CHAPTER Iv. 183 they might ba the better prepared to receive the spina of pro- phecy, and use and improve it better. And these were called the sens of theprophets ; 2 Kings vi. 1. 2 Citron. xxxiv. 22. St. Paul laboured and strove with his natural powers while the Spirit wrought mightily in him ; Col. i. 29. Do not imagine yourselves to be in danger of quenching the Spirit, by endeavouring to furnish yourselves with mat- ter or expressions of prayer, for the Spirit of God usually works in, and by the use of means. As in the things of nature, só in the things of grace, it is a true and divine proverb ; " The soul of the sluggard desired) and hath not, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat ;" Prov. xiii. 4. We are to put forth our best efforts, and then hope for divine assistance ; for the Spirit of God helps together with us, eu, v.raalA avero , Rom. viii. 26. As if a man should takehold of one end'of a burden in order to raise it, and some mighty helper should make his labour effectual, by raising it up at the other end, and fulfillingthe de- sign. It was the encouragement which . David gave his son Solomon ; 1 Chron. xxii. 16. Arise and be doing, and the Lord shall be with thee. While we are stirring up ourselves to obey the command of God and seek his face, we have reason to hope his Spirit will strengthen testo this obedience, andassist us in seeking. As when God commanded Ezekiel to arise and stand upon his feet, and bade him put forth his natu- ral powers towards raising himself, the Spirit entered into hint, and set hint upon his feet, and by adivine power made him stand ; Ezek. ii. 1, 2. . III. Pray earnestly, and pray for the ,promised Spirit as a Spirit of prayer. .D.epend not :upon all your natural and ac- quired abilities, what glorious attainments soever you enjoy. How have some persons been shamefully disappointed when they have ventured presumptuously to make their addresses to God by the mere strength of their own wit, and memory, and confi- dence ? What hurry and confusion of thought have they fallen into, and been incapable to proceed in the duty ? The holy Spirit shall be given to Mein that atte aright; Luke xi. 13. Plead the promises of Christ with faith in his came; John xiv. 16, 17. For he has promised, in his' own name and in his Fa- ther's,. to send his holy Spirit. IV. Quench not the Spirit of prayer by confining your- selves to any set forms evhatsoever. Though the Spirit of God may be present, and assist in the exercise of grace, while we use forms of prayer, yet let us have a care how we stifle or re- strain any holy motions, or gond desires, and heavenly affec- tions, that are stirred up. in our hearts when we pray. If we refuse to express them, because we will not vary from-the form that ,is written down before us, we run a great risk of griev-
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