But, moreover, prayer falleth under another consideration, namely, as to its external performance, and as the duty is discharged by any
S02 "WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER. [BOOK VII.
one in lesser or greater societies, wherein upon his words and ex- pressions do depend their conjunction with him, their communion in the duty, and consequently their edification in the whole. This is the will of God, that in assemblies of his appointment, as churches and families, and occasional meetings of two or three or more in the name of Christ, one should pray in the name of himself and the rest that join with him. Thus are ministers enabled to pray in church- assemblies, as other Christians in occasional meetings of the disciples of Christ in his name, parents in their families, and, in secret, every believer for himself.
There is a spiritual ability given unto men by the Holy Ghost, whereby they are enabled to express the matter of prayer, as taught and revealed in the manner before described, in words fitted and suited to lead on their own minds and the minds of others unto a holy communion in the duty, to the honour of God and their oivn edification. I do not confine the use of this ability unto assemblies ; every one may, and usually is to make use of it, ac- cording to the measure which he hath received, for himself also; for if a man have not an ability to pray for himself in private and alone, he can have none to pray in public and societies. Wherefore, take prayer as vocal, without which adjunct it is not complete, and this ability belongs to the nature and essence of it. And this also is from the Spirit of God.
This is that which meets with such contradiction and opposition from many, and which hath other things set up in competition with it, yea, to the exclusion of it, even from families and closets also. What they are we shall afterward examine. And judged it is by some not only to be separable from the work of the Spirit of prayer, but no way to belong thereunto. " A fruit," they say, " it is of wit, fancy, memory, elocution, volubility and readiness of speech," — namely, in them in whom on other accounts they will acknowledge none of these things to be, at least in no considerable degree ! Some while since, indeed, they defended themselves against any esteem of this ability, by crying out that "all those who thus prayed by the Spirit, as they call it, did but babble and talk nonsense." But those who have any sobriety and modesty are convinced that the generality of those who do pray according to the ability received do use words of truth and soberness in the exercise thereof. And it is but a sorry relief that any can find in cavilling at some expressions, which, per- haps good and wholesome in themselves, yet suit not their palates; or if they are such as may seem to miss of due order and decency, yet is not their failure to be compared with the extravagances (con- sidering the nature of the duty) of some in supposed quaint and elegant expressions used in this duty. But herein they betake
CHAP. VIII.] TIIE DUTY OF EXTERNAL PRAYER. 303
themselves unto this countenance, that this ability is the effect of the natural endowments before mentioned only, which they think to be set off by a boldness and confidence but a little beneath an into- lerable impudence. Thus, it seems, is it with all who desire to pray as God enables them, that is, according to his mind and will, if any thing in the light of nature, the common voice of mankind, exam- ples of Scripture, express testimonies and commands, are able to de- clare what is so. I shall, therefore, make way unto the declaration and confirmation of the truth asserted by the ensuing observations.
1. Every man is to pray or call upon God, according as he is able, with respect unto his own condition, relations, occasions, and duties. Certainly there is not a man in the world who hath not for- feited all his reason and understanding unto atheism, or utterly buried all their operations under the fury of brutish affections, but he is convinced that it is his duty to pray to the deity he owns, in words of his own, as well as he is able ; for this, and none other, is the genuine and natural notion of prayer. This is implanted in the heart of mankind, which they need not be taught nor directed unto. The artificial help of constant forms is an arbitrary invention. And I would hope that there are but few in the world, especially of those who are called Christians, but that at one time or other do so pray. And those who, for the most part, do betake themselves to other reliefs (as unto the reading of prayers, composed unto some good end and purpose, though not absolutely to their occasions, as to the present state of their minds and the things they would pray for, which is absolutely impossible), cannot, as I conceive, but some- times be conscious to themselves not only of the weakness of what they do, but of their neglect of the duty which they profess to per- form. And as for such who, by the prevalency of ignorance, the power of prejudice, and infatuation of superstition, are diverted from the dictates of nature and light of Scripture directions to say a "pater-noster," it may be an "ave," or a "credo," for their prayer, intending it for this or that end, the benefit, it may be, of this or that person, or the obtaining of what is no way mentioned or included in what they utter, there is nothing of prayer in it, but a mere taking the name of God in vain, with the horrible profanation of a holy or- dinance.