A02990:214
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.
The proposition is proved,1 first, Because they that allege the foresaid faults or corruptions against communicating with us in our public Liturgy or stinted prayers, do themselves put small strength or none at all in this reason. For suppose a chapter be somewhat unfitly divided, and break off in the midst of the matter, or now and then separate verses which should go together, or a verse be ill distinguished, or the preacher misallege a text of scripture, or something be found amiss in his prayer when he exerciseth his own gifts, must I of necessity separate from that ordinance of God, or reject the good for that which is amiss? Hereunto this answer is returned; When the minister exerciseth his own gift, 2Gods ordinance is observed, wherewith I may communicate in praying as well as preaching, notwithstanding his infirmities in either, which are but personal: and in such cases the rule warranteth men to try all things and to hold that which is good, 1. Thess. 5. 21. But when the Liturgy is read, an ordinance which is not of God but of man is introduced into Gods worship contrary to the second commandment, and therefore I must reject it, and have no communion with it. Is not this in plain terms to grant, that the corruptions alleged can be no cause of Separation, but this only, Because it is the devise of man. The corruptions alleged are not the cause, because they may be found in translations, the distinction of chapters and verses, the preaching of the word, and the prayers of the minister, when he exerciseth his own gifts, from which we must not separate, ⟨p. 161⟩3and where presence is not approbation. But whatsoever is objected touching abuses, the whole building leaneth upon this foundation, and this alone, That stinted prayer is the devise of man. And this objecting of abuses in this question is the devise of man, because it is brought in to ensnare the simple-hearted Christian when other grounds will not hold, and yet in plain terms it is disclaimed as soon as it is alleged.
The proposition is proved,1