The Practice of Piety

The second sort of duties, which are to be performed, at the time of the holy Assembly.

When prayers begin, lay aside thine own private Meditations; and let thine heart join with the Minister, and the whole Church, as being one body of Christ;¹ and because that GOD is the God of order, he will have all things to be done in the Church, with one heart and accord: and the exercises of the Church are common and public. It is therefore an ignorant pride, ⟨p. 595⟩for a man to think his own private prayers more effectual, then the public prayers of the whole Church.² Solomon therefore adviseth a man not to be rash, to utter a thing in the Church before GOD. Pray therefore when the Church prayeth, sing when they sing, and in the action of kneeling, standing, sitting, ³and such indifferent ceremonies (for the avoiding of scandal, the continuance of charity and in testimony of thine obedience) ^*conform thy self to the manner of the Church wherein thou livest.

WHen praiers begin, lay aside thine own priuate Meditations; and let thine heart ioine with the Minister, and the whole Church, as being one body of Christ;¹ and because that GOD is the God of order, he will haue all things to bee done in the Church, with one heart and accord: and the exercises of the Church are common and publike. It is therefore an ignorant pride, ⟨p. 595⟩for a man to thinke his owne priuate praiers more effectuall, then the publike prayers of the whole Church.