in the Spirit," or, as St. Jude expresses it, "in the Holy Ghost x." The Holy Ghost must teach us what to pray for, and must assist our infirmities in praying for ity, quickening our desires after God, emboldening us to draw nigh to him with filial confidence, and en- abling us to expect at his hands an answer of peace. As there is but one Mediator through whom we can have access to God, so there is only one Spirit by whom we can approach him2. But we need not on this account be discouraged : for the Spirit is pro- mised to us for these endsa; and in whomsoever he is " a Spirit of grace, he will be also a Spirit of sup- plication \"
Lastly, our prayer must also be persevering : we must pray " always, watching thereunto with all perseverance." It is by no means sufficient that we pray to God, as too many do, just under the pressure of some heavy affliction0, or be fervent for a time, and then relapse again into our former coldness and formality d. We must be " instant in prayer6," " stirring up our souls to lay hold on God1," and " wrestling with him," like Jacob, till we obtain his blessing g. There is a holy importunity which we are to use, like that of the Canaanitish woman h, or that of the two blind men, who became more urgent in proportion as others strove to repress their ardour1. And because Satan will do all in his power to divert us from this course, we must watch against his devices with all possible care, and persevere in it without faintingk, even to the end. If we notice our frames at the returning seasons of prayer, we shall perceive that there is often a most unaccountable backwardness to this duty. Any concern, however trifling, will appear a sufficient reason for delaying it, till, from weariness of body or indisposition of mind, we are induced to omit it altogether, or perhaps
x Jude, ver. 20. y Rom. viii. 26. z Eph. ii. 18.
a Joel ii. 29, 32. b Zech. xii. 10. c Isai. xxvi. 16.
d Job xxvii. 10. e Rom. xii. 12. f Isai. lxiv. 7.
s Gen. xxxii. 24 — 28. with Hos. xii. 4.
h Matt. xv. 22—27. • Matt. xx. 30, 31. k Luke xviii. 1.