Three tractates by Jos. Hall, D.D. and B.N.

SECT. II.

II you tell me (by way of in∣stance in a particular act of Devotion) that there is a gift of prayer, and that the Spirit of God is not tyed to rules; I yeeld both these; but withall, I must say there are also helps of pray∣er,

and that we must not expect immediate inspirations: I finde the world much mistaken in both; They think that man hath the gift of prayer, that can ut∣ter the thoughts of his heart roundly unto God, that can ex∣presse himselfe smoothly in the phrase of the holy Ghost, and presse God with most proper words, and passionate vehe∣mence: And surely this is a com∣mendable faculty, wheresoever it is: but this is not the gift of prayer; you may call it, if you will, the gift of Elocution. Doe we say that man hath the gift of pleading, that can talk eloquent∣ly at the Barre, that can in good termes loud and earnestly impor∣tune the Judge for his Client; and not rather he that brings the strongest reason, and quotes his books, and precedents with most truth, and clearest evidence, so as may convince the Jury, and perswade the Judge? Doe we

say he hath the gift of preaching, that can deliver himselfe in a flowing manner of speech, to his hearers, that can cite Scriptures, or Fathers, that can please his auditory with the flowers of Rhetorick; or rather, he, that can divide the Word aright, in∣terpret it soundly, apply it judi∣ciously, put it home to the con∣science, speaking in the evidence of the Spirit, powerfully con∣vincing the gainsayers, comfor∣ting the dejected, and drawing every soul nearer to heaven? The like must we say for prayer; the gift whereof he may be truly said to have, not that hath the most rennible tongue, (for pray∣er is not so much a matter of the lips, as of the heart) but he that hath the most illuminated appre∣hension of the God to whom he speaks, the deepest sense of his own wants, the most eager long∣ings after grace, the ferventest desires of supplyes from heaven;

and in a word, whose heart sends up the strongest groans and cries to the Father of mercies.

Neither may we look for En∣thusiasmes, and immediate inspi∣rations; putting our selves upon Gods Spirit, in the solemn exer∣cises of our invocation, without heed, or meditation; the dange∣rous inconvenience whereof hath been too often found in the rash, and unwarrantable expressions, that have fallen from the mouths of unwary suppliants; but we must addresse our selves with due preparation, to that holy work; we must digest our suits; and fore-order our supplications to the Almighty; so that there may be excellent and necessary use of meet rules of our Devotion.

He, whose Spirit helps us to pray, and whose lips taught us how to pray, is an alsufficient example for us: all the skill of men, and Angels, cannot afford a more exquisite modell of sup∣plicatory

Devotion, then that blesser Saviour of ours gave us in the mount; led in by a divine, and heart-raising preface, carried out with a strong and heavenly enforcement; wherein an awfull compellation makes way for pe∣tition; and petition makes way for thanksgiving; the petitions marshalled in a most exact order, for spirituall blessings, which have an immediate concernment of God, in the first place; then for temporall favours, which concern ourselves, in the second; so punctuall a methode had not been observed by him that hea∣reth prayers, if it had been all one to him, to have had our De∣votions confused, and tumultu∣ary.