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SECTION X.

QUERY X. Since Prayer is a Duty, which we are under daily Obligations to the Practice of; and fince both the Prophets, under the Old Teftament, and Apoftles under the New, who were eminently under the Guidance of the Spirit of GOD, did fet apart Aated Times and Scafons for daily Prayer (as is evident from Jerem. 10. 25. Pfal. 55. 17. Dan. 6. 10. Pfal. 119. 62, 95. Luke 22. 41. Acts 20. 36, XXI. 5. III. 1. X. 2, 3, 30.) How can we think those acted by a true Spirit of Piety and Devotion, who under pretence of Praying continually, and of Praying by the Spirit, do ordinarily, neither Morning, Noon, nor Night, bow their Knee to GOD, neither in their Clofets, nor their Families, as if Praying continually, fignified foldom Praying at all; or as if the Affiftance of the Holy Spirit in Prayer, might not be always expected, whenever we feriously apply our felves to that Duty? And, Query, whether this grofs Neglect of daily Prayer, does not tend to turn Chriftian into Pagan Families, or rather into Atheistical ones?

IN

REPLY.

N the former part of this Section, we agree with the Querit, more than he imagines, in ever afferting PRAYER an incumbent Duty. Sec Section 6. and have therefore stated Times and Seafons, for Waiting Watching, Praying, and Meeting together, to worship Almighty GOD, both in publick, and in private Families; and do, with him, believe,

if

if any neglect fuch Duties, they are not therein acted by a Spirit of true Piety.

Right Prayer then is the Breathing, Speech or Expreffion of the Soul to its CREATOR, from a Senfe both of its Duty and Wants, which it fees through the Discoveries of the Divine Light, and is not by Divine Precept or Example confin'd to any one Time, Form, Gefture or Place, because of the divers and manifold Wants of the Children of Men.

'Tis either Vocal, with Words of the SPIRIT's Teaching, or Mental, without Words, by fecret Cries, Sighs or Groans, which cannot be utter'd: And one of these Ways we believe there is no Soul fo weak, but the HOLY SPIRIT is ready to help, did Man but wait upon, and regard the internal Affiftance of this Spirit of Life, by which all are led to the right and frequent Performance of every external Duty of RELIGION; whether Watching, Praying, Praifing, Inftructing, Preaching and Glorifying GOD with our Bodies, which are His, if not in great Pomp, yet in a grave, folemn and fervent Manner, not only feveral times in the Week, at which times we ceafe from Mundane Affairs, leaving our Bufinefs behind. But it is our Practife, (I wish I could fay of all) as it is all our Interest and Duty every Day to wait upon the LORD, that we may pray to and receive Strength from Him, and feel His heavenly Peace and Bleffing to defcend upon us, at our Rifing-up, and Lying-down; that so to His ever Bleffed Name, through the Spirit of His SON, may Dominion and Glory, Honour and Praise be afcribed, who is worthy for Ever.

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SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE TEXTS

A

RE fo numerous, that for Brevity's fake, I fhall refer my Chriftian Reader to fome few principal ones following, viz.

That Watching and Prayer are Duties enjoyn'd,

See 1 Chron. 16. 11. 28. 9. Prov. 4. 23. Ifa. 56. 2. Matth. 26. 41. Mark 13. 33. and 37. Col. 4. 2, 3. 1 Thef. 5. 17, 23, 25. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 3, 8. James 5. 13 to 18. Rev. 16. 15.

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That we may Pray aright, See in Section 6. the Texts there, alfo

Eccl. 5. 1, 2. 1

Rom. 8. 26, &c. 19. 1 Pet. 4. 7.

Sam. 1. 10 to 14. Pfal. 66. 18. 1 Cor. 14. 13 to 16. Eph. 6. 18. Jude 20.

To have our Prayers answer'd,

2 Chron. 15. 1.5. Pfal. 9. 12.10. 17.32.

56.34. 10:

2. Acts 10. 2, 4, 31. Eph. 3. 11, 12. James 1. 5. to 8. I Pet. 3. 7.

12. 1 John 3. 22.

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Authorities from our own Writers.

John Crook's Truth's Principles, 1663, P, 35.

B

Y that fame Spirit and Grace, we be lieve that Prayer is an Ordinance of GOD, when perform'd by his Spirit in its Words, and not those which Man's Wifdom teacheth; or without Words, by Sighs and Groans, which cannot be utter'd, and thefe fo often as the Spirit it felf pleafeth; but the Form, without the Spirit, whether it be by Words of other Mens framing, or of a Man's own Spirit, according to his Will, Time, and Manner: This is not the Prayer that prevails with GOD; and we believe there is none fo weak and infirm, but this Spirit profers its Help at fome Time or other, tho' Man regardeth it not; and the more Man's Mind is gather'd within from all Vifibles, the more he comes to be fenfible of the Movings and Stirrings of this spirit; and by the due Watching thereunto, we believe and know the Spirit of Prayer and Adoption that cries unto GO D. comes to be difcern'd and diftinguish'd from a Man's own Spirit and

Will.

W. Penn's Defence of the GospelTruths, p. 4..

Speaking of the Light and Grace, he says, This is that Principle by which GOD. prepares the Heart to Worship him aright, and all the Duties of Religion; as Praying, Praie fing, and Preaching, ought to be performed thro the fanctifying Power of it; other Worfhip being but Formal and Will-Worflip, with which we cannot in Confcience join.

GOD's Worship ftands in the Spirit; and Ibid. Works, Vol. I teftify from the Eternal GOD, all other 2% 538. Worship than what fprings from a Mind touch'd fanctified, and moved of his Holy Quickning Spirit, is abominable to him, his Righteous Soul loaths it. And what elfe were their Sacrifices, who, in my Hearing faid, Pray Brother, will you Pray? No, Brother; I am not so well able as you are, let Brother fuch an one Pray, he's better Gifted for the Work, &c. Complementing. Shifting, and at laft Praying, &c. in their own Wills, and not in GOD's Motion. This G O D hates.- -Tell me what can tender the Heart, prepare the Soul, raife the Affections. give true Feeling of Wants, and help to perform all in that Fear, and Reverence, and deep Senfe, which becomes all New Covenant, and Spiritual Worshippers, if this (HOLY SPIRIT) cannot, or do

not.

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REMARKS.

ENCE my Reader may know, that we believe the leaft fecret Cry, Defire or Breathing to GOD, from a truly fincere Heart, is more effectual and prevalent with him, than the long Lip-Labour, and loud Singing of any, whether of our Name or not, that fay and do not; who although they draw nigh unto GOD with their Mouth and Tongue, yet their Hearts are far from Him, while they regard Iniquity, and do not the Will of GOD.

Nor can I give a better Reason, why thofe Heaps of Prayers and daily Repetitions, do fo little Good, and are fo Ineffectual, than their proceeding from, and being offer'd up by unclean Hearts and polluted Lips, who are fo far from Praying by the Spirit, that they furioufly deny the Doctrine of its immediate InSpiration and Revelation, as dangerous and Diabolical.

To this, let me add one remarkable Prophecy of that Pious Primate 7. USHER, Arch-Bishop of ARD MAGH,

The outward Court, fays he, is the formal Chriftian, whofe Religion lies in performing the outfide Duties of CHRISTIANITY, without having an inward Life and Power of Faith and Love uniting them to CHRIST, and thefe GOD will leave to be troden down, and swept away by the Gentiles.

But the Worshippers within the Temple, and before the Altar, are thofe who indeed Worship GOD in Spirit and in Truth, whofe Souls are made His Temple, and He is honoured and adored in the most inward Thoughts of their Hearts, and they facrifice their

Lufts,

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