In a sermon on Psalm 81:10 Motives to enlarged prayer he says
This is strongly and beautifully expressed in Psalm cxix 131 I opened my mouth and panted for I longed for thy commandments This may allude to children when hungry, to persons in a burning fever or to dry and parched land in hot and sultry weather and expresses vehement and passionate desires, vigorous and forcible motions of the soul after God, as if it were so stretched out that it was ready to break; so indeed it is expressed in another part of this psalm My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy judgments at all times Of all desires those after spiritual blessings should be the strongest as being the most satisfying and lasting.
and
The groanings of a sick man are often the presages of death but those of the Christian are a sign that he is alive and shall live for ever The Spirit of God not only excites praying graces but also furnishes with praying expressions, not only inclines to prayer but gives liberty in prayer and when that is enjoyed the mouth may be said not only to be opened but opened wide.
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