Prayer - Bunyan - IX - Section II concluded

Required reading
Prayer by John Bunyan (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Section II (Throne of Grace).

My summary
Now Bunyan winds up his work.

Firstly we see that saints must go to the throne of grace because they will experience needy times.  These can occur when you:
(i) are young;
(ii) are prosperous;
(iii) are poor;
(iv) are persecuted;
(v) begin new relations (particularly marriage);
(vi) are in a culture of moral decline;
(vii) experience guilt through God hiding his face;
(viii) are slandered;
(ix) are forsaken by friends;
(x) are about to die.

Secondly Bunyan makes it clear that we are in continual need of grace.

Thirdly he draws a few points together that all this teaches us:
(i) nature, as nature, is not capable of serving God;
(ii) nature needs to be supplied with more and more grace if it is to perform acceptable service to God;
(iii) were we wise and went to the throne of grace, O what spotless lives might we live.

What grabbed me
I liked the emphasis on the fact that we need more and more grace, we never have enough. 

Particularly enjoyed this illustration: 'The day of grace is the day of expense: this is our spending time. Hence we are called pilgrims and strangers in the earth ; that is, travellers from place to place, from state to state, from trial to trial. Now, as the traveller at a fresh inn is made to spend fresh money; so Christians, at a fresh temptation, at a new temptation, are made to spend afresh, and need a new supply of grace. Great men, when, and while, their sons are travellers, appoint that their bags of money be lodged ready, or conveniently paid in at such and such a place, for the suitable relief of them ; and so they meet with supplies. Why, so are the sons of the Great One, and he has allotted that we should travel beyond sea, or at a great distance from our Father's house : wherefore, he has appointed, that grace shall he provided for us, to supply, at such a place, such a state, or temptation, as need requires. But, withal, as my lord expects his son should acquaint him with the present emptiness of his purse, and with the difficulty he hath now to grapple with; so God our Father expects that we should plead by Christ, our need at the throne of grace, in order to a supply of grace. " Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."'

Our God has a rich supply of help for our struggles and intends for us to use it - all he would like us to do is ask.  But so often we prefer to walk with empty purses instead!

One sentence final verdict
Bunyan's work teaches us a good deal about prayer and particularly encourages us to boldly go to God and plead for his grace of which he has a rich supply.

Next week's reading
Commence 'Ten Virgins' by Thomas Shepard (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 of Part 1.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.