natural faculties. So it may be with us at especial seasons ; but yet we are always to endea- vour after the same aids of the Spirit, the same actings of grace in every particular duty of this kind.
Thirdly, The Holy Spirit gives the soul of a believer a delight in God as the object of prayer. I shall not insist on his excit- ing, moving, and acting all other graces that are required in the ex- ercise of this duty, as faith, love, reverence, fear, trust, submission, waiting, hope, and the like. I have proved elsewhere that the exer- cise of them all, in all duties, and of all other graces in like manner, is from him, and shall not therefore here again confirm the same truth. But this delight in God as the object of prayer hath a pe- culiar consideration in this matter; for without it ordinarily the duty is not accepted with God, and is a barren, burdensome task unto
CHAP. VI.] THE DUE MANNER OF PRAYER. 291
them by whom it is performed. Now, this delight in God as the object of prayer is, for the substance of it, included in that descrip- tion of prayer given us by the apostle, — namely, that it is crying "Abba, Father." Herein a filial, holy delight in God is included, such as children have in their parents in their most affectionate ad- dresses unto them, as hath been declared. And we are to inquire wherein this delight in God as the object of prayer doth consist, or what is required thereunto. And there is in it, —
1. A sight or prospect of God as on a throne of grace. A pro- spect, I say, not by carnal imagination, but spiritual illumination. "By faith we see him who is invisible," Heb. xi. 27; for it is the " evidence of things not seen" making its proper object evident and present unto them that do believe. Such a sight of God on a throne of grace is necessary unto this delight. Under this consideration he is the proper object of all our addresses unto him in our supplica- tions : chap. iv. 1 6, " Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." The duty of prayer is described by the subject-matter of it, namely, "mercy" and "grace," and by the only object of it, "God on a throne of grace."
And this " throne of grace" is farther represented unto us by the place where it is erected or set up, and that is in the holiest or most holy place; for in our coming unto God as on that throne, we have " boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus," Heb. x. 19. And hereby the apostle shows, that in the expression he has respect or alludes unto the mercy-seat upon the ark, covered with the cherubims, which had a representation of a throne; and because of God's especial manifestation of himself thereon, it was called his throne ; and it was a representation of Jesus Christ, as I have showed elsewhere.