Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 15. 9. Though God hath commanded us to Preach the Gospel, and told us what to preach, and given us general Rules for our direction, yet hath he not told us what text, or subject we shall preach on such or such a day: nor yet what Method we shall follow, there being various methods, suitable to several Texts and people: It is left therefore to humane prudence to choose both Subject, Text and Method.

§. 15. 9. Though God hath commanded us to Preach the Gospell, and told us what to preach, and given us generall Rules for our direction, yet hath he not told us what text, or subject we shall preach on such or such a day: nor yet what Method we shall follow, there being various methods, sutable to severall Texts and people: It is left therefore to humane prudence to choose both Subject, Text and Method.

§. 16. 10. God that hath commanded us to pray, and praise him, and preach, &c. hath not told us just what words we shall use in any of these holy exercises. He hath indeed given us the Lords Prayer, which is our Rule for matter, and Method, and a lawful form for words: but he hath not tied us to this only, nor told us what words we shall use besides this: whether we shall use words long before premeditated (called a form) or only such as are immediately or near before our speaking premeditated, or in speaking, adapted to the matter in hand? whether our premeditated prayers shall be expressed in our own words, or such as are prescribed us by others? whether such forms shall be expressed in Scripture words or not? whether we shall sing the Psalms of David, or compose any Evangelical Hymns our selves? whether many Churches shall use one and the same form of words, or various? whether our Sermons, and Catechisms, and Confessions of faith, shall be a studied or prescribed form of words, or the matter and method only studied? &c These, with many other such like, are left by God, as things undetermined, that men may determine of them prudentially as occasions require, according to his directions.

§. 16. 10. God that hath commanded us to pray, and praise him, and preach, &c. hath not told us just what words we shall use in any of these holy exercises. He hath indeed given us the Lords Prayer, which is our Rule for matter, and Method, and a lawfull form for words: but he hath not tyed us to this only, nor told us what words we shall use besides this: whether we shall use words long before premeditated (call'd a form) or only such as are immediately or neer before our speaking premeditated, or in speaking, adapted to the matter in hand? whether our premeditated prayers shall be expressed in our own words, or such as are prescribed us by others? whether such forms shall be expressed in Scripture words or not? whether we shall sing the Psalms of David, or compose any Evangelical Hymns our selves? whether many Churches shall use one and the same form of words, or various? whether our Sermons, and Catechisms, and Confessions of faith, shall be a studied or prescribed form of words, or the matter and method only studied? &c These, with many other such like, are left by God, as things undetermined, that men may determine of them prudentially as occasions require, according to his directions.