SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 427 of the Spirit, you have the witness of the Spirit, whether you know it or not. 3. If by your own doubtings youhave deprived your- selfof the joy of the Holy Ghost, bewail it, and do so no more ; but do not therefore say you have not the Holy Ghost. For the Holy Ghost often works regeneration and holiness before he works any sensible joys. 4. You have some hopeof salvation by Christ left in ypu; you are not yet in utter despair; and is it no comfort to you to think that you have yet any hope, and are not quite past all remedy? It may be your sorrows may so cloud it that you take no notice of it ; but I know you cannot have the least hope without some answerable comfort. And may not that comfort be truly the joy of the Holy Ghost ? 5. And for communion with God, let me ask you, Have you no recourse to him by prayer in your straits ? Do you not wait at his mouth for the law and direc- tion of your life? Have you received no holy desires, or other graces from him? Nay, are you sure that you are not a member of Christ, who is one with him ? How can you, then, say you have no communion with him ? Can there be communication of prayer and obedience from you ; yea, your own self delivered up to Christ ; and a communication of any life of grace fromGod, by Christ and the Spirit ; and all this without communion ? It cannot be. ).Many a soul' bath most near communion with Christ that knows it not. Doubt 9. ' I have not the spirit of prayer ; when I should pour out my soul to God, I have neither bold access, nor matter of prayer, nor words.' Answ. Do you know what the spirit of prayer is? It contain- eth, 1. Desires of the soul after tie things we want, especially Christ and his graces. 2. An addressing ourselves to God with these desires, that we may have help and relief from him. Have not you both these ? Do you not desire Christ and grace, justifi- cation and sanctification ? Do you not look to God as him who alone is able to supply your wants; and bids you ask that you may receive? Do you utterly despair of help, and so seek to none ? Or do you make your addresses by prayer to any but God? But perhaps you look at words and matter to dilate upon, that you may be able to hold out in a long speech to God, and you think that it is the effect of the spirit of prayer. But where do you find that in God's word? I confess that in many, and most, the Spirit which helpeth to desires, doth also help to some kind of 9xpres- sions ; because if a man be of able natural parts, and have a tongue to express his own mind, the promotingof holy desires will help men to expressions. For a full soul is hardly hindered from vent- ing itself; and experience teacheth us, that the Spirit's inflaming . the heart with holy affections, doth very much furnish both the invention and expression. But this is but accidental and uncer- lülirru..w
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