A27009:580
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32 directions : written for the use of a troubled friend / and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for T. Underhil, 1653
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
DOUBT IX.
I Have not the spirit of prayer: When I should pour out my soul to God, I have neither bold access, nor matter of Prayer nor Words.
ANSWER.
DO you know what the spirit of Prayer is? It containeth, 1. Desires of the ⟨p. 447⟩soul after the things we want, especially Christ and his Graces. 2. An addressing our selves to God with these Desires, that we may have help and relief from him. Have not you both these? Do you not Desire Christ and Grace, Justification and Sanctification? Do you not look to God as him who alone is able to supply your wants, and bids you ask that you may receive? Do you utterly despair of help, and to seek to none? Or do you make your addresses by Prayer to any but God? But perhaps you look at words, and matter to dilate upon, that you may be able to hold out in a long speech to God, and you think that is the effect of the spirit of Prayer. But where do you find that in Gods Word? I confess that in many, and most, the spirit which helpeth to Desires, doth also help to some kind of expressions: Because if a man be of able natural parts, and have a tongue to express his own mind, the promoting of holy Desires will help men to expressions. For a full soul is hardly hindered from venting it self: And experience teacheth us, that the spirits inflaming the heart with holy Affections, doth very much furnish both the Invention and Expression. But this is but accidental and uncertain: For those that are either men of unready tongues, or that are so ill bred among the