Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from several texts of Scripture, opened and applied. 1.…Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from severall texts of Scripture, opened and applyed. 1.…

That a set Form of Prayer is Lawful, much need not to be said, the very newness of the contrary opinion is enough to show the vanity and f•l•enesse of it: It being contrary to the Judgment of approved Councils, Learned Fathers, and the continual Practise of the Church.

That a set Forme of Prayer is Lawful, much need not to be said, the very newnesse of the contrary opinion is enough to shew the vanity and f•l•enesse of it: It being contrary to the Judgment of approved Councells, Learned Fathers, and the continual Practise of the Church.

Tertullian, who lived not much above an hundred years after the Apostles death, saith in his Book de Oratione, Premissa Legitima & ordinaria Oratione, Jus est superstruendi Petitiones, &c, which showeth that they had some ordinary set allowed Prayers, to which, afterwards some were added at more Liberty. In Origen's time, who lived very near Tertullian's time: It is evident that there were set Fo•mes of Prayer used in the Church: for in his 11th Homily upon Jeremiah, he •epeath and expoundeth some passages of them, upon which occasion Ill•ricus saith. Tunc temporis certas quasd•m formulas ⟨p. 17⟩orationum sine dubio habuerunt. Basil in his 63. Epistle saith, that in his time there were Litanies used in the Neocesarean Churches, and Ambrose in his time affirmeth: Usum Lae. taniarum ubique esse frequentem. Constantine the Great prescribed a set Form of Prayer to his Soldiers, set down by Eusebius in his fourth Book. And Calvin in his 83. Epistle to the Protector of England saith, that he doth greatly allow a set Form of Ecclesiastical Prayers, which the Ministers should be bound to observe.