§. XI.
Whatever Man does act without the Power of God, is not accepted.For there are two contrary Powers or Spirits, to wit, the Power and Spirit of this World, in which the Prince of Darkness bears Rule, and over as many as are acted by it, and work from it; and the Power or Spirit of God, in which God worketh and beareth Rule, and over as many as act in and from it. So whatever be the Things that a Man thinketh of, or acteth in, however spiritual or religious as to the Notion or Form of them, so long as he acteth and moveth in the natural and corrupt Spirit and Will, and not from, in, and by the Power of God, he sinneth in all, and is not accepted of God. For hence both the [103]Plowing and Praying of the Wicked is Sin; as also whatever a Man acts in and from the Spirit and Power of God, having his Understanding and Will influenced and moved by it, whether it be Actions religious, civil, or even natural, he is accepted in so doing in the Sight of God, and is [104]blessed in them. From what is said it doth appear how frivolous and impertinent their Objection is, that say they wait upon God in Praying and Preaching, since Waiting doth of itself imply a passive Dependence, rather than an acting. To pray and preach without the Spirit is Offence to God.And since it is, and shall yet be more shewn, that Preaching and Praying without the Spirit is an Offending of God, not a Waiting upon him, and that Praying and Preaching by the Spirit pre-supposes necessarily a silent Waiting to feel the Motions and Influence of the Spirit to lead thereunto; and Lastly, that in several of these Places where Praying is commanded, as Matt. xxvi. 41. Mark xiii. 33. Luke xxi. 36. 1 Peter iv. 7. Watching is specially prefixed as a previous Preparation thereunto; we do well and certainly conclude, that since Waiting and Watching are so particularly commanded and recommended, and cannot be truly performed but in this inward Silence of the Mind from Men’s own Thoughts and Imaginations, this Silence is and must necessarily be a special and principal Part of God’s Worship.
[103] Prov. 21. 4.
[104] Ja. 1. 25.