A53685:308
A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief…
A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief enquiry into the nature and use of mental prayer and forms / by John Owen ...
London: printed for Nathanael Ponder, 1682
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.
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.
2. To Read, Consider and Meditate upon such written Prayers, as to the matter and Arguments of Prayer expressed in them, composed by Persons from their own Experience and the Light of Scripture directions, or to make use of Expressions set down in them where the Hearts of them that read them are really affected, because they find their state and Condition, their wants and desires declared in them, is not unlawful, but may be of good use unto some; though I must acknowledge I never heard any expressing any great benefit which