A53685:131
A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief…
A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief enquiry into the nature and use of mental prayer and forms / by John Owen ...
London: printed for Nathanael Ponder, 1682
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.
Add hereunto, that unto the matter of Prayer taken largely for the whole Duty so called, every thing wherein we have intercourse with God in Faith and Love, doth belong. The Acknowledgement of the whole mystery of his Wisdom, Grace and Love in Christ Jesus, with all the Fruits, Effects and Benefits which thence we do receive, all the Workings and actings of our Souls towards him, with their Faculties and Affections; in brief, every thing and every conception of our minds, wherein our spiritual Access unto the Throne of Grace doth consist, or which doth belong thereunto, with all occasions and emergencies of Spiritual Life, are in like manner comprised herein. And that we can have such an Acquaintance with these things as to manage them acceptably in our Supplications, without the Grace of spiritual illumination from the Holy Ghost, few are so ignorant or profane as to assert. Some I confess seem to be strangers unto these things, which yet renders them not of the less weight or moment.
Add hereunto, that unto the matter of Prayer taken largely for the whole Duty so called, every thing wherein we have entercourse with God in Faith and Love, doth belong. The Acknowledgement of the whole mystery of his Wisdom, Grace and Love in Christ Jesus, with all the Fruits, Effects and Benefits which thence we do receive, all the Workings and actings of our Souls towards him, with their Faculties and Affections; in brief, every thing and every conception of our minds, wherein our spiritual Access unto the Throne of Grace doth consist, or which doth belong thereunto, with all occasions and emergencies of Spiritual Life, are in like manner comprised herein. And that we can have such an Acquaintance with these things as to manage them acceptably in our Supplications, without the Grace of spiritual illumination from the Holy Ghost, few are so ignorant or profane as to assert. Some I confess seem to be strangers unto these things, which yet renders them not of the less weight or moment.
For some can see no necessity of thus understanding the Grace and Mercy, that is in the Promises unto Prayer; and suppose that men know well enough what to pray for without it.