Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-01-14
FINNEY'S LECTURES.
LECTURE VI.
SPIRIT OF PRAYER.


TFxT.-Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
lnhrmItIes for we know not what we should
pray for as ought but the Spirit itself max
eth lntercession for Us with groanings which
cannot be uttered. And he that searchetk the
hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints,
according to the will of God.-RoN1ANs viii
26, 27.
propose to show,
t l. What Spirit is here spoken of, The
Spirit also hel peth our infrmities.'
H. What that Spirit does for us.
III. Why he does what the text de-
clares him to do.
". How he accomplishes it.
V. The degree in which he influences
the minds of those who are under his in
> fuence.
VI How his influences are to be dis
tinguished from the influences of evil
spirits, or from the suggestions ofour own
minds.
VII How we are to obtain this agen-
cy of the Holy Spirit
| VIII. Who have right to expect to
enjoy his influences in this matter-or for
whom the Spirit does the things spoken of
in the text.
l. What Spirit is it, that is spoken of
in the text?
Some have supposed that the Spirit
, spoken of in the text means our own spir-
tour own mind But little attention
> to the text will show plainly that this is
not the meaning. 1.-The Spirit helpeth
our infrmities," would then read, sour
own spirit helpeth the infrmities Of our
own spirit land "Our own spirit like
wise maketh intcrcession for our own spir-
it." You see you can make no sense Of
it on that supposition. It is evident from
: the manner in which the text is introdu-
ced, that the Spirit referred to is the Holy
: Ghost For if We live after the flesh,
: We shall die; but if yethrough the Spirit
, do mortify the deeds Of the body, We shall
live. For as many as are led by the Spir-
it of God they are the sons of God. For
We have not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear; but ye have received the
: spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba
: Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
e with our spirit, that we are the children
i ofGod." And the text is plainly speak,
. ing of the same Spirit.
e ii. What the Spirit docs
y AnsWer-He intercedes for the saints
e He maketh intercession for u.s." and
II "helpeth our infrmities," when "wc
y hnownot what to pray for as we ought
l. He helps Christians to pray according tc
If the will of God, or for the things that Go:
J. desires them to pray for.
Ill Why is the Holy Spirit thus en-
n ployed
a. Because of our ignorance. Because
4 we know not what we should pray for a
C. we ought. We are so ignorant both o
'e the will of God, revealed in the Bible, ant
; Of his unrcvealed will, that we ought t.
r learn it from his providence. Mankind ar
lie vastly ignorant both of the promises an;
Of prophecies of the Bible, and blind to tn
n providence of God. And they are still
IS more in the dark about those points 0
l. which God has said nothing but by tn
d, leadings of his Spirit. You recolect tina
k | named these four sources ofevidence OF
lie which 10 ground faith in praycr-promis
o: es, prophecies providences, and the Hol,
iii Spirit When all other means fail of lead
e. ing us to the knowledge ofwhat we ough
E. to pray for, the Spirit does it.
H. ". How does he make intorcesson 70
IT, the saints? In what mode does he opc
ed rate, so as to help our infrmities!
- Not by supcrseding the use ofour fac
u ultics. 1t is not by praying for us, Will
IS, we do nothing. He prays for us, by OK
in citing our own faculties, Not that he in
e, mediately suggests to US words, or guide
Id our language But he cnlightens ca
e, minds. and makes the truth take hold
of our souls. He leads us to consider tn
&c state of the church, and the condition
Is sinners around as. The manner in vhic
m he brings the truth before the mind, an
no keeps it there till it produces its effect, W
n cannot tell. But we can know as muc
as this-that he leads us to deep consi(
ay Grafton of the state ofthings; and the rt
m, suit of this, the natural and philosophic;
d. result, is, deep feeling. When the Spr
brings the truth up before a mans mine
there is onl y one way in which he ca
keep from deep feeling. That is, by turl
nd ing away his thoughts, and leading h
l lr mind to think Of other things Sinner
~ when the Spirit of God brings the trut
- before them, must feel They feel wron
'nt as long as they remain impenitent. So
- man is Christian, and the Hol y Spir
NJ brings a subject into warm contact with h
IS, heart, it is just as impossible he shou!
nd not fee, as it is that your hand should n
,st feel if you put it into the fire. If II
ats Spirit of God leads him to dwell on thing
calculated to excite warm and overpowe
ing feelings, and he is not excited by Their
i il proves that he has no love for souls, n
,as thing of the Spirit of Christ and know
ct. nothing about Christian experience.
2. The Spirit makes the Christian fe
tho ,-olr,. &c s...la cd Tia er,,ilf nd ia,