A02990:173
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.
Reading is not prayer:1 For in prayer we pour out desires and supplications from the heart; in reading we let into the heart the things that are read.2 A blind man may pray, but he cannot read. He that readeth speaketh not to God but to the people.
Reading is not prayer:1 For in prayer we poure out desires and supplications from the heart; in reading we let into the heart the things that are read.2 A blind man may pray, but he cannot reade. He that readeth speaketh not to God but to the people.
- 1Object. 2. Johnson, ubi suprà.
- 2Robinson, Against Bern. pag. 425, 473. Greenwood, Answ. to Gifford, pag. 2.
To read is not to pray: but in reading a man may pray agreeable to the ordinance,1 with right affection of soul: As to pronounce is not to pray; because a dumb man may pray, who cannot speak: but when a man uttereth his prayer for the edification of others, he himself may and doth speak unto God. But if this be presupposed, that a man cannot both read a prayer and pray himself, what hindereth that others cannot lift up their hearts unto God, and join in requests according to the prescript form of words? Is not the matter fit because it is prescribed? cannot the heart desire or lift up it self because the requests are read? doth the very act of reading pollute the whole action? If all things essentially required in prayer may be observed of them that join in prayer with such as read them, then the simple act of reading is not sufficient cause why Christians should withdraw themselves: But all things essential to prayer may be observed of them that join in prayer with such as read: the matter may be fit, sound and holy;