A41330:866
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.
A. I know it is imputed to our pride and conceitedness of our own gifts, that we use it not. Sir, I do profess in words of sobriety, if you, or Dr. Falkner can assure me infallibly, ⟨p. 101⟩that I should be pleasing to God, and that I should discharge my Office as I ought, only by reading Forms of Prayer, I will be as ready to use nothing but Forms, as you are ready and resolute to impose them; I would use also that Form of prayer before my Sermon, which your 55th Canon does command to be used before Sermon; and so nothing but Forms, which is the sense of your Church. I say, may I be but as pleasing to God. My reason is, I observe it would very much please my corrupt, lazy, unbelieving heart. I should not need then to beg of God the presence of his Spirit to help me as to the matter of prayer; nor need I act my faith and dependence upon him as conscious of my own insufficiency, 2 Cor. 3.5. for all my prayer is prepared to a syllable. I should not then labour with my proud heart to submit quietly to Gods pleasure, though he doth subtract, and not afford that presence sometimes, which he doth at other times. For here are the same words and syllables at all times, his absence or presence hath no room here. It may be the Friendly Debater that can jeer, I see, at Christian experiences, will jeer at me too, because I give this experience of my corrupt heart; but I care not.
A. I know it is imputed to our pride and conceitedness of our own gifts, that we use it not. Sir, I do profess in words of sobriety, if you, or Dr. Falkner can assure me infullibly, ⟨p. 101⟩that I should be pleasing to God, and that I should discharge my Office as I ought, only by reading Forms of Prayer, I will be as ready to use nothing but Forms, as you are ready and resolute to impose them; I would use also that Form of prayer before my Sermon, which your 55th Canon does command to be used before Sermon; and so nothing but Forms, which is the sense of your Church. I say, may I be but as pleasing to God. My reason is, I observe it would very much please my corrupt, lazy, unbelieving heart. I should not need then to beg of God the presence of his Spirit to help me as to the matter of prayer; nor need I act my faith and dependance upon him as conscious of my own insufficiency,