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

But it may be said, that where there is any defect herein, it may be easily supplied. For if men are not acquainted with the Promises of God themselves in the manner before described, and so know not what they ought to pray for, others who have the understanding of them may compose Prayers ⟨p. 79⟩for their use according to their Apprehensions of the mind of God in them, which they may read, and so have the matter of Prayer always in a readiness.

I answer, (1.) I do not know that any one hath a Command, or Promise of Assistance, to make or compose Prayers to be said or read by others as their Prayers; and therefore I expect no great matter from what any one shall do in that kind. The Spirit of Grace and Supplication is promised, as I have proved, to enable us to pray, not to enable us to make or compose Prayers for others.

(2.) It savours of some unacquaintance with the Promises of God, and the Duty of Prayer, to imagine that the matter of them so as to suit the various conditions of Believers, can be pent up in any one Form of mans devising. Much of what we are to pray about, may be in general and doctrinally comprised in a Form of Words, as they are in the Lords Prayer, which gives directions in, and a boundary unto our requests: But that the things themselves should be prepared and suited unto the condition and wants of them that are to pray, is a fond imagination.

(2.) It savours of some unacquaintance with the Promises of God, and the Duty of Prayer, to imagine that the matter of them so as to suit the various conditions of Believers, can be pent up in any one Form of mans devising. Much of what we are to pray about, may be in general and doctrinally comprized in a Form of Words, as they are in the Lords Prayer, which gives directions in, and a boundary unto our requests: But that the things themselves should be prepared and suited unto the condition and wants of them that are to pray, is a fond imagination.