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

(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.

And the nature of the thing it self, that is the Duty of Prayer, doth manifest it. For all that the Spirit of God works in ⟨p. 137⟩our Hearts with respect unto this Duty, is in order unto the Expression of it; for what he doth is to enable us to pray. And if he gives not that Expression, all that he doth besides, may be lost as to its principal End and Use. And indeed all that he doth in us, where this is wanting, or that in fixed Meditation, which in some particular cases is equivalent thereunto, riseth not beyond that frame which David expresseth by his keeping Silence, whereby he declares an Estate of trouble, wherein yet he was not freely brought over to deal with God about it, as he did afterwards by Prayer, and found Relief therein.