Peradventure you will say, By the help of the Common-Prayer-Book: but, that cannot do it unless it can open ⟨p. 35⟩the eyes, and reveal to the soul all these things before touched. Which, that it cannot, it is evident; because that is the work of the Spirit only: The Spirit it self is the revealer of these things to poor souls, and that which doth give us to understand them; wherefore, Christ tells his Disciples, when he promised to send the Spirit, the Comforter, He shall take of mine, and show unto you; as if he had said, I know you are naturally dark and ignorant, as to the understanding any of my things; though ye try this course and the other, yet your ignorance will still remain; the veil is spread over your heart, and there is none can take away the same, nor give you spiritual understanding, but the Spirit. The Common-Prayer-Book will not do it, neither can any man expect that it should be instrumental that way, it being none of God's Ordinances; but a thing since the Scriptures were written, patched together, one piece at one time, and another at another; a mere ⟨p. 36⟩mane invention and institution, which God is so far from owning of, that he expressly forbids it, with any other such like, and that by manifold sayings in his most holy and blessed Word. See Mark 7. vers. 7, 8. and Col. 2. vers. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Deut. 12. 30, 31, 32. Prov. 30. 6. Deut. 4. 2. Rev. 22. 18. For right prayer, must aswell in the outward part of it, in the outward expression, as in the inward intention, come from what the soul doth apprehend in the Light of the Spirit; otherwise it is condemned as vain and an abomination; (Mark 7.) because the heart and tongue do not go along jointly in the same, Prov. 21. 9. Isa. 29. 13. neither indeed can they, unless the Spirit help our infirmities. And this David knew full well, which did make him cry, Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise, Psal. 51. 10, 11.
Peradventure you will say, By the help of the Common-Prayer-Book: but, that cannot do it unless it can open ⟨p. 35⟩the eyes, and reveal to the soul all these things before touched. Which, that it cannot, it is evident; because that is the work of the Spirit only: The Spirit it self is the revealer of these things to poor souls, and that which doth give us to understand them; wherefore, Christ tells his Disciples, when he promised to send the Spirit, the Comforter, He shall take of mine, and shew unto you; as if he had said, I know you are naturally dark and ignorant, as to the understanding any of my things; though ye try this course and the other, yet your ignorance will still remain; the vail is spread over your heart, and there is none can take away the same, nor give you spiritual understanding, but the Spirit. The Common-Prayer-Book will not do it, neither can any man expect that it should be instrumental that way, it being none of God's Ordinances; but a thing since the Scriptures were written, patched together, one piece at one time, and another at another; a meer ⟨p. 36⟩mane invention and institution, which God is so far from owning of, that he expresly forbids it, with any other such like, and that by manyfold sayings in his most holy and blessed Word. See Mark 7. vers. 7, 8. and Col. 2. vers. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Deut. 12. 30, 31, 32. Prov. 30. 6. Deut. 4. 2. Rev. 22. 18. For right prayer, must aswell in the outward part of it, in the outward expression, as in the inward intention, come from what the soul doth apprehend in the Light of the Spirit; otherwise it is condemned as vain and an abomination; (Mark 7.) because the heart and tongue do not go along joyntly in the same, Prov. 21. 9. Isa. 29. 13. neither indeed can they, unless the Spirit help our infirmities. And this David knew full well, which did make him cry, Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise,
