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

But this Examination of it by the Light of Nature will be looked on as most absurd and impertinent. For if we must try all matters of Spiritual Communion with God, and that in those things which wholly depend on Divine supernatural Revelation by this Rule and Standard, our measures of them will be false and perverse. And I say, no doubt they would. Wherefore we call only that concern of it unto a Trial hereby, whose true notion is confessedly fixed in the Light of Nature. Without extending that line beyond its due bounds, we may by it, take a just measure of what is Prayer, and what is not; for therein it cannot deceive nor be deceived: And this is all which at present we engage about. And in the pursuit of the same enquiry we may bring it also unto the Scripture, ⟨p. 207⟩from which we shall find it as foreign as from the Light of Nature. For as it is described, so far as any thing intelligible may be from thence collected, it exceeds or deviates from whatever is said in the Scripture concerning Prayer, even in those places where the Grace and privileges of it are most emphatically expressed; and as it is exemplified in the Prayers of the Lord Christ himself, and all the Saints recorded therein. Wherefore the Light of Nature, and the Scripture do by common consent exclude it from being Prayer in any kind. Prayer in the Scripture-representation of it, is the Souls Access and Approach unto God by Jesus Christ through the Aids of his Holy Spirit, to make known its requests unto him with Supplication and Thanksgiving. And that whereon it is recommended unto us are its external Adjuncts, and its internal Grace and efficacy. Of the first sort, Earnestness, fervency, importunity, constancy and perseverance are the principal. No man can attend unto these or any of them in a way of Duty, but in the Exercise of his mind and understanding. Without this, whatever looks like any of them, is brutish fury or obstinacy.

But this Examination of it by the Light of Nature will be looked on as most absurd and impertinent. For if we must try all matters of Spiritual Communion with God, and that in those things which wholly depend on Divine supernatural Revelation by this Rule and Standard, our measures of them will be false and perverse. And I say, no doubt they would. Wherefore we call only that concern of it unto a Trial hereby, whose true notion is confessedly fixed in the Light of Nature. Without extending that line beyond its due bounds, we may by it, take a just measure of what is Prayer, and what is not; for therein it cannot deceive nor be deceived: And this is all which at present we engage about. And in the pursuit of the same enquiry we may bring it also unto the Scripture,