A02990:156
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
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.
There is the same reason of reading the Apocrypha, 1books of Maccabees and those that follow them in the congregation, and of reading a stinted form of Liturgy:2 and the same reasons that silence the Apocrypha will silence stinted prayers as well and as much.
There is the same reason of reading the Apocrypha, 1books of Maccabees and those that follow them in the congregation, and of reading a stinted form of Liturgie:2 and the same reasons that silence the Apocrypha will silence stinted prayers as well and as much.
- 1Object. 6.
- 2See Robinson, pag. 476.
When we prove the lawfulness of a stinted form of prayer by the stinted forms of psalms and blessing mentioned in scripture,1 it is thought answer sufficient to say, There is great difference betwixt blessings or psalms and prayer: and yet here it is enough to match things unlike together, and to say of them without all proof, There is the same reason of both. But if it have any sinews, it will silence the singing of psalms, sermons, professions ⟨p. 114⟩of faith, and conceived prayer no less then stinted, especially the use of notes to help memory, and forms of catechism by whomsoever and howsoever used: For there is the same reason of reading and uttering by heart in the congregation. And if nothing but the canonical scriptures must be read in the congregation, nothing must be uttered by heart or strength of memory but the scriptures alone: But sermons, professions of faith, conceived prayer, are not canonical scripture. The reason is one; and whatsoever can be answered truly in the one, will put the other to flight. If it be said, That it is the prerogative of the scripture to be the rule of faith and manners, and therefore nothing is to be read in the congregation as the ground undoubted and immediate of faith and manners but the scripture alone; this openeth way for stinted prayer as well as for sermons or conceived prayer. The substantial means of worship both public and private are determined of God. It is unlawful to set up an image for worship either public or private. The scripture must be acknowledged the sole rule of faith and manners both in public and private. It is unlawful to devise sacramental signs in private as well as in the congregation. And if it be unlawful to read any other book in the congregation, because the reading of the scripture is the only approved medium cultûs, by the same reason all forms of catechisms, and singing of psalms, and reading or use of stinted prayers in the family are unlawful. And if the one be an image in the congregation the