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

And this difference we find by Experience among them who are endowed with this spiritual Ability. All men who have the Gift of Prayer, do not pray alike, as to the matter of their Prayers or the manner of their praying; but some do greatly excel others, some in one thing, some in another. And this doth in part, proceed from that Difference that is between them in the ⟨p. 134⟩natural Abilities of Invention, Judgment, Memory, Elocution, especially as they are improved by Exercise in this Duty. But yet neither is this absolutely so, nor doth the difference in this matter, which we observe in constant Experience, depend solely hereon. For if it did, then those, who having received this spiritual Ability, do excel others in those natural Endowments, would also constantly excel them in the Exercise of the Gift it self; which is not so, as is known to all who have observed any thing in this matter. But the Exercise of these Abilities in Prayer depends on the especial Assistance of the Spirit of God. And for the most part the Gift, as the Scion ingrafted or inoculated, turns the nature of those Abilities into it self, and modifieth them according unto its own efficacy and virtue, and is not it self changed by them. Evidently that which makes any such difference in the discharge of this Duty, as wherein the Edification of others is concerned, is the frequent conscientious Exercise of the Gift received, without which, into whatever stock of Natural Abilities it may be planted, it will neither thrive nor flourish.

(6.) Spiritual Gifts are of two sorts,

(1.) Such as are distinct from all other Abilities, having their whole Foundation, Nature and Power in themselves. Such were the extraordinary Gifts of Miracles, Healing, Tongues, and the like. These were entire in themselves, not built upon or adjoined unto any other Gifts or Graces whatever. (2.) Such as were Adjuncts of, or annexed unto, any other Gifts or Graces, without which they could have neither place nor use. As the Gift of Utterance depends on Wisdom and knowledge. For Utterance without knowledge, or that which is any thing but the way of expressing sound knowledge unto the Benefit of others, is folly and babbling. And of this latter sort is the Gift of Prayer, as under our present Consideration with respect unto the Interest of words in that Duty. And this we affirm to be a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost, and shall now farther prove it so to be. For,