A41330:251
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner,…
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entitled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templars sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entituled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templers sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1681
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
When this argument was urged in the Commencement-house, the Respondent yielded it. But Dr. Fern being then Moderator, thought this was too gross, and so denied the consequence, Because in Prayer we spake to God, but in preaching to men.
But the Doctors answer was invalid; for in prayer we represent, and are the mouth of a people of Infirmities; we are but persons of Infirmities. Here Infirmities are but like us, the Lord expects no other from us, Rom. 8.26. The Spirit helps our infirmities in prayer. But in Preaching we speak from God, we come in his Authority, and require Faith and Obedience to what we preach, therefore here we had need have a care what we speak; for now we come with, Thus saith the Lord.
7. Diversities of Gifts and Operations, are the Spirits work and glory, 1 Cor. 12.4.6. Diversities of Kinds, and of Degrees in those kinds; this diversity is seen in the gift of Prayer, as well as in other gifts. As to have in one Lords-day many thousands of Ministers confessing of sins, petitioning for mercies, pardon, purging, healing; praying also for Kings, &c. they all aim at the same thing in their Prayers; but the words, sentences, whereby they express the conceptions of their minds, and desires of their hearts, how various are they? the same Spirit that gave this diversity of gifts, assists them ⟨p. 25⟩in the exercise of them. And it is his glory which is taken away, while these thousands of Ministers are tied up to the same syllables in their Book.