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

(2.) There is also in it a Confidence of Acceptance, or being heard in Prayer; that is, that God is well pleased with their Duties, accepting both them and their ⟨p. 105⟩Persons in Jesus Christ. Without this we can have no Delight in Prayer, or in God as the Object of it, which vitiates the whole Duty. When Adam thought there was no Acceptance with God for him, he had no confidence of access unto him; but as the first effect of folly that ensued on the entrance of Sin, went to hide himself. And all those who have no Ground of spiritual Confidence for Acceptance with Christ, do in their Prayer but endeavour to hide themselves from God by the Duty which they perform. They cast a mist about them, to obscure themselves from the Sight of their own Convictions, wherein alone they suppose that God sees them also. But in such a frame there is neither Delight nor Enlargement, nor Liberty, nor indeed Prayer it self.

Now this Confidence or Boldness which is given unto Believers in their Prayers by the Holy Ghost, respects not the Answer of every particular Request, especially in their own understanding of it; but it consists in an Holy persuasion that God is well pleased with their Duties, accepts their Persons and delights in their Approaches unto his Throne. Such Persons are not terrified with Apprehensions that God will say unto ⟨p. 106⟩them, What have you to do to take my name into your mouths, or to what purpose are the multitude of your Supplications? when you make many Prayers I will not hear. Will he, saith Job, plead with me with his great Power? no, but he will put strength in me, Chap. 23. 6. Yea they are assured that the more they are with God, the more constantly they abide with him, the better is their Acceptance. For as they are commanded to Pray always and not to faint, so they have a sufficient Warranty from the Encouragement and Call of Christ to be frequent in their spiritual Addresses to him; so he speaks to his Church,