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

The sole Enquiry remaining is, how they are enabled to pray, in whose minds the Holy Ghost doth thus work as a Spirit of Grace and Supplication. And I do say in answer thereunto, that those who are thus affected by him, do never want a gracious Ability of making their Addresses unto God in Vocal Prayer, so far as is needful unto them in their circumstances, Callings, States and Conditions. And this is that which is called the Gift of Prayer. I speak of ordinary Cases; for there may be such interpositions of Temptations and Desertions, as that the Soul being overwhelmed with them, may for the present be able only to ⟨p. 115⟩mourn as a Dove, or to chatter as a Crane, that is, not to express the sense of their minds clearly and distinctly, but only as it were to mourn and groan before the Lord in brokenness of spirit and expressions. But this also is sufficient for their acceptance in that Condition. And hereof there are few Believers but at one time or other they have more or less experience. And as for those whose Devotion dischargeth it self in a formal course of the same words, as it must needs be in the Papacy, wherein for the most part they understand not the signification of the Words which they make use of, they are strangers unto the true Nature of Prayer, at least unto the Work of the Spirit therein. And such Supplications as are not variously influenced by the Variety of the Spiritual Conditions of them that make them according to the Variety of our spiritual exercise, are like one constant Tone or noise which hath no Harmony nor Music in it.

The sole Enquiry remaining is, how they are enabled to pray, in whose minds the Holy Ghost doth thus work as a Spirit of Grace and Supplication. And I do say in answer thereunto, that those who are thus affected by him, do never want a gracious Ability of making their Addresses unto God in Vocal Prayer, so far as is needful unto them in their circumstances, Callings, States and Conditions. And this is that which is called the Gift of Prayer. I speak of ordinary Cases; for there may be such interpositions of Temptations and Desertions, as that the Soul being overwhelmed with them, may for the present be able only to ⟨p. 115⟩mourn as a Dove, or to chatter as a Crane, that is, not to express the sense of their minds clearly and dictinctly, but only as it were to mourn and groan before the Lord in brokenness of spirit and expressions. But this also is sufficient for their acceptance in that Condition. And hereof there are few Believers but at one time or other they have more or less experience. And as for those whose Devotion dischargeth it self in a formal course of the same words, as it must needs be in the Papacy, wherein for the most part they understand not the signification of the Words which they make use of, they are strangers unto the true Nature of Prayer, at least unto the Work of the Spirit therein. And such Supplications as are not variously influenced by the Variety of the Spiritual Conditions of them that make them according to the Variety of our spiritual exercise, are like one constant Tone or noise which hath no Harmony nor Musick in it.