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

yet to imagine that they are not guided, directed, acted by the Understanding in the contemplation of Gods Goodness, Beauty, Grace and other Divine excellencies, is to render our Worship and ⟨p. 189⟩Devotion, brutish or irrational; whereas it is and ought to be our Reasonable service.

And that this very Description here given us of Prayer, is a mere effect of Fancy and Imagination, and not that which the Author of it was led unto by the conduct of spiritual Light and Experience, is evident from hence, that it is borrowed from those Contemplative Philosophers, who after preaching of the Gospel in the World, endeavoured to refine and advance Heathenism into a Compliance with it; at least is fancied in imitation of what they ascribe unto a perfect mind. One of them, and his expressions in one place may suffice for an instance. Plotinus Ennead. 6. lib. 9. Cap. 10. For after many other ascriptions unto a Soul that hath attained Union with the chiefest Good, he adds: [Greek or Hebrew]. A mind thus risen up is no way moved, no anger, no desire of ⟨p. 190⟩any thing is in it (a perfect rest of the Affections.) Nay, neither Reason nor Understanding (are acted) nor, if I may say so, it self; but being Ecstasied and filled with God, it comes into a quiet, still, immovable repose and state, no way declining (by any sensible actings) from its own Essence, nor exercising any reflect act upon it self, is wholly at rest, as having attained a perfect state, or to this purpose; with much more to the same. And as it is easy to find the substance of our Authors Notion in these words, so the Reader may see it more at large declared in that last Chapter of his Enneads. And all his Companions in design about that time speak to the same purpose.

And that this very Description here given us of Prayer, is a meer effect of Fancy and Imagination, and not that which the Author of it was led unto by the conduct of spiritual Light and Experience, is evident from hence, that it is borrowed from those Contemplative Philosophers, who after preaching of the Gospel in the World, endeavoured to refine and advance Heathenism into a Compliance with it; at least is fansied in imitation of what they ascribe unto a perfect mind. One of them, and his expressions in one place may suffice for an instance. Plotinus Ennead. 6. lib. 9. Cap. 10. For after many other ascriptions unto a Soul that hath attained Union with the chiefest Good, he adds: . A mind thus risen up is no way moved, no anger, no desire of