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

So do many even in private, find advantage in the use of their own Gift, beyond what they can attain in mere Mental Prayer, which must be spoken unto afterwards.

So do many even in private, find advantage in the use of their own Gift, beyond what they can attain in meer Mental Prayer, which must be spoken unto afterwards.

Again, this Gift respecteth others and is to be used unto that End. For as it is appointed of God to be exercised in Societies, Families, Church-Assemblies, and occasionally for the good of any; so it is designed for their Edification and profit. For there is in it an Ability of expressing the Wants, Desires and Prayers of others also. And as this discharge of the Duty is in a peculiar manner incumbent on Ministers of the Gospel, as also on Masters of Families and others as they are occasionally called thereunto; so they are to attend unto a fourfold direction therein: (1.) Unto their own experience, if such persons are Believers themselves they have experience ⟨p. 181⟩in their own Souls of all the general concernments of those in the same condition. As Sin worketh in one, so it doth in another; as Grace is effectual in one, so it is in another; as he that prayeth, longeth for Mercy and Grace, so do they that join with him. Of the same kind with his Hatred of Sin his Love to Christ, his Labouring after Holiness and Conformity to the Will of God, are also those in other Believers. And hence it is that Persons praying in the Spirit according to their own experience, are oftentimes supposed by every one in the Congregation rather to pray over their Condition than their own. And so it will be whilst the same Corruption in kind, and the same Grace in kind, with the same kind of Operations, are in them all. But this extends not it self unto particular Sins and Temptations, which are left unto every one to deal about between God and their own Souls.

Again, this Gift respecteth others and is to be used unto that End. For as it is appointed of God to be exercised in Societies, Families, Church-Assemblies, and occasionally for the good of any; so it is designed for their Edification and profit. For there is in it an Ability of expressing the Wants, Desires and Prayers of others also. And as this discharge of the Duty is in a peculiar manner incumbent on Ministers of the Gospel, as also on Masters of Families and others as they are occasionally called thereunto; so they are to attend unto a fourfold direction therein: (1.) Unto their own experience, if such persons are Believers themselves they have experience