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

(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,

(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 adjoyned 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 babling. 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,

(1.) It is an inseparable Adjunct of that Work of the Spirit, which we have described, and is therefore from him who is the Author of it. For he who is the Author of any thing as to its Being, is the Author of all its Inseparable Adjuncts. That the Work of enabling us to pray, is the ⟨p. 136⟩Work of the Spirit hath been proved; and it is an immeasurable Boldness for any to deny it, and yet pretend themselves to be Christians. And he is not the Author of any one part of this Work, but of the whole, all that whereby we cry Abba Father. Hereunto the Expressions of the desires of our Souls, in Words suited unto the Acting of our own Graces and the Edification of others, doth inseparably belong. When we are commanded to pray, if our Necessity, Condition, Edification, with the Advantage and benefit of others, do require the use of Words in Prayer, then are we so to pray. For Instance, When a Minister is commanded to pray in the Church or Congregation, so as to go before the Flock in the discharge of that Duty, he is to use words in Prayer. Yet are we not in such cases required to pray any otherwise than as the Spirit is promised to enable us to pray, and so as that we may still be said to pray in the Holy Ghost. So therefore to pray, falls under the Command and Promise, and is a Gift of the Holy Spirit.