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

The great Plea for some of these external Aids of Prayer, is by this one Consideration utterly removed out of the way. It is said that some of these Prayers were prepared by great and Holy men, Martyrs it may be some of them, for the Truth of the Gospel and Testimony of Jesus. And indeed had any men in the World a Promise of especial Assistance by the Spirit of God in such a Work, I should not contend but the Persons intended were as likely to partake of that Assistance, as any others in these latter Ages. Extraordinary supernatural Inspiration they had not; And the Holy ⟨p. 217⟩Apostles who were always under the Influence and Conduct of it, never made use of it unto any such purpose, as to prescribe Forms of Prayer, either for the whole Church or single Persons. Whereas therefore, there is no such especial Promise given unto any, this Work of composing Prayer, is foreign unto the Duty of Prayer, as unto any Interest in the gracious Assistance which is promised thereunto, however it may be a common Duty and fall under the help and Blessing of God in general. So some men from their acquaintance with the matter of Prayer above others, which they attain by spiritual Light, Knowledge and Experience, and their Comprehension of the Arguments which the Scripture directs unto, to be used and pleaded in our Supplications, may set down and express a Prayer, that is, the matter and outward Form of it, that shall declare the substance of things to be prayed for, much more accommodate to the conditions, wants and desires of Christians, than others can who are not so clearly enlightened as they are, nor have had the Experience which they have had For those Prayers, as they are called, which men without such Light and Experience compose of phrases and Expressions gathered up from ⟨p. 218⟩others, taken out of the Scripture, or invented by themselves, and cast into a contexture and method, such as they suppose suited unto Prayer in general, be they never so well worded, so quaint and elegant in Expressions, are so empty and jejune, as that they can be of no manner of use unto any, unless to keep them from praying whilst they live. And such we have Books good store filled withal, easy enough to be composed by such as never in their lives prayed according to the mind of God. From the former sort much may be learned, as they Doctrinally exhibit the Matter and Arguments of Prayer.