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

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, Cant. 2. 14. Oh my Dove, let me see thy Countenance, let me hear thy Voice; for sweet is thy Voice, and thy Countenance is comely. And herein also is comprised a due Apprehension of the Goodness and Power of God, whereby he is in all conditions ready to receive them, and able to relieve them. The Voice of Sinners by Nature, let presumption and superstition pretend what they please to the contrary, is, that God is austere and not capable of Condescension or compassion. And the proper acting of Unbelief lies in limiting the most Holy; saying, Can God do this or that thing, which the Supplies ⟨p. 107⟩of our necessities do call for, are they possible with God? So long as either of these worketh in us with any kind of prevalency, it is impossible we should have any Delight in calling upon God. But we are freed from them by the Holy Ghost in the Representation he makes of the engaged goodness and Power of God in the Promises of the Covenant, which gives us Boldness in his presence.

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 perswasion 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