A02990:138
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.
Those forms mentioned 2. Chron. 29. 30. are in the same place expressly said to be composed by those that were Prophets and Seers,1 as in other places, of purpose as it were to prevent imitation, an ordinary rise to imagery.
Those forms mentioned 2. Chron. 29. 30. are in the same place expressely said to be composed by those that were Prophets and Seers,1 as in other places, of purpose as it were to prevent imitation, an ordinary rise to imagery.
- 1Object. 4.
The forms mentioned were given no question by the inspiration of the Spirit;1 and so is the Lords prayer, the form of baptizing, and other psalms registered in holy scripture: But the application of those particular forms to this on that purpose was not by an extraordinary motion of the Spirit, but upon grounds common to others with them, upon like occasion, or in cases analogical. And if in that respect it be not lawful to imitate their practice, I would gladly know by ⟨p. 103⟩what warrant we sing the psalms of David or other holy prophets inspired of God, or use a set translation, &c. Upon what grounds may they compose a catechism for the edification of the people of their particular charge, or gather together and allege scriptures in their studied sermons, either for instruction, exhortation, rebuke or comfort? If they have not warrant from these and such like practices of the people of God, it will prove in their construction but the precept or devise of man. The composure of those psalms was by the immediate inspiration of the holy Ghost, wherein no man not immediately inspired may presume to imitate them: but forms given by inspiration are thus far for our imitation, that we may use the same words or other words devised of our selves to the same purpose, sc. to express and lay open the conceits and desires of our soul. Hezekiah did not compose that form, but commanded the Levites to make use of it being already composed. But how imitation herein should be a rise to imagery I cannot conceive. To add unto or detract from the word of God or his ordinances, is great presumption: to imitate the Saints in that particular which they did by immediate inspiration, and could not do without such inspiration, is intolerable boldness: But where God hath given a pattern of prayer, thanksgiving, or administration of the sacraments, to imitate our sampler in the selfsame words or other words devised by our selves or others, is no rise to imagery. If this be a rise to imagery,