The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

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 ⟨p. 448⟩rude vulgar, that they want fit expressions of their own minds, or that are of over-bashful dispositions, or especially that are of small knowledge, and of little and short acquaintance with those that should teach them to pray by their examples, or that have been but of short standing in the School of Christ, such a man may have the spirit of Prayer many a year, and never be able in full expressions of his own to make known his wants to God: no, nor in good and tolerable sense and language, before others to speak to God, from his own Invention. A man may know all those Articles of the Faith that are of flat necessity to Salvation, and yet not be able to find matter or words for the opening of his heart to God at length. I would advise such, to frequent the Company of those that can teach and help them in Prayer, and neglect not to use the smallest parts they have, especially in secret between God and their own souls, where they need not so much as in public to be regardful of expressions: