A02990:169
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 8: The people may lawfully be present at those prayers which are put up unto God in a stin…
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.
First,1 what letteth why the hearers heart may not follow a prescript form of words holy and good, either in confession of sins, request, or thanksgiving? What letteth, I say, that the hearers hearts may not profitably go with the same, both to humble, quicken and comfort? The people, child, servant are commanded to examine and prepare themselves before they draw nigh into the presence of the Lord: But where are they ⟨p. 125⟩commanded to look whether the minister or governor do pray by the Spirit immediately, or out of his memory; in a set form of words conceived beforehand, or suggested without premeditation; in the same form of words ordinarily with little or no variation, unless it be upon special occasion, or in different order, method and phrase every day; whether he read his prayer or pronounce it only? And if God have laid no charge upon their conscience to inquire into these and such like particulars before they join in prayer, voluntarily to withdraw our selves from the ordinances of worship in these respects, what is it but to add unto his word? When things agreeable to the will of God are begged of God every day in the same form of words, as the things begged are the same, it is not either the stinted form of words, or the presenting of requests by reading them upon a book, that can make the prayer unprofitable, much less abomination in respect of him that joineth. If the minister in that case pray coldly or without affection, his sin cannot hinder the blessing of God from the people. If the governor be weak in natural gifts, as memory or utterance; or spiritual, as knowledge, &c, the lawful use of a stinted form in that case is not denied by some as a needful help to supply defect. And if the governor, to help his weakness, make use of a stinted form, whether may the servant, child, or wife, who conceit they need no such furtherance, join with him in prayer or no? If not, I desire to know by what authority they may withdraw themselves: ⟨p. 126⟩If they may join, then the heart prepared may follow a prescript form of words devised by others.
First,1 what letteth why the hearers heart may not follow a prescript form of words holy and good, either in confession of sinnes, request, or thanksgiving? What letteth, I say, that the hearers hearts may not profitably go with the same, both to humble, quicken and comfort? The people, child, servant are commanded to examine and prepare themselves before they draw nigh into the presence of the Lord: But where are they