A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief…

(1.) The Principal matter of our Prayer concerneth Faith and Unbelief. So the Apostles prayed in a particular manner, Lord increase our Faith; and so the poor man prayed in his distress, Lord help thou my unbelief. I cannot think that they ever pray aright, who never pray for the pardon of Unbelief, for the removal of it, and for the increase of Faith. If Unbelief be the greatest of Sins, and if Faith be the greatest of the Gifts of God, we are not Christians, if those things are not one principal part of the matter of our Prayers. Unto this end we must be convinced of the ⟨p. 64⟩nature and guilt of Unbelief, as also of the nature and use of Faith; nor without that conviction do we either know our own chiefest wants, or what to pray for as we ought. And that this is the especial Work of the Holy Ghost, our Saviour expressly declares, John 16. 9. He convinceth the World of Sin, because they believe not on him. I do, and must deny, that any one is or can be convinced of the nature and guilt of that Unbelief, either in the whole or in the remainder of it, which the Gospel condemneth, and which is the great condemning Sin under the Gospel, without an especial Work of the Holy Ghost on his mind and Soul. For Unbelief as it respecteth Jesus Christ, not believing in him, or not believing in him as we ought, is a Sin against the Gospel, and it is by the Gospel alone that we may be convinced of it, and that as it is the ministration of the Spirit. Wherefore neither the Light of a natural Conscience, nor the Law, will convince any one of the guilt of Unbelief with respect unto Jesus Christ, nor instruct them in the nature of Faith in him. No innate Notions of our Minds, no Doctrines of the Law will reach hereunto. And to think to teach men to pray, or to help them out in praying, ⟨p. 65⟩without a sense of Unbelief, or the remainders of it in its Guilt and Power, the nature of Faith with its necessity, use and efficacy, is to say unto the naked and the hungry, be ye warmed and filled, and not give them those things that are needful to the Body. This therefore belongs unto the Work of the Spirit as a Spirit of Supplication. And let men tear and tire themselves Night and Day with a multitude of Prayers, if a Work of the Spirit of God in teaching the nature and Guilt of Unbelief, the nature, efficacy and use of Faith in Christ Jesus, go not with it, all will be lost and perish.