very great and we may be pressed out of measure above strength 2 Cor. 1.8 as Paul was in Asia and then God pities us Psal 103.13 as a Father pities his Children and as when the Spirits are exceedingly oppressed we apply Cordials which may relieve them and enable the sick person to breath so God doth by his Spirit shed abroad his love into our hearts which doth relieve and revive the Soul by a more immediate virtue Rom. 5.5 then those comforts which by degrees we relieve our selves with by communing with our own hearts or meditating on the Scriptures as Cordials do not require time or natural strength to concoct them and turn them to Nourishment as meat doth but immediately diffuseth its virtue to the sudden cheering or revival of the Patient Sometimes Christians are as I may say sullen like Ahab when he could not have Naboth's Vinyard 1 Kin. 21 4 being exceedingly discontented at some worldly cross or disappointment as Jonah at the withering of his Gourd Jon. 4.1 8. and at Gods sparing of Ninive or they do too much give way to grief and indulge themselves therein as the Psalmist refused to be comforted Psal 77.2 Now the way to deal with such is to awaken their Consciences to a due sense of the evil of sin that they may more earnestly pray for the pardon of it or more prize the pardon of it and think with themselves they have greatter matters to exercise their minds then those that they trouble themselves so much with or that God hath done so much for them in the pardon of their sins that they should not take outward troubles so grieviously at the hands of God Job 2.10 but be content to receive some evil from him having received so much good 2 Sam. 19.5 as when David was so exceedingly troubled at the death of Absalom Joab roused him out of his dumps by representing to him his unkindness to his faithful Subjects and how this act of his might be justly interpreted and likewise the great danger which might ensue thereon by his people leaving him while he did so discourage them and this made him shake himself from his sorrow I shall in a few words apply what I have said on this Subject and this may First instruct us how exceeding impotent we are to that which is good there is nothing doth more fully convince us of our weakness then our inability to pray We might think if we considered things only in the Idea as they speak without consulting experience that if we could do any thing we might pray it being that which our necessity doth so far enforce us to that it might seem enough to us to have liberty to pray but we see that as we cannot call Christ Lord without the Spirit so we cannot call God Father without the assistance thereof nor pray either for matter or manner as we ought without it Wherefore it seems strange to me that any wise considering man should reduce the whole interest of the Spirit in the Prayers of Christians to that extraordinary gift in the primitive times whereby as they say those that were to pray for others were enabled to ask those things which were useful for them and to teach others how to form their prayes and so that to pray in the holy Ghost Jude 20. enjoyned by the Apostle was to keep to the publick Assembly and joyn with him that was then assisted in his Prayers by the holy Ghost And that this gift when it ceased was supplied by set prepared forms for daily and constant uses provided by such as had benefited under those that had such gifts and remembred some of their Forms or at least the method and manner used by them and that Liturgies in the Church had their rise from hence About the use of Liturgies in the Primitive Church or the authority of those recommended to us for their venerable antiquity it is not for me now to speak any thing but by what I have already said it appears that the Spirit of God is further concerned in the Prayers of Christians and I cannot see how the Spirit should this way make intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered Secondly This may teach us when ever we go to God by Prayer Eph. 2.18 not only to come to him by Jesus Christ for acceptance but to look to the Spirit for his assistance We do not expect nor teach others to expect Enthusiasmes or immediate Inspirations ordinarily in Prayer neither do we suppose that men should attend so for the assistance of the Spirit as to forbear their Prayers till they find themselves like holy men of old who were the pen men of the Scripture moved by the holy Ghost much less do we think that all Extempore Prayer as it is called or conceived Prayer is by the holy Ghost neither do we suppose that those that joyn with others in Prayer do not pray by the holy-holy-Ghost for he assists as to the manner as well as the matter of our Prayers neither do we believe that the Spirit assists us to the utmost of his power so that those Prayers wherein we have his assistance should be in every respect perfect but he doth as a Spirit of Grace and Supplication not only qualifie us habitually for Prayer Zach. 12.10 but assist us actually in Prayer yet in such measure as seems good to him and as of old God would not accept of Sacrifices offered by strange fire Lev. 10.1 so neither will he accept of our Spiritual Sacrifices unless they be offered by the fire of Zeal kindled from Heaven and blown up by the holy Ghost but as he may hear Sinners 1 King 21.29 as he did Ahab for some outward Mercies which are from the exuperance or overflowings of his bounty And though I doubt not but many do vainly pretend to or falsely boast of the assistance of the Spirit in Prayer not understanding what they speak or whereof they affirm yet to scoff at praying by the Spirit as if it were not a thing for any to expect or in any sense to pretend to is such a piece of boldness and prophaness and at least borders so near upon Blasphemy that no sober serious Christian will adventure upon it FINIS Books printed for and to be sold by B. 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20.12 as Jeremiah expresses it Isa 63.9 He is afflicted in all our Afflictions and pities us therein Psal 103.13 as a Father pities his Children 2. Prayer is a Remedy against Afflictions Psal 138.3 as thereby we obtain support and Comfort under them or Deliverance from them And I may say as much of Prayer Heb. 11.3 c. as the Apostle doth of Faith Jam. 5.16 the effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous Man avails much It turned the Heart of Esau Gen. 32.11 it put to Flight the Amalekites Ex. 17.11 Numb 14.17 It held God's Hand Exod. 23.11 It turned away his wrath Joshua 10.12.13 It stay'd the Sun in the Firmament It opened Heaven Jam. 5.17.18 and shut it again Yea time would fail me to tell of David Asa Jehoshaphat Hezehiah Esther The Prayer made by the Church for Peter which open'd the Prison-doors The thundering Legion in the Time of Aurelius which were so prevalent for the Emperour against his Enemies when he was in a great Strait that he thereupon wrote to the Senate to forbear the Persecution of them of which amongst others we may read Tertullians Apology Cap. 5. and Eusebius Lib. 5. Cap. 5. And the Reason of this Efficacy of Prayer is because they are his Children that pray to him their Prayers are indited by the Holy-Ghost and presented by Jesus Christ 3. Though God do not alwayes answer the Desires of his People in Prayer yet he many Times quiets their Hearts so as they go away satisfied as one that hath left the Management of his Affairs in the hands of a Friend who he knows is both faithful and able to look after them As Hannah when she had poured forth her Soul before the Lord 1 Sam. 1.15.18 went away and her Countenance was no more sad And we find that often verified which Bernard saith of himself Serm. 32. In Cant. Quoties me Oratio quem pene desperantem suscepit reddidit exultantem et de Venià presumentem he went to Prayer oftentimes even despairing and returned rejoycing and confident of Pardon Thus we shall find David beginning his Psalms many times with mournful complaints which he ends with Thanksgiving and Triumph as particularly Psal 6. Psal 13. Psal 22. Psal 28. Psal 69. Psal 142. But Secondly hereby sometimes are meant moral or Spiritual Infirmities Psal 10. as the Psalmist accounts it his Infirmity when he was ready to give up his Hopes and to complain of God as if he had forgot to be gracious And these are the Infirmities which the Apostle requires the strong to bear with in the weak Rom. 15.1 Now here it seems to signifie those spiritual Infirmities which we are subject to in our prayers by what followes in the Text and I shall make it more fully appear in mine ensuing discourse Rom 8.35 It is said he makes Intercession for us Which is not to be understood as if he did mediate or intercede for us as Christ doth who doth also make Intercession for us Neither doth he intercede in us using us only as Instruments to express his Mind as evil Spirits speak by those who are possessed by them but what he doth is by way of Assistance lifting over against us as the Greek word is by many interpreted as he that lifts over against another to help him when he is lifting at something that is too heavy for him And he is said to intercede because he helps us therein or causeth us to intercede As in one Place it is said the Spirit of Adoption cryeth Abba Father Gal. 4.6 in another Place that We thereby cry Abba Rom. 8.15 Father 1 King 8.13 As Solomon is said to build the Temple at Jerusalem because he directed encouraged and furnished Materials for the Building of it Both Christ and the holy-Holy-Ghost are concerned in our Prayers Ephs 2.18 It is by Jesus Christ through one Spirit that we have Access to the Father 1 Jo. 2.1 Jo. 14.16.26 And the same Word translated Advocate when applyed to Jesus Christ is likeways frequently applyed to the Holy Ghost And as Advocates do not only plead for their Clients but many times dictate to them what they should say So both Christ and the Spirit are as Advocates to us And as Nathan did first suggest to Bathsheba what she should say 1 King 1.12 c. and then came in himself to confirm her Words to second them further to urge them So the Spirit doth first assist us in drawing up our Petitions for which Cause we are said to pray in or by the Spirit or Holy Ghost Ephes 6.18 Jude 20. And in this respect as is generally supposed he is called the Spirit of Supplication Zech. 12.10 And when we have presented our Petitions then Christ doth by his Intercession further confirm them and plead with the Father on our Behalf Now I shall shew particularly what are those Infirmities which we are subject to in Prayer and how the Spirit helps them And the first Infirmity I shall speak of is that which the Apostle here mentions in the Text that is Ignorance we know not what we should pray for as we ought He saith not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which might be understood of an Inability in General as that they know not to do right which is according to the ordinary manner of Expression in several Languages particularly the French and Italian and our English Bibles do well express that of the Evangelist which hath puzled many Criticks make it as sure as ye can Matt. 27.65 But it is here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we know not what we should pray for as we ought And this may be understood two wayes either of the Matter of our Prayers that we know not as we should indeed know what to pray for or of the manner of them we know not what to pray for as we should pray It is certainly true of both As will appear by what I have here to say First we know not what we should pray for we know not first what we stand in need of such is the Latitude of the Commands of God Psal 119.96 and consequently the extent of our Duty that although we may know how to express our Desires in some Comprehensive Petitions which according to a large Interpretation of them may reach to our several necessities Yet we cannot pray explicitely for those several Mercies which we need And again so various are the Occurrences of our Lives that we know not what particular temporal Blessings to pray for As God caused a Gourd to grow up for Jonah which he laboured not for So he prevents us with many Favours which we cannot by our foresight or forecast contribute any thing to Now as it is in Learning those who have some Infight into it may possibly if they have Opportunity to furnish themselves with Books provide such as may serve
the Scripture makes an Evidence of Adoption and that the Spirit doth witness so plainly and clearly as to set a man above all suspition of Delusion as it did the Apostles and Prophets when they were inspired thereby Though it is not denied that men may verily think that the illusions of Satan are the Testimony of the Spirit as he that is awake may certainly know that he is so though he that dreams may verily believe he is awake Yet to affirm that this is the Testimony of the Spirit which Believers may ordinarily expect would rather create Scruples in the minds of many who not daring to speak by guess or hear-say or boast of what Christ hath not wrought in them cannot say that they ever had any such Testimony Neither will these places of Scripture which are alledged in this case prove any such thing for not only things are said to witness in Scripture which can do it only objectively as the heap of stones cast up by Jacob Gen. 31.48 Job 16.8 Job's Wrinkles and Leanness our sins But persons according to Scripture Isai 59.12 do witness objectively by their actions in respect of which those mentioned by the Apostle Heb. 11. are called Witnesses Heb. 12.1 And if it be further urged that the Apostle saith the Spirit himself witnesseth not his Graces I answer Acts 5.32 God himself is said to witness when he doth it only by the Effects or Operations of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 So that the Spirit himself may be said to witness to our Spirits or with our Spirits when he acts us and leads us Yet I will not deny that the Spirit doth more towards assuring us of our adoption as a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Eph. 1.17 in the knowledge knowledg of Christ He may assist or enlighten our understandings both to discern those Characters of Divinity which are in the Scripture evidencing the Authority of it and likewise to know the things that are freely given to us of God or to discern or make a right Judgment of the Work of Grace in our own Souls 1 Cor. 2.12 some way answering to the gift of discerning of Spirits in the Primitive Church And this is one effect of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.10 to enlighten our Understandings to know the exceeding greatness of his Power towards those that believe Eph. 1. â—2 But what ever we determine concerning the manner yet for the thing it self the Scripture plainly affirms that the Spirit witnesses that we are the Children of God Thirdly the Spirit helps our Unbelief by bringing things to our Remembrance Mat. 16.9 Forgetfulness is many times a cause of Unbelief Deut. 7.17 and the Remembrance of what God hath done both for our selves and others Psal 77.11 a great support to our Faith Now Christ promised that the Spirit should bring to Remembrance whatsoever he had said to his Disciples Ps 78.35 Joh. 14.26 I know this might be verified in his effecting or accomplishing what Christ had foretold As when the Disciples saw the Zeal of Christ in purging the Temple John 2.17 it put them in Mind of that which was written in the Psalms the Zeal of thine House hath eaten me up But yet this may have a further meaning and as he doth assist our other faculties so he may the memory also not only by habitual Grace disposing our hearts to the love of heavenly things Psal 119.97 which makes us more frequently think of them but by suggesting things to us as occasion requires which is not improbable Luk. 8.12 If we consider that the Divil steals things out of our hearts whereby we become forgetful hearers and not doers of the Word so that the holy Spirit to counter-work him doth often keep things in the Imagination of the thoughts of our Hearts 1 Chron. 29.18 and bring back what the Devil hath stollen away And further we know by experience that it hath been with many Christians as with Hagar that sate and wept as if there was no way but her Son must perish for want of water Gon. 21.16.19 till God opened her Eyes to see a well of Water So many have refused to be comforted forgetting the exhortation or consolation which speaketh to them as to Children Heb. 12.5 till some Promise or other passage of Scripture hath been suggested to them from which as from Wells of Salvation Isa 12.3 they have drawn Water with Joy and Comfort I might add that the Spirit of God may make some extraordinary Impression of confidence upon the Hearts of Christians in their Praiers for some temporal Mercies as in Luther when he prayed for his Friend Myconius and Edward the sixth when he prayed for his Tutor Sir John Cheek But these are extraordinary cases Matt. 21.22 neither is want of Faith herein an Infirmity That Faith of Miracles Mark 11.24 which some had in Prayer in Christ's time James 5.15 and the times of the Apostles not being now repuired of us Another Infirmity which we are liable to in our Praiers is Hypocrisie when we flatter God with our mouth Psal 78.36 and lye to him with our Tongue And this happens happens in two cases first when we pray according as we are convinced in our consciences we ought to pray or as we have been taught by Forms or otherwise to pray and so the matter of our prayers is such as it ought to be but we cannot bring our hearts freely to consent thereto or our corrupt lusts put in exceptions and plead for an indulgence as Austin Ingeniously confesses of himself Confess l. 8. c. 7. At ego adolescens miser valde miser in exordio ipsius adolescentiae etiam petieram a te castitatem dixeram da mihi Castitatem Continentiam sed noli modo Timebam enim ne me cito exaudires cito sanares a Morbo Concupiscentiae quam malebam expleri quà m extingui That is I a wretched young man unhappy in the very beginning of my youth had even then desired Chastity of thee and said give me Chastity and Continency But do not give it me yet for I was afraid lest thou shouldst hear me too soon and shouldst too soon cure me of my Disease of Incontinency which I desire rather to have satisfied than extinguished Thus many take up the words of David as it is too ordinary for men to make use of expressions borrowed from Scripture to fill up their prayers without that spirit wherewith they were there spoken Set a Watch O Lord Ps 141.3 before my Mouth keep the door of my Lips When they would be loth to be taken at their words and be kept from speaking many things which God would keep them from should he set a watch before them Again many pray that God would not lead them into temptation when they would be loth to be kept from many things which are a