A02990:104
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulness of a stinted liturgy and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keys: tending to satisfy the doubtful, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulnesse of a stinted liturgie and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keyes: tending to satisfie the doubtfull, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.
Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the University of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the Universitie of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640
Chapter 5: A stinted form of prayer doth not quench the Spirit.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. V. A stinted form of prayer doth not quench the Spirit.
The Spirit of Grace enableth us to pray,1 and maketh requests for us, but worketh by means:2 It instructeth us what to ask, not in what phrase of speech: It stirreth up in us holy desires, but giveth not ability suddenly and without help to express and lay open our hearts in fit method and words significant. As the Spirit doth persuade and assure the heart, that the scripture is the word of God, not witnessing of the letters, syllables and words, but of the matter and saving truth therein contained: So the Spirit instructeth us to pray, by opening our eyes to see our misery, and ⟨p. 84⟩inflaming our hearts with a longing desire of mercy and relief, in the mediation of Jesus Christ; but it giveth not ability evermore to utter and express these our desires in fit and decent phrase of speech. Ability of speech is a common gift of the Spirit, which the Lord bestoweth upon good and bad: Yea, many times graceless persons are herein preferred before the most sincere and upright: and many an honest heart can cry aloud for mercy who is scarce able to utter one distinct and perfect sentence in fit words and order. Let no man except, that ministers have better abilities: For when the Apostle saith, the Spirit is given to help our infirmities, who know not how to pray as we ought, he speaketh of all believers, as well others as ministers, private prayers as well as public: And whosoever is enabled or provoked to lift up any one sigh or groan unto God, or to make apology for himself in the mediation of Christ in any manner, it is by the holy Ghost. These things considered, I suppose all men will grant; 1. That it is lawful for a man beforehand to meditate on his own particular wants and the necessities of others, and that he may more fully understand and more sensibly be affected with them, to read good books, which unfold the particular sins against the law of God, the state of man by nature, and the condition of the Saints, and of the church, as also to think upon the works of Gods providence, and how he is pleased to deal with his people in all places. 2. The better to stir up confidence and affection,