A02990:32
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.
CHAP. II. All things essential to prayer may be observed in a prescript form.
CHAP. II. All things essentiall to prayer may be observed in a prescript form.
The two former points may be confirmed jointly and severally by these reasons following. 1. That is a lawful prayer wherein the desires of our hearts are lifted up or poured out unto God for Divine blessing according to his will, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the help of the Spirit of grace: But in a set or stinted form of prayer the desires of the heart may be lifted up or poured out unto God according to his ⟨p. 13⟩will,1 &c. Or, That form of prayer is just and lawful, wherein all things essential to prayer, or necessarily required in the word of God, may be observed: But all things essential to prayer, or necessarily required in the word of God, may be observed in a prescript form or read prayer. What is required in holy prayer more then this, That the matter be allowable and fit; the manner holy, reverent, fervent and faithful; our wants laid open, and petitions forced with as strong or stronger reasons and arguments then we are able of our selves to press them with?2 And may not a prayer,3 holy and meet for the matter thereof,4 be read,5 or uttered with humility, feeling of our wants, earnestness of desire, holiness of affection, and faith in Gods promises? In reading the scripture the eye doth lead the heart, and yet it may be read with judgement, reverence, meekness and joy: why may not the same affections be moved in a prescript form and read prayer? What necessity is there that the heart and eye should be at variance in this duty, when they may be conjoined in the other? Asaph and his brethren could praise God in a form of words set down by the prophet David: And if a prescript form of words may be allowed in Thanksgiving,