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

And all the Reproaches which this Author casts on fervent, earnest Vocal Prayer, namely that it is a tedious, loud, impetuous and an uncivil conversation with God, a mere artificial slight and facility, may with equal Truth be cast on the outward manner of the praying of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was oft-times long, sometimes loud and vehement. And unto the Examples of their Lord and Master we may add that of the Prophets and Apostles, who mention nothing of this pretended Elevation, but constantly made use of, and desired God to hear their voices, their cry, their Words in their Supplications; the words of many of them, being accordingly recorded: ⟨p. 193⟩Wherefore Words proper, suggested by the Spirit of God, and taken either Directly or Analogically out of the Scripture, do help the mind and enlarge it with Supplications. Interdum voce nos ipsos ad devotionem & acrius incitamus, August. Epist. 121. ad Probam. The use of such Words, being first led unto by the desires of the mind, may and doth lead the mind on to express its further desires also, and increaseth those which are so expressed. It is from Gods Institution and Blessing that the Mind and Will of praying do lead unto the Words of Prayer, and the words of Prayer do lead on the mind and will, enlarging them in desires and Supplications. And without this Aid, many would oftentimes be straitened in acting their Thoughts and Affections towards God, or distracted in them, or diverted from them. And we have experience that an obedient, sanctified persistency in the use of gracious words in Prayer, hath prevailed against violent Temptations and injections of Satan, which the mind in its silent Contemplations was not able to grapple with; And holy Affections are thus also excited hereby. The very words and Expressions which the Mind chooseth to declare its thoughts, conceptions and ⟨p. 194⟩desires about Heavenly things, do reflect upon the Affections increasing and exciting of them. Not only the things themselves fixed on, do affect the Heart, but the Words of Wisdom and sobriety whereby they are expressed, do so also. There is a recoiling of Efficacy, if I may so speak, in deep impressions on the Affections, from the words that are made use of to express those Affections by.

And all the Reproaches which this Author casts on servent, earnest Vocal Prayer, namely that it is a tedious, loud, impetuous and an uncivil conversation with God, a meer artificial slight and facility, may with equal Truth be cast on the outward manner of the praying of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was oft-times long, sometimes loud and vehement. And unto the Examples of their Lord and Master we may add that of the Prophets and Apostles, who mention nothing of this pretended Elevation, but constantly made use of, and desired God to hear their voices, their cry, their Words in their Supplications; the words of many of them, being accordingly recorded: