But if we accept not the direction of our Lord, as a warrant for prayer, Luke, xi. 5-13, and put not ourselves in the way to receive the help of the Spirit, must we not remain in dryness and darkness?
It is to be expected that Satan will offer every suggestion, and strive to keep us from so great a blessing as communion with God in prayer; and experienced Christians often find, to their deep humiliation, the remains of their natural aversion to this duty, and feel the need of guarding against it, by constantly approaching the throne of grace to obtain the help of the Spirit, and the knowledge of what to pray for.
We would by no means discourage the frequent aspirations of the soul towards God, of which the awakened mind is susceptible. On the contrary, we believe private prayer will induce these aspirations. But we would affectionately guard every one against the idea, that he may neglect private prayer, and trust his intercourse with God to occasional aspirations; because they will by this means become faint, and less frequent; and perhaps by almost imperceptible degrees, die away altogether.
EXTRACT IV.
On the use of a form of Prayer.
"We may learn a form of prayer, and it may be very good in the expression of words, and at the same time our hearts be filled with vain thoughts; and the creature may be excited to put this form into execution, by proposing to pray, while it is a mere outward thing. What an affront this to the majesty of Heaven! To pray by a form of words! It is a great affront to the majesty of Heaven!" p. 119.
