§. 81. Direction to conceive a Prayer.§. 81. Direction to conceiue a Prayer.

§. 81. Direction to conceive a Prayer.

§. 81. Direction to conceiue a Prayer.

IF the weakest Christians do but carefully observe the order that others use, and withal take notice of their own sins in particular, of their particular wants, and of the particular blessings which God bestoweth on them, they may with use and practise come to conceive a good Prayer. And when once in any competent measure they can pray for themselves, by degrees they come to pray for others also. But many are too idle and sluggish in making trial: they will not offer to make experience of the gift of Gods Spirit: but rather utterly quench it; as a man may do, and too many so do, by tying themselves too much to set forms.

IF the weakest Christians doe but carefully obserue the order that others vse, and withall take notice of their owne sinnes in particular, of their particular wants, and of the particular blessings which God bestoweth on them, they may with vse and practise come to conceiue a good Prayer. And when once in any competent measure they can pray for themselues, by degrees they come to pray for others also. But many are too idle and sluggish in making triall: they will not offer to make experience of the gift of Gods Spirit: but rather vtterly quench it; as a man may doe, and too many so doe, by tying themselues too much to set formes.

Though public liturgies for uniformity sake are to be constantly used in set forms (provided that there be several prayers fit for divers, yea, for all public occasions so near as may be) yet it is not so meet for particular persons always to tie themselves to one set form. For what can that argue but that they little observe Gods different manner of dealing with them at several times.

Though publike leiturgies for vniformity sake are to be constantly vsed in set formes (prouided that there be seuerall prayers fit for diuers, yea, for all publike occasions so neere as may be) yet it is not so meete for particular persons alwayes to tie themselues to one set forme. For what can that argue but that they little obserue Gods different manner of dealing with them at seuerall times.