Pray without ceasing.
] Not that saints should be always on their knees, or ever
lifting up their hands, and vocally calling upon God; this is not
required of them, and would clash with, and break in upon other
parts of religious worship, and the duties of civil life, which
are to be attended to, as well as this, and besides would be
impracticable; for however willing a spiritual man might be to be
engaged in this work always, yet the flesh is weak, and would not
be able to bear it; and it requires food and drink, sleep and
rest, for its refreshment and support; for all which there must
be time allowed, as well as for other actions of animal life, and
the business of a man's calling. But the meaning is, that
believers should be daily, and often found in the performance of
this duty; for as their wants daily return upon them, and they
are called to fresh service, and further trials and exercises,
they have need of more grace, strength, and assistance, and
therefore should daily pray for it; and besides certain times
both in the closet, and in the family, in which they should
attend the throne of grace, there is such a thing as mental
prayer, praying in the heart, private ejaculations of the soul,
which may be sent up to heaven, while a man is engaged in the
affairs of life. The Ethiopic version renders the words, "pray
frequently"; do not leave off praying, or cease from it through
the prevalence of sin, the temptations of Satan, or through
discouragement, because an answer is not immediately had, or
through carelessness and negligence, but continue in it, and be
often at it; see ( Luke
18:1-8 ) . These words are opposed to the practice of such,
who either pray not at all, or, having used it, have left it off,
or who only pray in a time of trouble and distress, and bear hard
on those who think they should not pray but when under the
influences of the Spirit, and when his graces are in a lively
exercise: the reason for this rule of praying with frequency and
constancy is, because the saints are always needy, they are
always in want of mercies of one kind or another, and therefore
should continually go to the throne of grace, and there ask for
grace and mercy to help them in time of need.