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

Secondly, Utterance is a peculiar Gift of the Holy Ghost; so it is mentioned 1 Cor. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 8. 7. Eph. 6. 19. Col. 4. 3. And hereof there are two parts, or there are two Duties to be discharged by virtue of it. (1.) An Ability to speak unto men in the name of God in the preaching of the Word. (2.) An Ability to speak unto God for our selves, or in the name and on the behalf of others. And there is the same reason of Utterance in both these Duties. ⟨p. 146⟩And in each of them it is equally a peculiar Gift of the Spirit of God: See 1 Cor. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 8. 7. Eph. 6. 19. Col. 4. 3. The word used in these places is [Greek or Hebrew] Speech, which is well rendered, Utterance, that is [Greek or Hebrew], Facultas & Libertas dicendi; an ability, and liberty to speak out the things we have conceived. [Greek or Hebrew], Eph. 6. 19. Utterance in the opening of the mouth with Boldness, or rather freedom of Speech. This in sacred things, in Praying and Preaching, is the Gift of the Holy Spirit; and as such, are we enjoined to pray for it, that it may be given unto us or others, as the Edification of the Church doth require. And although this Gift may by some be despised, yet the whole Edification of the Church depends upon it; yea the Foundation of the Church was laid in it, as it was an extraordinary Gift, Acts 2. 4. and its superstructure is carried on by it. For it is the sole means of public or solemn intercourse between God and the Church. It is so if there be such a thing as the Holy Ghost, if there be such things as spiritual Gifts. The matter of them is Spiritual Light, and the manner of their Exercise is Utterance.