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

1. The Truth is, I am so fixed in a dislike of that mere outside formal course of reading or singing Prayers, which is in use in the Roman Church (which though in Mr. Cressy's esteem, it have a show of a very civil Conversation with God, yet is it indeed accompanied with the highest contempt of his infinite purity and all Divine Excellencies) and do so much more abhor that Magical incantation which many among them use in the Repetition of Words which they understand not, or of applying what they repeat, to another End than what the words signify, as saying so many Prayers for such an End or purpose, whereof it may be there is not one word of mention in the Prayers themselves; that I must approve of any search after a real internal intercourse of Soul with God in this Duty. But herein men must be careful of two things: (1.) That they assert not what they can fancy, but what indeed in some measure they have an Experience of. For men to conjecture what others do experience (for they can do no more) and thence to form Rules or Examples of Duty, is dangerous always, and may be pernicious unto those who shall follow such Instructions. And herein this Author fails, and gives ⟨p. 188⟩nothing but his own Fancies of others pretended Experience. (2.) That what they pretend unto an Experience of, be confirmable by Scripture Rule or Example. For if it be not so, we are directed unto the Conduct of all extravagant imaginations in every one who will pretend unto spiritual Experience. Attend unto these Rules, and I will grant in Prayer all the ways whereby the Soul or the Faculties of it, can rationally act it self towards God in an Holy and spiritual manner. But if you extend it unto such kind of actings as our Nature is not capable of, at least in this World, it is the open fruit of a deceived Fancy, and makes all that is tendered from the same hand to be justly suspected. And such is that instance of this Prayer, that it is in the Will and its Affections without any actings of the Mind or Understanding. For although I grant that the Adhesion of the Will and Affections unto God by Love, Delight, Complacency, Rest and Satisfaction in Prayer, belongs to the Improvement of this Duty;

1. The Truth is, I am so fixed in a dislike of that meer outside formal course of reading or singing Prayers, which is in use in the Roman Church (which though in Mr. Cressy's esteem, it have a shew of a very civil Conversation with God, yet is it indeed accompanied with the highest contempt of his infinite purity and all Divine Excellencies) and do so much more abhor that Magical incantation which many among them use in the Repetition of Words which they understand not, or of applying what they repeat, to another End than what the words signifie, as saying so many Prayers for such an End or purpose, whereof it may be there is not one word of mention in the Prayers themselves; that I must approve of any search after a real internal entercourse of Soul with God in this Duty. But herein men must be careful of two things: (1.) That they assert not what they can fansie, but what indeed in some measure they have an Experience of. For men to conjecture what others do experience (for they can do no more) and thence to form Rules or Examples of Duty, is dangerous always, and may be pernicious unto those who shall follow such Instructions. And herein this Author fails, and gives