A64635:328
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome…
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Beadles upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Bedels upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.
London: printed for John Crook, 1659
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.
In that Chapt. of public prayers. He thus beginneth. If that mind be in us, with the which we have been taught to come to all holy exercises, and so to be prepared for them; who doubteth, but that we may receive much help by them? yea, and the better a man is, the more he shall profit by them, &c. Some have thought all set forms of ⟨p. 318⟩prayer are to be disliked, and such only to be offered up to God, as by extemporary gift, are conceived, and uttered; And that the Minister should use no set form of prayer, but as they are moved by Gods spirit.
In that Chapt. of publick prayers. He thus beginneth. If that mind be in us, with the which we have been taught to come to all holy exercises, and so to be prepared for them; who doubteth, but that we may receive much help by them? yea, and the better a man is, the more he shall profit by them, &c. Some have thought all set forms of ⟨p. 318⟩prayer are to be disliked, and such onely to be offered up to God, as by extemporary gift, are conceived, and uttered; And that the Minister should use no set form of prayer, but as they are moved by Gods spirit.
I answer. It is a foul error so to think. For as there be necessary things to be prayed for of all men, and always, and those are the most things which we are to pray to the Lord for, so there may be a prescript form of prayer made concerning all such things; which being so, what letteth that in the reading of such forms, either of confessing of sins, request, or thanksgiving; what letteth, I say, that the •earers hearts may not profitably go on with the same, both to humble, to quicken and to comfort: For is the reading it self ⟨p. 319⟩unpure, when the Minister in his own behalf, and the peoples, uttereth them to God; I speak not (ye see) of the matter of prayer, but of reading it, for if the matter be erroneous, and naught, the pronouncing of it, maketh it not good, any more then the reading doth; and if it be good and pure being uttered or pronounced, the reading cannot hurt it, or make it evil. And as the Church in the Scripture did, and doth sing Psalms upon a book to God, and yet, though it utter a prescript form of words, I hope none will say that it is a sin to do so, the heart being prepared. In like manner to follow a prescript form of words in praying is no sin, and therefore ought not to be offensive to any, &c.