Wesley Corpus

But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit; because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.” The Spirit which crieth, ‘Abba, Father, in the hearts of the saints, knowing well our groanings in this tabernacle, “maketh intercession for us to God, with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ To the same effect is that Scripture: ‘I will pray with the Spirit, I will pray with the understanding also.” (1 Cor. xiv. 15. For our understanding (or mind, o vows) cannot pray, if the Spirit do not pray before it, and the understanding, as it were, listen to it.” (Vol. i., p. 199.) Again: “I would know how the saints cry to God without a voice. The Apostle shows, ‘God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father !’ and he adds, “The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ And again, “He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.” Thus, therefore, the Spirit making intercession for us with God, the cry of the saints is heard without a voice.” (Vol. ii., p. 146.) Once more in his Homily on Joshua : “Jesus our Lord doth not forsake us; but although when we would pray, “we know not what to pray for as we ought,’ yet ‘the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groan ings which cannot be uttered. Now the Lord is that Spirit: ” The Spirit assists our prayers, and offers them to God with groanings which we cannot express in words.” (Vol. ii., p. 419.) I believe all rational men will observe from hence, that Origen is so far from confirming, that he quite overturns, your Lordship’s interpretation of the sixteenth as well as the twenty-sixth verse of this chapter; seeing, in his judgment, both that testimony of the Spirit and this prayer belong to all Christians in all ages. 21. The sixth scripture which your Lordship has undertaken to show “relates only to the apostolical times,” is 1 Cor. ii. 4, 5. And “this interpretation also,” it is said, “is confirmed by the authority of Chrysostom, Origen, and other ancient writers.” (P.