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.

Preparation for Prater.

Before you enter into prayer, ask thy soul these questions:  To what end, O my soul, art thou retired into this place?  Art thou not come to discourse the Lord in prayer?  Is he present, will he hear thee?  Is he merciful, will he help thee?  Is thy business slight, is it not concerning the welfare of thy soul?  What words wilt thou use to move him to compassion?

The throne of grace.

We know the throne of grace from other thrones by the glory that it always appears in when revealed to us of God:  its glory outshines all; there is no such glory to be seen anywhere else, either in heaven or earth.  But I say, this comes by the sight that God gives, not by any excellency that there is in my natural understanding, as such:  my understanding and apprehension, simply as natural, are blind and foolish; wherefore, when I set to work in mine own spirit and in the power of mine own abilities, to reach to this throne of grace and to perceive somewhat of the glory thereof, then am I dark, rude, foolish; I see nothing, and my heart grows flat, dull, savorless, lifeless, and has no warmth in the duty; but it mounts up with wings like an eagle when the throne is truly apprehended.

This throne is the seat of grace and mercy, and therefore it is called the mercy-seat and throne of grace.  This throne turns all into grace, all into mercy; this throne makes all things work together for good.  It is said of Saul’s sons, 2 Sam. 21:10-14, they were not buried after they were hanged until water dropped upon them out of heaven; and it may be said of us, there is nothing suffered to come near us until it is washed in that water that proceeds from the throne of grace.  Hence afflictions flow from grace; persecutions flow from grace; poverty, sickness, yea, death itself is now made ours by the grace of God through Christ.  Psa. 119:67-71; 1 Cor. 3:22; Rev. 3:19; Heb. 12:5-7.  O grace, O happy church of God! all things that happen to thee are for Christ’s sake turned into grace.  They talk of the philosopher’s stone, and how if one had it, it would turn all things