AND SMOKING FLAX. 67 ought, (nor do any thing else as we ought,) but the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, with inexpressible sighs and groans," which are not hid from God. David says, "My groanings are not hid from thee." God can pick sense out of confused prayer. These desires cry louder in his ears than thy sins. Sometimes a Christian hath such confused thoughts, he can say nothing, but as a child crieth, '0 father,' not able to shew what it needs; as Moses at the Red Sea. These stirrings of spirit touch the bowels of God, and melt him into compassion towards us, when they come from the Spirit of adoption, and from a striving to be better. 0 but is it possible (thinketh the misgiving heart) that so holy a God should accept such a prayer! Yes, he will accept that which is l)is own, and pardon that which is Ol;lrs. J onah prayed in the whale's ·belly, being burdened with the guilt of sin, yet God heard him.-Let not therefore infirmities discourage us. Saint J ames taketh away this obj ection, chap. v . 16~18. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man F2
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