A02990:56
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.
They might easily answer themselves; As it is penned or printed it hath only the external form, and so it is not properly a prayer: but as it is rehearsed with understanding, affiance of heart, and fervency, it hath the true and whole nature of prayer. And by what reason can a book-prayer be called an image of true prayer which will not agree to prayer first conceived and then uttered? For if it be uttered with the lips without the intention of the heart, it is a bare similitude: and if the other be read or uttered after an holy manner, with that affection which God requireth in prayer, it is true and acceptable prayer. Words without the heart are but empty sounds, whether read, or pronounced out of the memory, or ex tempore: and if the voice be joined with the heart it is pleasant melody, though our petitions be read out of a book. But the book then (saith he) supplieth the room of the word and spirit. Nothing less: For the word of God directeth us what to ask, even when we read our prayers upon a book, so long as we crave with understanding things agreeable to the will of God: And the spirit doth enable and stir us up to desire that which is according to Gods will and our necessity. We may utter requests with our lips in conceived prayer without the aid and assistance of the holy Ghost, and so we may in a penned prayer; but offer up the sighs and groans of the heart we cannot without his grace.
They might easily answer themselves; As it is penned or printed it hath onely the externall form, and so it is not properly a prayer: but as it is rehearsed with understanding, affiance of heart, and fervency, it hath the true and whole nature of prayer. And by what reason can a book-prayer be called an image of true prayer which will not agree to prayer first conceived and then uttered? For if it be uttered with the lips without the intention of the heart, it is a bare similitude: and if the other be read or uttered after an holy manner, with that affection which God requireth in prayer, it is true and acceptable prayer. Words without the heart are but empty sounds, whether read, or pronounced out of the memory, or ex tempore: and if the voice be joyned with the heart it is pleasant melody, though our petitions be read out of a book. But the book then (saith he) supplieth the room of the word and spirit. Nothing lesse: For the word of God directeth us what to ask, even when we reade our prayers upon a book, so long as we crave with understanding things agreeable to the will of God: And the spirit doth enable and stirre us up to desire that which is according to Gods will and our necessity. We may utter requests with our lips in conceived prayer without the aid and assistance of the holy Ghost, and so we may in a penned prayer; but offer up the sighs and grones of the heart we cannot without his grace.