WHAT is prayer? A sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the
soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the
Spirit, for such things as God hath promised.
The best prayers have often more groans than words.
Alas, how few there be in the world whose heart and mouth in prayer
shall go together. Dost thou, when thou askest for the Spirit, or
faith, or love to God, to holiness, to saints, to the word, and the
like, ask for them with love to them, desire of them, hungering
after them? Oh, this is a mighty thing; and yet prayer is no more
before God than as it is seasoned with these blessed qualifications.
Wherefore it is said, that while men are praying, God is searching
the heart to see what is the meaning of the Spirit, or whether there
be the Spirit and his meaning in all that the mouth hath uttered,
either by words, sighs, or groans, because it is by him and through
his help only that any make prayers according to the will of God.
Rom. 8:26,27.