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

5. Our Duty it is to use this Gift of Prayer unto the ends for which it is freely bestowed on us. And it is given, (1.) with respect unto themselves who do receive it; and, (2.) with respect unto the Benefit and Advantage of others. And with respect unto them that receive it, its End is, and it is a blessed means and help, to stir up, excite, quicken and act all those Graces of the Spirit whereby they have Communion with God in this Duty. Such are Faith, Love, Delight, Joy and the like. For (1.) under the conduct of this Gift, the mind and Soul are led into the consideration of, and are fixed on the proper objects of those Graces, with the due occasions of their exercise. When men are bound unto ⟨p. 179⟩a Form, they can act Grace only by the things that are expressed therein, which whatever any apprehend, is strait and narrow, compared with the extent of that divine Intercourse with God, which is needful unto Believers in this Duty. But in the Exercise of this Gift there is no concernment of Faith or Love, or delight, but it is presented unto them, and they are excited unto a due exercise about them. Unto this end therefore, is it to be used; namely as a means to stir up and act those Graces and holy Affections, in whose working and exercise the Life and efficacy of Prayer doth consist. (2.) Although the Exercise of the Gift it self, ought to be nothing but the Way of those Graces acting themselves towards God in this Duty, (for Words are supplied only to clothe and express gracious Desires, and when they wholly exceed them, they are of no Advantage;) yet as by virtue of the Gift the mind is able to comprehend and manage the things about which those Graces and gracious desires are to be exercised; so in the use of Expressions they are quickened and engaged therein. For as when a man hath heard of a miserable object, he is moved with compassion towards it, but when ⟨p. 180⟩he cometh to behold it, his own Eye affecteth his heart, as the Prophet speaks, Lam. 3. 17. whereby his compassion is actually moved and increased; so although a man hath a comprehension in his mind of the things of Prayer, and is affected with them, yet his own Words also will affect his Heart, and by Reflection stir up and inflame spiritual Affections.