A80626:52
A modest and clear answer to Mr. Ball's discourse of set forms of prayer.…A modest and cleer ansvver to Mr. Ball's discourse of set formes of prayer.…
A modest and clear answer to Mr. Ball's discourse of set forms of prayer. Written by the reverend and learned John Cotton, B.D. and teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston in New-England. Published for the benefit of those who desire satisfaction in that pointA modest and cleer ansvver to Mr. Ball's discourse of set formes of prayer. Written by the reverend and learned John Cotton, B.D. and teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston in New-England. Published for the benefit of those who desire satisfaction in that point
London: printed for H. Overton, 1642
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.
But all things essential to prayer, and necessarily required in the Word of God may be observed in read prayer, or in a prescript form; what is required in holy prayer, more then that the matter be allowable and fit, the manner holy, reverend, faithful, your hearts laid open, and petitions forced with as strong, or stronger Reasons than we are able of our selves to press them with all; and may not a prayer holy and fit for the matter ⟨p. 14⟩thereof be read with knowledge, feeling of our wants, earnestness of our desires, holiness of our affection, and faith in Gods promises.
But all things essentiall to prayer, and necessarily required in the Word of God may be observed in read prayer, or in a prescript forme; what is required in holy prayer, more then that the matter be allowable and fit, the manner holy, reverend, faithfull, your hearts laid open, and petitions forced with as strong, or stronger Reasons than we are able of our selves to presse them with all; and may not a prayer holy and fit for the matter ⟨p. 14⟩thereof be read with knowledge, feeling of our wants, earnestnesse of our desires, holinesse of our affection, and faith in Gods promises.
Answ. There is more required to a faithful holy prayer, then allowable and fit matter, and holy inward manner, in the good affections of the heart, for an outward holy manner is required likewise, else a man might pray to God allowable and fit petitions before an Image; and I deny not, but that God may sometimes assist a man in such a prayer with holy manner of inward gracious affections: as for instance, holy Bilney might find his heart warmed in prayer to Christ, when he looked at him as really present in the Sacrament, or else he would never have called so zealously on the people to turn all that adoration of dead Images to the adoration of Christ in the blessed Sacrament; nevertheless such a prayer was unlawful, through a defect in the outward manner of it: an outward means being called in for help in prayer, which God had not sanctified for that end.