A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief…

What the Forms intended are, how composed, how used, how in some Cases imposed, are things so known to all, that we shall not need to speak to them. Prayer is God's Institution; and the Reading of these Forms, is that which Men have made, and set up in the Likeness thereof, or in Compliance with it. For it is said, That the Lord Christ having provided the Matter of Prayer, and commanded us to pray, it is left unto us or others, to Compose Prayer, as unto the Manner of it, as we or they shall see cause. But besides that there is no Appearance of Truth in the ⟨p. 214⟩Inference, the direct contrary rather ensuing on the Proposition laid down; it is built on this Supposition, That besides the provision of matter of Prayer, and the Command of the Duty, the Lord Christ hath not moreover promised, doth not communicate unto his Church, such Spiritual Aids and Assistances, as shall enable them, without any other outward pretended Helps, to pray according unto the Mind of God: Which we must not admit, if we intend to be Christians. In like manner he hath provided the whole Subject Matter of Preaching, and commanded all his Ministers to Preach: But it doth not hence follow, that they may all or any of them make one Sermon, to constantly read in all Assemblies of Christians, without any variation; unless we shall grant also, that he ceaseth to Give gifts unto Men, for the Work of the Ministry. Our Enquiry therefore will be, what Place or Use they may have therein, or in our Duty, as performed by Virtue thereof; which may be expressed in the ensuing Observations:

What the Forms intended are, how composed, how used, how in some Cases imposed, are things so known to all, that we shall not need to speak to them. Prayer is God's Institution; and the Reading of these Forms, is that which Men have made, and set up in the Likeness thereof, or in Compliance with it. For it is said, That the Lord Christ having provided the Matter of Prayer, and commanded us to pray, it is left unto us or others, to Compose Prayer, as unto the Manner of it, as we or they shall see cause. But besides that there is no Appearance of Truth in the ⟨p. 214⟩Inference, the direct contrary rather insuing on the Proposition laid down; it is built on this Supposition, That besides the provision of matter of Prayer, and the Command of the Duty, the Lord Christ hath not moreover promised, doth not communicate unto his Church, such Spiritual Aids and Assistances, as shall enable them, without any other outward pretended Helps, to pray according unto the Mind of God: Which we must not admit, if we intend to be Christians. In like manner he hath provided the whole Subject Matter of Preaching, and commanded all his Ministers to Preach: But it doth not hence follow, that they may all or any of them make one Sermon, to constantly read in all Assemblies of Christians, without any variation; unless we shall grant also, that he ceaseth to Give gifts unto Men, for the Work of the Ministry. Our Enquiry therefore will be, what Place or Use they may have therein, or in our Duty, as performed by Vertue thereof; which may be expressed in the ensuing Observations: