All believers are, no doubt, in some measure convinced hereof, not only from the testimonies given mito it in the Scripture, but also from their own experience; and there is nothing in themselves which they may more distinctly learn it from than the nature and course of their prayers, with the workings of their hearts, minds, and affections in them. Let profane persons deride it whilst they please, it is the Spirit of God, as a Spirit of grace, that enables believers to j)ray and make intercession according to the mind of God ; and herein, as he is the Spirit of supplications, he copieth out and expressetli what he worketh in them as the Spirit of sanctification. In teach- ing us to pray, he teacheth us what and how he worketh in us; and if we wisely consider his working in our hearts by prayer, we may understand much of his working upon our hearts by grace. It is said that "he who searcheth the hearts," that is, God himself, " knoweth the mind of the Spirit," in the intercessions he maketh in us, Rora. viii. 27. There are secret powerful operations of the Spirit in prayer that are discernible only to the great Searcher of hearts. But we also ought to inquire and observe, so far as we may, what he. leads us unto and guides us about; which is plainly his work in us. I do not think that the Spirit worketh supplications in us by an immediate, supernatural, divine afflatus, so as he inspired the prophets of old, who ofttimes understood not the things uttered by themselves, but inquired afterward diligently into them ; but I do say (let the proud carnal world despise it whilst they please, and at their peril) that the Spirit of God doth graciously, in the prayers of believers, carry out and act their souls and minds in desires and requests, which, for the matter of them, are far above their natural contrivances and invention. And he who hath not experience hereof is a greater stranger unto these things than will at length be unto his advantage. By a diligent observance hereof we may know of what kind and nature the work of the Holy Ghost in us is, and how it is carried on. For how in general doth the Holy Spirit teach us and enable us to pray? It is by these three things: — 1. By giv- ing us a spiritual insight into the promises of God and the grace of the covenant, whereby we know what to ask upon a spiritual view of the mercy and grace that God hath prepared for us. 2. By ac-
CHAP. II.] SANCTIFICATION A PEOGRESSIVE WORK. 399
quainting us with and giving tis an experience of our wants, with a deep sense of tliem, such as we cannot bear without rehef. S. By creating and stirring up desires in the new creature for its own preser- vation, increase, and improvement. And in answer unto these things consisteth his whole work of sanctification in us; for it is his effec- tual communication unto us of the grace and mercy prepared in the promises of the covenant through Jesus Christ. Hereby doth he sup- ply our spiritual wants, and set the new creature in life and vigour. So are our prayers an extract and copy of the work of the Holy Spirit in us, given us by himself And, therefore, by whomsoever he is despised as a Spirit of supplication, he is so as a Spirit of sanctifi- cation also. Now, consider what it is that in your prayers you most labour about? Is it not that the body, the power, the whole interest of sin in you may be weakened, subdued, and at length destroyed? Is it not that all the graces of the Spirit may be renewed daily, in- creased and strengthened, so as that you may be more ready and pre- pared for all duties of obedience? And what is all this for, but that holiness may be gradually progressive in your souls, that it may be carried on by new supplies and additions of grace, until it come to perfection?
It will be said, perhaps, by some, that they find neither in them- selves nor others, by the best of their observation, that the work of sanctification is constantly progressive, or that holiness doth so grow and thrive wherever it is in sincerity: for as for themselves, they have found grace more vigorous, active, and flourishing, in former days than of late ; the streams of it were fresher and stronger at the spring of conversion than since they find them to be in their course. Hence are those complaints among many of their leanness, their weakness, their deadness, their barrenness. Nor were many of the saints in the Scripture without such complaints. And many may cry, " Oh that it were with us as in our former days, in the days of our youth!" Complaints of this nature do everywhere abound, and some are ready to conclude, upon this consideration, that either sin- cere holiness is not so growing and progressive as is pretended, or that, indeed, they have no interest therein. Yea, the like may be said upon a diligent observation of others, churches and single pro- fessors. What evidence do they give that the work of holiness is thriving in them? doth it not appear rather to be retrograde and luuler a constant decay?