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

Where they are alone used, they are opposite to the Edification of the Church, and where they are imposed to the absolute exclusion of other Prayer, are destructive of its Liberty, and render a good part of the purchase of Christ of none effect.

Things being thus stated, it will be enquired whether the use of such Forms of Prayer is lawful or no. To this Enquiry some thing shall be returned briefly in way ⟨p. 234⟩of Answer, and an End put unto this discourse. And I say,

1. To compose and write Forms of Prayer to be Directive and Doctrinal helps unto others, as to the matter and method to be used in the right discharge of this Duty, is lawful and may in some cases be useful. It were better, it may be, if the same thing were done in another way suited to give direction in the case, and not cast into the Form of a Prayer which is apt to divert the mind from the due consideration of its proper End and use, unto that which is not so. But this way of Instruction is not to be looked on as unlawful merely for the Form and method whereinto it is cast, whilst its true use only is attended unto.

1. To compose and write Forms of Prayer to be Directive and Doctrinal helps unto others, as to the matter and method to be used in the right discharge of this Duty, is lawful and may in some cases be useful. It were better, it may be, if the same thing were done in another way suited to give direction in the case, and not cast into the Form of a Prayer which is apt to divert the mind from the due consideration of its proper End and use, unto that which is not so. But this way of Instruction is not to be looked on as unlawful meerly for the Form and method whereinto it is cast, whilest its true use only is attended unto.