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

Secondly, We know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Holy Ghost acquaints us with the Grace and Mercy which are prepared in the Promises of God for our Relief. That the Knowledge hereof is necessary to enable us to direct our Prayers unto God in a due manner, I declared before; and I suppose it will not be denied. For what do we pray for? What do we take a prospect and design of in our Supplications? What is it we desire to be made ⟨p. 75⟩Partakers of? Praying only by saying or repeating so many words of Prayer, whose sense and meaning those who make use of them, perhaps understand not, as in the Papacy; or so as to rest in the saying or Repetition of them without an especial design of obtaining some thing or things which we make known in our Supplications, is unworthy the Disciples of Christ, indeed of rational Creatures. Deal thus with thy Governor, Will he be pleased with thee or accept thy Person? as Mal. 1. 8. neither Ruler nor Friend nor Neighbour would accept it at our hands, if we should constantly make solemn addresses unto them, without any especial design: We must pray with our understanding; that is, understand what we pray for. And these things are no other but what God hath promised, which if we are not regulated by in our Supplications, we ask amiss. It is therefore indispensably necessary unto Prayer, that we should know what God hath promised, or that we should have an understanding of the Grace and Mercy of the Promises. God knoweth our wants, what is good for us, what is useful to us, what is necessary to bring us unto the enjoyment of himself, infinitely better than we do our ⟨p. 76⟩selves; Yea, we know nothing of these things but what he is pleased to teach us. These are the things which he hath prepared for us, as the Apostle speaks, 1 Cor. 2. 9. And what he hath so prepared, he declareth in the Promises of the Covenant. For they are the declaration of the Grace and good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. And hence Believers may learn, what is good for them and what is wanting unto them in the Promises, more clearly and certainly than by any other means whatever. From them therefore do we learn what to pray for as we ought. And this is another Reason, why men are so barren in their Supplications, they know not what to pray for, but are forced to betake themselves unto a confused Repetition of the same requests;