A53685:310
A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief…
A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief enquiry into the nature and use of mental prayer and forms / by John Owen ...
London: printed for Nathanael Ponder, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. To Read, Consider and Meditate upon such written Prayers, as to the matter and Arguments of Prayer expressed in them, composed by Persons from their own Experience and the Light of Scripture directions, or to make use of Expressions set down in them where the Hearts of them that read them are really affected, because they find their state and Condition, their wants and desires declared in them, is not unlawful, but may be of good use unto some; though I must acknowledge I never heard any expressing any great benefit which ⟨p. 235⟩they had received thereby. But it is possible that some may so do. For no such Freedom of Prayer is asserted as should make it unlawful for men to make use of any proper means the better to enable them to pray. Nor is any such Ability of Prayer granted, as to supersede the Duty of using means for the Increase and furtherance of it.
2. To Read, Consider and Meditate upon such written Prayers, as to the matter and Arguments of Prayer expressed in them, composed by Persons from their own Experience and the Light of Scripture directions, or to make use of Expressions set down in them where the Hearts of them that read them are really affected, because they find their state and Condition, their wants and desires declared in them, is not unlawful, but may be of good use unto some; though I must acknowledge I never heard any expressing any great benefit which ⟨p. 235⟩they had received thereby. But it is possible that some may so do. For no such Freedom of Prayer is asserted as should make it unlawful for men to make use of any proper means the better to enable them to pray. Nor is any such Ability of Prayer granted, as to supersede the Duty of using means for the Encrease and furtherance of it.
3. To set up and prescribe the use of such Forms universally in opposition and unto the Exclusion of free Prayer by the Aid of the Spirit of Grace, is contrary not only to many Divine precepts before insisted on, but to the Light of nature it self requiring every man to pray, and on some occasions necessitating them thereunto. But whatever be the practice of some men, I know not that any such Opinion is pleaded for, and so shall not farther oppose it.