A02990:43
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. III. A stinted Liturgy or public form of prayer is no breach of the second commandment.
CHAP. III. A stinted Liturgie or publick form of prayer is no breach of the second commandment.
That which is the breach of no commandment, 1which is no where disallowed in the word of God either in express words or by necessary consequence,2 that is no sin:3 For sin is a transgression of the law; and where there is no law, there can be no sin. But a prescript form of prayer of Liturgy is the breach of no commandment, is no where disallowed in the word of God. The exposition of the commandments is to be found in the Prophets and Apostles; but the Lord by his Prophets and Apostles doth in no place restrain us to the use of conceived prayer, so to call it. Prayer is Gods ordinance, but whether our prayers be uttered in our own or others words, whether by pronouncing or reading, that is not appointed. God requireth that we lift up our hearts unto him, and ask of him in the name of Christ whatsoever we stand in need of and is agreeable to his will: But when spake he one word of praying within book or without, in this or that precise form of words? More particularly, a stinted form of prayer, for matter and external form lawful and pure, fit in respect of our occasions and the necessities of the church, read or uttered with knowledge, affiance and intention of heart, is not a breach of the second ⟨p. 24⟩commandment either in the deviser or user.4 For if all stinted forms of public prayer be a transgression of the second commandment, then in their common nature such stinted forms agree with images devised for worship: But stinted forms or prayer agree not in their common nature with images devised for worship. False worship forbidden in the second commandment is opposite to the true worship which must in special be instituted by God: But a stinted form of prayer is not opposite to that worship which must in special be instituted by God. False worship forbidden in the second commandment is in common nature, use and end one with that positive worship which is there commanded: But a stinted form of prayer is a matter of order, and not for common nature, use and end one with the true and pure worship of God there commanded. The pure worship of God in spirit and truth is set against the worship of images: But the pure worship of God in spirit and truth is not opposite to the worship of God in a stinted form of words. Against a general negative commandment no special act affirmative is lawful, unless the same be specially warranted by the Law-giver.