ftanding. For the foul in prayer must not only be intent on GOD, as the Author of every good, and every perfect gift; but it must be fenfible likewife of its own wants, and defire earneftly to have them fupplied: He must also have faith in God, comprehending and believing the mercies, and promifes of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, to them that call upon him in truth; but this he cannot have without the Holy Spirit. To pray therefore with the heart and understanding, in faith unfeigned, is truly praying in the fpirit, even in our own spirit which prayeth, and in the Holy Ghost which difpofeth, and teacheth us how to pray. Of ourselves we know not what to pray for as we ought; neither can we frame our hearts to pray aright, unless the Holy Spirit help our infirmities by whom our minds being enlightened, quickened, and purified, they tend towards GOD in prayer and fupplication, with thanksgiving, under his divine teaching and influence. Therefore the Spirit of God is faid to cry in our hearts, Abba, Father *: And again he faith, by the Spirit of Adoption we ery, Abba, Father +.-Thus the Spirit is faid to do that in us, which he teacheth and excites us to do for ourselves; because it is of his framing and working in us. We can no more fay with the heart or cry in the spirit unto God, Abba, Father,

• Gal. iv. 6.

+ Rom. viii. 15.

Father, without the Holy Spirit; than we can raise ourselves to heaven; and hence the Holy Ghoft is called the Spirit of grace and of fupplication: And this (I doubt not) is that which the Apostle Jude means by praying in the Holy Ghoft; who, on fpecial occafions, and as our neceffities require, maketh interceffon for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.

This praying in the Spirit may be without any words, in the mind and heart only: Thus Abraham's fervant and Hannah prayed, and the LORD heard them; for God who fearcbeth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the fpirit.To pray in the fpirit then, is to call upon God thro' JESUS CHRIST, with a fincere and understanding heart, in faith unfeigned. That prayer which is in word only, without the understanding and the heart, is carnal, or hypocritical; and that only which is in faith, with the heart and fpirit, is acceptable, and well-pleafing to GOD: For as God is a Spirit, he will be worshipped in fpirit and in truth; that is, with a pure heart, thro' CHRIST, by the Spirit: And fuch prayers are very powerful, and acceptable with God; wherefore he faith, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive +.

↑ Matt, xxi. 22.

The

The Spirit of GOD in us is as truly the life of our prayers, as the foul is the life of the body.The body, without the foul, is but a putrid and dead carcafe; fo prayer, unless the mind and heart. is lifted up to GOD in faith by the Holy Ghoft, is loathfome, and hateful in the fight of GoD: Wherefore he faith, the facrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight +.Whenfoever therefore thou prayeft, look up to GoD for the fecret but enlivening influence of his Holy Spirit: Be not rafh with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be bafty to utter any thing before God; but let understanding guide thy tongue continually, and in all thy words let the defires and thoughts of thine heart be expreffed without referve, and without hypocrify, elfe thy prayer will be turned into fin; for the Lord is a God of knowledge; he trieth the hearts, and by him our thoughts, as well as actions are weighed ; Better is it to use but few words, with understanding, than a multitude without knowledge; and better is the prayer of the heart, than the labour of the lips without fincerity.

5. The Apoftle teaches us to watch unto prayer; that is, to be upon our guard against all impediments and obftructions, which may tend to indifpofe,

+ Prov. xv. 8.

↑ Ecclef. v. 2.

pofe, and hinder us from the important duty; to the end that we may be always ready and prepared unto it and this must be diligently observed by us, not for a day, or a month, or a year only; but unto the end of our warfare, with all conftancy, and perfeverance. For want of this watchfulness, we are unapt, and languid in prayer; as a duty unknown to us, or a task grievous to be performed by us: and from hence, the mind is weakened and difcouraged, and thereby is in danger of fainting: But the Apostle fhews how this may be prevented, and exhorts us to guard against it, when he commands us to pray with all perfeverance: And, as a means to keep the foul from being weary in waiting upon GOD, and fainting in the duty of prayer, he directs us to watch unto it; for by watchfulness the believer is enabled to ward off and repel whatsoever tends to difcourage and hinder him from approaching the throne of grace, with freedom and boldness in fpirit, thro' CHRIST JESUS: And as he finds this liberty, and confidence towards GOD, to abide and increase in him, he is the lefs flothful and unapt towards the duty of prayer, and more conftant and fervent in the performance of

it.

But, altho' watchfulness is a special means to prevent hurtful affaults, and difcouraging weakneffes of

mind;

mind; it is the Spirit only that teaches and enables us both to pray, and to watch unto prayer continually.Our LORD often joins watchfulness and prayer together; thereby plainly fignifying their intimate connection, and neceffity in the Chriftian warfare without the former, the foul will not be able readily, chearfully, and perfeveringly, to perform the latter; and without the latter, he will not long be able to endure the battle that is fore against him: And without the ftrength of Chrift he cannot refift unto blood, ftriving against sin, which strength he promises to none that afk not for it. Therefore continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. The centinel that fleeps on his duty is counted worthy of death; and fo likewife is the Chriftian foldier: to prevent which, he is commanded to avoid all intoxicating cares, and pleafures of this life; for drunkenness and fleep generally go together; that is, the former naturally tends to produce, and is commonly followed by the latter: Wherefore he faith, take beed to your felves, left at any time your hearts be overcharged with furfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and fo that day come upon you unawares*: Watch therefore, left coming fuddenly be find you sleeping. Thus the believer is commanded by his LORD to watch, that he may be ever ready to cry unto him. for help against the enemy. Neither muft he at any time ceafe from watching, until his Captain

Luke xxi. 34.

is