The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - LXIX - Direction Eleventh continued

Required readingThe Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Direction Eleventh by reading the First Distinction of Branch First of Division Second of the Second General Part.

My summary

Today we begin the Second Division of the Second General Part of Direction Eleventh on prayer from: 'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph. 6:18) 

The Second General Part makes up an excellent directory to perform the duty of prayer.  This Second Division of this General Part is about the Kinds of Prayer.

The First Branch of the kinds of prayer looks at 'all prayer' as showing the diverse manner of prayer.

Today we concentrate on First Distinction of the manner of prayer: ejaculatory.

Gurnall provides us reasons why the Christian should use ejaculatory prayer. They:

(i) are a delight to God;

(ii) are excellent use;

(iii) keep the Christian's heart in a holy disposition;

(iv) alleviate any great affliction.

Then Gurnall gives:

(i) a reproof to those who do not use ejaculatory prayer;

(ii) an exhortation to excite saints to frequent use of this kind of prayer.

Gurnall finishes with some helps to ejaculatory prayer:

(i) keep thy heart with all diligence;

(ii) possess thy heart with strong apprehensions of God's overruling providence;

(iii) look thou compliest with the motions of the Holy Spirit.

What grabbed me

I enjoyed this illustration: 'Suppose a man was going about some important business, and had him in his company that alone {which} could help or hinder the despatch of it; were it not strange that he should travel all day with him and not apply himself to this person to make him his friend? This is thy very case, Christian. Thou and all thy affairs are at the absolute disposure of the great God, to bless or blast thee in every enterprise. If thou hast not his vote, thy business is stopped in the head. Now, this God is always in thy company, whether at home or abroad, in thy bed or at thy board. Surely thou didst believe this firmly, thou wouldst oft in a day turn thyself to him, and beg his good-will to favour thy undertaking and facilitate thy business for thee.'

Don't neglect talking to your powerful companion!

Next week's reading

Continue Direction Eleventh by reading the Second Distinction of Branch First of Division Second of the Second General Part.

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