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Rating: 
Summary: One of Bunyan's finest, most profitable works!
Review: "Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for such things as He has promised, for the good of the church with submission in faith to the will of God."This is how Bunyan defines prayer in this amazing little book. Written while imprisoned in Bedford gaol for nonconformity, these two treatises show Christians the beauty, power, and awe of true prayer. In the first, Bunyan describes prayer as being "in the Spirit", and "with understanding" (1 Cor. 14:15). In the second, the theme is the Christian's privilege of approaching "the Throne of Grace" (Heb. 4:16). Beware! says Bunyan. "You are not a Christian if you are not a praying person. The promise is that every one that is righteous shall pray (Ps. 32:6). You then are a wicked wretch if you do not." Surely this is a serious call to prayer! But he also gives an encouragement: "If [God] had said, I will commune with thee from my throne of judgment, then indeed you might have trembled and fled from the face of the great and glorious Majesty. But when he says he will hear and commune with souls upon the throne of grace, or from the mercy-seat, this should encourage you, and cause you to hope, nay, to 'come boldly unto the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.'" Surely this is a wonderful word for Christian and non-Christian alike - God is on his Throne of Grace, and He can be approached through prayer! Read this book, and learn of the true biblical understanding of prayer from one of the greatest writers in all history!
Rating: 
Summary: Prayer comes from the heart
Review: In the two discourses combined in this book, Bunyan labors, sucessfully, to show the Christian that honest prayers do not come from a book and they are not regurgitations of some memorized text. Prayer is an outpouring of one's heart to God. Bunyan suffered persecution and imprisonment for this cause. His passion for the subject of prayer is obvious in this book. It's a passion I think all Christians could use a little more of.
Rating: 
Summary: On the dry side
Review: Prayer is divided into two parts: an exposition of what true prayer is and how praying is an appeal to Jesus on his throne of grace. To be frank, this is not Bunyan at his best. He's written better stuff (see Pilgrim's Progress). The material is pretty dry and half the time, he's battling high church Anglicanism. The few diamonds here are his descriptions of prayer being from the heart, not an formulistic external exercise.
The backdrop of where the book was written (Bunyan was imprisioned for his Puritan beliefs after Cromwell died and England reverted back to monarchy) is very interesting and I suggest all to familiarize themselves with that interesting period.
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