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

2. The spiritual intense fixation of the mind, by contemplation on God in Christ, until the Soul be as it were swallowed up in admiration and delight, and being brought unto an utter loss through the infiniteness of those Excellencies which it doth admire and adore, it returns again into its own Abasements; out of a sense of its infinite distance from what it would absolutely and eternally embrace, and with all the inexpressible Rest and satisfaction which the will and Affections ⟨p. 191⟩receive in their approaches unto the Eternal fountain of goodness; are things to be aimed at in Prayer, and which through the riches of Divine condescension, are frequently enjoyed. The Soul is hereby raised and ravished, not into Ecstasies or unaccountable Raptures, not acted into Motions above the Power of its own Understanding and Will, but in all the Faculties and Affections of it through the effectual workings of the Spirit of Grace, and the lively impressions of Divine Love, with intimations of the Relations and kindness of God, is filled with Rest, in joy unspeakable and full of Glory. And these spiritual acts of Communion with God, whereof I may say with Bernard, Rara Hora, Brevis Mora, may be enjoyed in mental or Vocal Prayer indifferently. But as the Description here given of Mental spiritual Prayer, hath no countenance given it from the Scriptures, yea those things are spoken of it which are expressly contrary thereunto, as perfect purity, and the like; and as it cannot be confirmed by the Rational Experience of any, so it no way takes off from the Necessity and usefulness of Vocal Prayer, whereunto it is opposed. For still the use of Words is necessary in this Duty, from the nature of the Duty it self, the command ⟨p. 192⟩of God, and the Edification of the Church. And it is fallen out unhappily as to the Exaltation of the conceived excellency of this Mental Prayer, that our Lord Jesus Christ not only instructed his Disciples to pray by the use of Words, but did so himself, and that constantly, so far as we know, Mat. 26. 39, 42. Yea, when he was most intense and engaged in this Duty, instead of this pretended still Prayer of Contemplation, he prayed [Greek or Hebrew] with a strong outcry, Heb. 5