A02990:136
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 6: In scripture there be prescript forms of blessing, prayers, salutations, &c. which may…
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.
A form prescribed and determined by God is not only lawful and good,1 but necessary and only lawful, as it is prescribed: which prerogative ⟨p. 101⟩no form devised or prescribed by man can participate. But when God is pleased to give a form for direction only, and neither to command it precisely nor to determine it as the only allowable for words and syllables, in that case this reason is good, That seeing the forms set down in scripture may lawfully be used though not prescribed, therefore a stinted form is not unlawful. And thus we conclude from these passages of holy writ, The stinted forms of blessing, prayer, thanksgiving, and baptizing set down in scripture are lawful to be used, though not prescribed of God as necessary; therefore a stinted form of prayer is not unlawful. For that form of words which is neither determined nor commanded of God as necessary, but left at liberty to be used or not, that is not in point of conscience absolutely more lawful then another sound and grave. If no form of words be determined or commanded, any form just and good, one as well as another, is free in conscience. Gods commandment maketh a thing necessary; his determination maketh it only and none other lawful: but a form not tying to the words precisely, but given for direction only, doth authorize any other for matter the same and different only in words or phrase of speech. Every stinted form of prayer or blessing, &c. not prescribed of God or ordained of him, is an humane devise, though the matter be good and the words be gathered out of the scripture; because whatsoever is not from heaven, is of men; what is not of God by his institution prescribed or appointed, ⟨p. 102⟩that our brethren conclude to be humane: But no prescript form of blessing, prayer, or praise, &c. is appointed of God and commanded as necessary to be used of all or any man at all times, as they confess and labour to convince: Therefore it necessarily followeth, That if one godly form of prayer or blessing may constantly be used, another for matter the same, though different in phrase of speech, may be used also as occasion shall require: For none is absolutely commanded; and all things required by the word of God in prayer may be observed in the one no less then in the other.