A02990:110
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.
The Spirit of God is the only sufficient help which God giveth us to help our infirmities in the time of prayer,1 Rom. 8. 26. Gal. 4. 6. Zech. 12. 10.
The Spirit of God is the onely sufficient help which God giveth us to help our infirmities in the time of prayer,1 Rom. 8. 26. Gal. 4. 6. Zech. 12. 10.
- 1Object. 1. Copy of a L•tter, pag. 3 14. Robins. p. 469. Johnson, u•i suprà, pag. 37. Answ.
We confess most willingly, that prayer is not a work of nature, wit or learning, but of the Spirit of grace. True desire or ability to pray is not bred in us by nature, nor procured and gotten by ⟨p. 86⟩our study and industry, but proceedeth only from the holy Ghost, as the author and efficient: and this is proved by the places quoted. But ability to pray standeth in the lifting up of the soul unto God, not in the ample expression of our desires, according to the various occasions in fit words, and pressing them with forcible arguments. Prayer is the immediate work of the Spirit: But no text of scripture doth in such sense make the holy Ghost the author of prayer, or helper of our infirmities, as that it should be unlawful to make use of outward means to furnish the soul with matter, stir up the graces of God in the heart, and blow the coals of the spirit: For then we must not read the scriptures, nor other godly books; we may not meditate, or confer, the better to fit us for prayer. Peradventure it will be said the Spirit of God is our only helper in the time of prayer;