Of Praying by the Spirit. Numbers and proper Names in Scriptures, ( though I deny not that there is much rnyllcric which ~e little obfCJve ). l J• They th" fay that the Scripture is all fo plain, that there is ne obfcure or dillicult pafl'agcs in them, which men arc in danger of wrefling to rheir own dellrudion. 18. And they that fay, that All in the Scrip(UrC is fo ncccff.uy to falv;~tion ( c"en the darkc:ft Pm· Heb. r.xo,rr; phecies, ) that they cannot be favcd that underfiand them not all; or at lt:afi endeavour not fiudi~ r:.. oufly and puticululy to undcrfland them. 19. And they that fay that ev"y Book and Text mufi of nccefiity to falvation be believed to be Ca– nonical and UU{'. 20. And 1hofe that f.,y that God hath fo prefcrvcd the Scripture, as that there are no.various read. Of which fee ings and doubtful Tlxts thereupon, ~nd th~t no w~ittcn or 'printed Copie's have been corrupted ~:;1:s':c~:!lus (when Dr. Hcyli1t tc:lls us, that the Kmgs Pnntcr pnnced the fevcnth Commandmenr, [ 1hox jh.Jlt commit od:tl!try J) All thcfc c:rr in over·doing. ~ 11 J. The dangers of the: former detr.JUing from the Scripture are thefe. I· It injureth the Spiric: who is the: author of theScrip1uns. 2 It Hrikcth at the foundation of our faith, by weakning the Records which, :ne left us ro believe: And emboldneth men to fin, by dimini!hing the authority at' Gods Law; Ar.d weakne:h our H·?pes, by weakn'mg the ~rornifes. 3· It ihakcth rhe univcrfal Go– vernment of Chrifi, by Chaking the authority ot perfcd:wn of the Laws by which he governeth. 4· I{ maketh ·way fnr humane UfLlrpations, !!nd Traditions, as. fupp1ements to the holy Scriptures: And kaveth men to contrive to amend Gods Word andWorilup, and make Co·ordinate L:s.ws and Dotl::rints of their own. 5.1t hindereth the ConviLtion a~d Converti?n of finners, and hardneth rhem in unbclic.f, by qud\ioning or weakn~ng the means that lhould convmce and turn them. 6.1r is a wnpting men to the Cutfed adding to Gods Word. I v: The dangCIS ofllovcr-doing here arc thefe: r. It leadeth to . downri~;ht lnfiddity: For when men tind that tht: Scripture is imperfect or wanting in that wh1ch they fanf1e to be part of it's perfe– Ction, and to be really infcfficicor, e. g. to teJch men Ph)'fi~::ks, Logick, Medicine, Languages, &c. thc)r will be apt to fay.. le is not·of God, bcc1ufe it bath not that which it pretends to have. 2. God is madt: the Author of defdh and imperfections. 3• ":fhe Scripture is expofed to the fcorn and confu~ tation of Infidels. , 4.: Papifis arc aflllled in ptoving its imperfection. Bur I rnufi ilop, havingfpokC: to this point btfore in -'2!!•ft· 3~· and pmly .Q:<~. 30· & 3r. & 33• more at large. 'Q,ie!l:. 167. Ho1v far do good mm no1v PreaciJ and Pray by the Spirit~ An[w. r. NOt by fuch Infpirationof mw """"from God as the Propb.l(t and Apoj!I<J had which. indited the Scriptures. 2. Not fo as to exclude the cxercife of Reafon, Memory or Diligencr ; which mull be .as much and more than abouc any common things. 3· Not fO as ~o exclude the ufe and r:ecd ofScripmre, Minifiry, Sermons, Books, Confert'nce, Ex.. ampies, urc:, or other means and helps. But I· The Spirit indited that DoUrine and Scripture which is our Rule for prayer and for preaching. 2. ~he ~pir.its Miracles and works in and by the Apofllcs {tal that dpChine to us, and 'fnfirm Heb,,. h4our fauh m. •.r. . • . ~ 1 Pet. x. :., q. 3· The Sp!Jlt m our fauh[Hl Paftors apd Teachers, teacheth us by them to pray and preach. :. Thef[ 1 • 13 , 4• The Spirit by IL''tmin.Jtion, ~i~ning lnd SanlJifict~tion, giverh us an habitu.2l acquailttonce with John 3· 5', 6, our fim, our w.zms, with the word of precept and pro"lift, with God, with Chrift, with Grace, with ~om. 8. 9. Hu1voi: And ir givcth us a Habit of holyLove toGod, aud GooJut[i, and 1hankfulmji for mercy, om,S. ~:·~6~ and [.1ith in Chtilt, and the life to come, and dcfiru of perfection. and hatred of fin : And he thu 2 Tim. ;. ;. 7 • harh all thr[t, hath a confiant 1-l.Jbit of prayer in him; For prayer is nothing but the expreJTion Nehem. 9· :.o, with the tongue of thefe Graces in the heart : So that the Spirit ofSanctification is thereby a Spirit of Ifa. 11 · 2. Adoption and of Supplfcation. And he th<H hath freedom of utterance can fpeak 1hu which Gods Ez.ek.~6· 16 •. Spirit hath put into his very heart, and made him citeem his grearell and nearefi concernment, and G:~.l.4. ]. 7 · 14 " tht: mort ncceJlary and excellent thing in all the world. This is the Spirits principal bdp. z~ch. 12. ro. )• The fame Spirit doth incline our hearts to the diligent ufe of all tho!C means, by whkh our E:z.ek. rS. JI. abdi~ies. may he increa~ed: As to read, and hear, and confer, and to ufe our fc:lves to pr.1yer, :Jnd tO' Rnm.~.'~:1 9' medltarJon, felf·CX2.mmat1on, &c. John 4 • :. 3 , 24 , 6. The f~mc Spirit htlpeth us in the ufe of all thc[c means, to profit by them, and to make them & 7. JS, 39· all (ffedual on our hearts. r Cor.2.Io,n. 7· The fJmeSpi~ir concurrcth ~·ith Mtani 1 f!.Jbit~, R:afon, and .our own tndeav~urJ, tohdpus in · ~~~~:6'~~~'31•7• the very a[l of pr.Jymg and preachmg: I. By tllummatmg our mmds to know what to ddire and Gal.~·~, l6, fay .:. 2:. By :>.Clu:uir,~ out Jf"itls to Love, and holy dcfire and other affections. 3· By quickning and .'7• xS, 2.5'. <Xcttmg us ro a li.vrlinefs and fervency iri ~11. And fo bringin~ .our fmmer habits into acts, the E~f. 3· ~.&: Grace ot prayer IS the heort and {intl of gifts; And thus the Sp!nt reachcth us ro pray. 5. 'h 18 · 1 : : Ye"a,, TI!eff. 5.19.
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