7. Lastly, here we are to observe, that he which would pray, must be endued with the spirit of adoption: the works whereof in the matter of prayer are twofold. The first to move him to cry and call on God as a father. It is no easy thing to pray. For to a man of himself, it is as easy to move the whole earth with his hand; how then comes it that we pray? It is a blessed work of the spirit. Rom. 8. 15. We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, that is, Father, and Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the spirit helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what to pray as we ought: but the spirit it self ⟨image 20⟩maketh request. And. Zach. 12. 10. the holy Ghost is called the spirit of grace and deprecations or prayers. Well then, the man that would pray, must have Gods spirit to be his schoolmaster, to teach him to pray with groans and sighs of the hart▪ for the words make not the prayer, but the groans & desires of the hart; and a man prays for no more then he desires with his heart, and he which desires nothing, prays not at all, but spends lip labour. The second work of the spirit, is to assure us in our consciences, that we are in the state of grace, reconciled to God. Rom. 8. 16. The spirit of adoption beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God. And this inward certificate of the spirit in all exercises of invocation is very necessary: for he which wants this assurance, if he be secure, and benumbed in his sins, will not, and if he be touched in conscience ⟨image 20⟩for them, for his life he dare not call God Father. Also, this confutes the opinion of the church of Rome which teacheth, that a man must doubt whether he be adopted or no. For how can a man truly call God Father, when he doubts whether he be the child of God or no. It is a miserable kind of praying, to call God Father, and to doubt whether he be a father. Indeed it is true, that doubts will often rise, but it is our duty to strive against them, and not to yield unto them. Yea, but (say they) to be certain of Gods mercy is presumption. I answer, if it be presumption, it is an holy presumption, because God hath bidden us call him father.
7. Lastly, here we ar to obserue, that he which would pray, must be indued with the spirit of adoptiō: the workes whereof in the matter of praier are twofold. The first to moue him to crie and call on God as a father. It is no easie thing to pray. For to a man of himselfe, it is as easie to mooue the whole earth with his hand; how then comes it that we pray? It is a blessed worke of the spirit. Rom. 8. 15. Wee haue receiued the spirit of adoption, whereby vve crie Abba, that is, Father, and Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the spirit helpeth our infirmities: for wee knowe not what to pray as we ought: but the spirit it self ⟨image 20⟩maketh request. And. Zach. 12. 10. the holy Ghost is called the spirit of grace and deprecations or praiers. Wel then, the man that woulde pray, must haue Gods spirite to bee his schoolmaster, to teach him to pray with grones and sighes of the hart▪ for the wordes make not the praier, but the grones & desires of the hart; and a man praies for no more then he desires with his heart, and hee which desires nothing, praies not at all, but spends liplabor. The second work of the spirit, is to assure vs in our consciences, that we are in the state of grace, reconciled to God. Rom. 8. 16. The spirit of adoption beareth witnes with our spirits, that we are the children of God. And this inward certificate of the spirit in all exercises of invocation is very necessarie: for hee which wants this assurance, if hee be secure, and benummed in his sinnes, will not, and if he be touched in conscience ⟨image 20⟩for them, for his life hee dare not cal God Father. Also, this confutes the opiniō of the church of Rome which teacheth, that a man must doubt whether hee be adopted or no. For howe can a man trulie cal God Father, when he doubts whether he be the child of God or no. It is a miserable kinde of praying, to call God Father, and to doubt whether he be a father. Indeede it is true, that doubts will often rise, but it is our dutie to striue against them, and not to yeeld vnto them. Yea, but (say they) to be certain of Gods mercy is presumption. I answere, if it be presumption, it is an holy presumption, because God hath bidden vs call him father.