A02990:112
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 alone either immediately,1 or by means sanctified and ordained by himself, maketh requests for us: yea, it is by the immediate teachings and suggestions of the Spirit that all our requests must be put up,2 no other helps are mentioned, or can be collected in the present action of prayer.
- 1Object. 2. Copy of a Letter, pag. 14. Robins. pag. 472.
- 2Greenwood, Against Giff. pag. 2.
I will not stand to enquire how these things can agree together;1 what is meant by the immediate teachings of the Spirit; or how the Spirit maketh requests, either immediately, or by means. The Spirit alone, and that immediately, is the author of prayer; but by means he ministereth variety of matter, order, and words. But what are we to understand by means sanctified and ordained by himself? If means ordained by special institution, it is too strait and hard to conceive what they be. If means allowed by God, as those whereby we may furnish our selves with words and matter for prayer, as reading godly books, conference, meditation on the works of God, &c. a stinted form of prayer is a means sanctified. And here I desire it may be noted, in what sense a form of prayer is ⟨p. 88⟩called a means or furtherance; not as a means or form of worship properly so called, but as in fit words and phrases it presenteth to our minds or memories what we ought to beg agreeable to the word of God: as the frame of words and matter kept in memory may be called and is reputed a stinted form.
I will not stand to enquire how these things can agree together;