Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

Object. 3. I would pray in my Family, but I cannot, I have not the gift of utterance and expression?

Ans. 1. It is better for thee to make use of a form then not to pray at all. I confess, I look upon it as sinful to make use of those Forms of Prayer which are taken out of the Popes Mass-Book, because in so doing men put too much honour upon an Idol. It is also true that the imposition of Forms of Prayer is unwarrantable; yet all use of Forms is not prohibited in the Scripture, witness the Form of Blessing therein expressed. Learned and Judicious Mr. Cartwright doth from Lu. 24. 35. conjecture, that ordinarily Christ used the same words in his Blessing at Meal times, with his Domestic Disciples. Now there is no man of ordinary understanding, but he may attain unto a Form of Prayer; and he had better make use of that, then to live without any worship of God at all in his Family. But I am far from persuading you to take up with Forms. Therefore,

Ans. 1. It is better for thee to make use of a form then not to pray at all. I confess, I look upon it as sinful to make use of those Forms of Prayer which are taken out of the Popes Mass-Book, because in so doing men put too much honour upon an Idol. It is also true that the imposition of Forms of Prayer is unwarrantable; yet all use of Forms is not prohibited in the Scripture, witness the Form of Blessing therein expressed. Learned and Judicious Mr. Cartwright doth from Lu. 24. 35. conjecture, that ordinarily Christ used the same words in his Blessing at Meal times, with his Domestick Disciples. Now there is no man of ordinary understanding, but he may attain unto a Form of Prayer; and he had better make use of that, then to live without any worship of God at all in his Family. But I am far from perswading you to take up with Forms. Therefore,

2. Practise, and that will make you able. As in other things practice maketh men ready and able; so it is in respect of the gift of prayer.