Five disputations of church-government and worship

Object. 4. But prayer is a speaking to God: and therefore men should say nothing but what is exactly weighed before hand.¹

1. 1Object. 4.

Answ. 1. We grant all this. But men may weigh before hand the matter of their requests, without preparing a form of words: or a man may fore-consider of his words, without a Prayer-book. 2. Preaching is a speaking in Gods name, as though God speak by us, and as Christs ambassadors in his stead. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. And to speak as in Christs stead, and Gods name, requireth as great preparation, as to speak to God in the peoples name. It seems more, as it were to represent Christ in speaking▪ then to speak to Christ while we represent but the people. And therefore by this argument you should let no man preach neither, but by a book prescribed. 3. God is not as man, that looks most at oratory and fine words. It is an humble, contrite, faithful, honest heart that he looks at: And where he sees this, with earnest desires, and that the matter of Prayer is agreeable to his will, he will bear with many a homely word. One Cold request, or the lest formality and dullness of affection, and carelessness and disesteem of the mercy, is more odious with God, then a thousand Barbarisms, and Solecisms, and unhandsome words. Yet the tongue also should carefully be looked to: but men should not mistake themselves, and think that God judgeth by the outward appearance, and as man judgeth▪ 4. Still I say, get Ministers that are able to do better if you have insufficient ones. A man on a common prayer-book is likelier to provoke God, by a careless, heartless, customary service, and mere lip labour, let the the words be never so exact, then another (that fears God) is like to provoke him by disorderly or unhandsome words: Though both should be avoided.