Yet something may be here added to free our passage from any just exceptions; for, it may be, some will think that these things are not pertinent unto our present purpose, which is to discover the nature of the duty of prayer, and the assistance which we receive by the Spirit of God therein. " Now, this is only in the words that we use unto God in our prayers, and not in that spiritual delight and confidence which have been spoken unto, which, with other graces, if they may be so esteemed, are of another consideration." Ans, 1. It may be that some think so; and also, it may be, and is very likely, that some who will be talking about these things are utterly ignorant what it is to pray in the Spirit, and the whole nature of this duty. Not knowing, therefore, the thing, they hate the very name of it ; as
CHAP. VII.] FORMS OF PRAYER AND VOCAL PRAYER. 297
indeed it cannot but be uncouth unto all who are no way interested in the grace and privilege intended by it. The objections of such persons are but as the strokes of blind men ; whatever strength and violence be in them, they always miss the mark. Such are the fierce arguings of the most against this duty; they are full of fury and violence, but never touch the matter intended. 2. My design is so to discover the nature of praying in the Spirit in general as that therewith I may declare what is a furtherance thereunto and what is a hinderance thereof; for if there be any such ways of praying, which men use or oblige themselves unto, which do not comjDiy with, or are not suited to promote, or are unconcerned in, or do not ex- press, those workings of the Holy Ghost which are so directly assigned unto him in the prayers of believers, they are all nothing but means of quenching the Spirit, of disappointing the work of his grace, and rendering the prayers themselves so used, and as such, unacceptable with God. And apparent it is, at least, that most of the ways and modes of prayer used in the Papacy are inconsistent with, and ex- clusive of, the whole work of the Spirit of supplication.
CHAPTER VII.
The nature of prayer in general, with respect unto forms of prayer and vocal prayer — Eph. vi. 18 opened and vindicated.
The duty I am endeavouring to express is that enjoined in Eph. vi. 18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplica- tion for all saints." Some have made bold to advance a fond ima- gination (as what will not enmity unto the holy ways of God put men upon?) that " praying in the Spirit" intends only praying by virtue of an extraordinary and miraculous gift; but the use of it is here enjoined unto all believers, none excepted, men and women, who yet, I suppose, had not all and every one of them that extraor- dinary, miraculous gift which they fancy to be intended in that ex- pression. And the performance of this duty is enjoined them, in the manner prescribed, h navri zaipw, — " always," say we, " in every sea- son;" that is, such just and due seasons of prayer as duty and our occasions call for. But the apostle expressly confines the exercise of extraordinary gifts unto some certain seasons, when, under some cir- cumstances, they may be needful or useful unto edification, 1 Cor. xiv. There is, therefore, " a praying in the Spirit," which is the constant duty of all believers; and it is a great reproach unto the profession of Christianity where that name itself is a matter of contempt. If
298 WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER. [BOOK VII.
there be any thing in it that is " foolish, conceited, fanatical," the holy apostle must answer for it, yea, He by whom he was inspired. But if this be the expression of God himself of that duty which he requireth of us, I would not willingly be among the number of them by-wkom it is derided, let their pretences be what they please. Be- sides, in the text, all believers are said thus " to pray in the Spirit at all seasons," did. <xdffrjg <7rpo(Ssuyrlg -Aai bzTjtjtcag, and sv rraffrj wpofftvyfj y.ai fofau, "with all prayer and supplication;" that is, with all manner of prayer, according as our own occasions and necessities do require. A man, certainly, by virtue of this rule, can scarce judge himself obliged to confine his performance of this duty unto a pre- script form of words : for a variety in our prayers, commensurate unto the various occasions of ourselves and of .the church of God, being here enjoined us, how we can comply therewith in the constant use of any one form I know not ; those who do are left unto their liberty. And this we are obliged unto, tig abrb rovro dypvirvovvrsg, " dili- gently watching unto this very end," that our prayers may be suited unto our occasions. He who can divide this text, or cut it out into a garment to clothe set forms of prayer with, will discover an ad- mirable dexterity in the using and disposal of a text of Scripture.