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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
church_n doctrine_n faith_n fundamental_a 4,018 5 9.9481 5 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A80626 A 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 Cotton, John, 1584-1652. 1642 (1642) Wing C6444; ESTC R212884 45,765 95

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just_o be_v demand_v when_o do_v god_n speak_v one_o word_n of_o they_o and_o therefore_o what_o have_v we_o to_o do_v with_o they_o if_o it_o be_v say_v as_o god_n never_o speak_v word_n of_o read_v prayer_n within_o book_n so_o never_o do_v he_o speak_v word_n of_o pronounce_v prayer_n without_o book_n the_o text_n do_v plain_o enough_o express_v the_o contrary_a for_o the_o word_n of_o god_n speak_v express_o that_o christ_n lift_v up_o his_o eye_n to_o heaven_n in_o prayer_n john_n 17.1_o &_o 11.41_o so_o do_v david_n psalm_n 123.1_o and_o god_n have_v ingraff_v it_o in_o the_o heart_n of_o all_o his_o people_n to_o express_v the_o lift_n up_o of_o their_o soul_n their_o faith_n and_o hope_n and_o desire_n to_o god_n by_o lift_v up_o their_o eye_n steadfast_o to_o heaven_n in_o prayer_n yea_o god_n have_v ingraff_v it_o in_o the_o heart_n of_o all_o man_n and_o even_o put_v some_o kind_n of_o instinct_n into_o all_o live_a creature_n to_o lift_v up_o their_o eye_n to_o heaven_n for_o what_o they_o want_v psal_n 145.15_o now_o if_o the_o lift_n up_o of_o the_o eye_n to_o heaven_n in_o prayer_n be_v express_o mention_v in_o the_o word_n then_o how_o can_v it_o be_v true_o say_v that_o god_n never_o speak_v word_n of_o prayer_n without_o book_n for_o they_o that_o lift_v up_o their_o eye_n steadfast_o to_o heaven_n in_o prayer_n can_v without_o some_o distraction_n cast_v they_o down_o in_o prayer_n upon_o a_o book_n if_o lift_v up_o of_o the_o eye_n to_o heaven_n in_o prayer_n be_v a_o divine_a institution_n as_o the_o discourse_n say_v even_o now_o if_o it_o be_v a_o external_a mean_n to_o help_v the_o affection_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o prayer_n than_o it_o be_v against_o the_o institution_n and_o a_o hindrance_n to_o prayer_n instead_o of_o a_o help_n to_o set_v a_o man_n self_n or_o other_o a_o form_n of_o read_v prayer_n wherein_o while_o he_o be_v read_v he_o must_v usual_o cast_v down_o his_o eye_n upon_o a_o book_n chap._n vi_o tend_v to_o give_v 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man_n of_o god_n unserviceable_a for_o his_o place_n though_o read_v and_o pronounce_v of_o a_o thing_n be_v both_o of_o they_o adjunct_n and_o common_a adjunct_n too_o to_o that_o which_o be_v pronounce_v or_o read_v yet_o according_a to_o the_o end_n and_o subject_n to_o which_o they_o may_v be_v apply_v the_o one_o may_v be_v lawful_a the_o other_o not_o indifferent_a but_o sinful_a the_o read_n of_o a_o sermon_n for_o preach_v be_v a_o sinful_a manner_n of_o preach_v the_o difference_n will_v ever_o hold_v between_o the_o word_n read_v and_o preach_v they_o be_v two_o distinct_a ordinance_n chap._n ix_o answer_v unto_o the_o eight_o reason_n the_o jew_n before_o the_o come_n of_o christ_n use_v a_o prescript_n form_n of_o prayer_n as_o it_o be_v probable_a and_o the_o learned_a note_n in_o the_o celebration_n of_o the_o passover_n and_o that_o which_o they_o use_v as_o be_v very_o probable_a be_v approve_v by_o christ_n himself_o answ_n that_o the_o jew_n before_o the_o come_n of_o christ_n do_v use_v certain_a rite_n in_o keep_v the_o passover_n it_o do_v appear_v by_o the_o testimony_n allege_v as_o also_o by_o causabon_n and_o other_o and_o that_o some_o form_n of_o prayer_n they_o use_v according_a as_o the_o several_a passage_n of_o the_o passeover_n require_v but_o it_o do_v not_o at_o all_o appear_v that_o they_o use_v any_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n but_o only_o to_o that_o and_o the_o like_a effect_n and_o that_o not_o by_o prescript_n or_o injunction_n from_o one_o to_o another_o but_o leave_v every_o father_n of_o a_o family_n at_o his_o liberty_n therein_o much_o less_o will_v it_o appear_v that_o our_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n take_v up_o any_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n by_o their_o example_n and_o least_o of_o all_o from_o their_o injunction_n chap._n x._o give_v answer_n to_o the_o nine_o reason_n disc_n all_o the_o reform_a church_n at_o this_o day_n do_v not_o only_o tolerate_v but_o approve_v a_o set_a form_n of_o liturgy_n etc._n etc._n answ_n we_o count_v it_o a_o safe_a course_n to_o bewail_v our_o own_o sin_n and_o the_o sin_n of_o our_o father_n whereby_o we_o have_v pollute_v the_o holy_a thing_n of_o god_n more_o or_o less_o rather_o than_o to_o justify_v our_o own_o alteration_n from_o the_o rule_n by_o their_o precedent_n ●reat_a cause_n we_o have_v to_o bless_v the_o lord_n for_o the_o ●reat_a light_n which_o the_o instrument_n who_o god_n ●●ed_v in_o reform_v all_o protestant_a church_n bring_v into_o the_o dark_a world_n and_o leave_v behind_o they_o and_o yet_o it_o be_v well_o know_v in_o some_o thing_n or_o other_o all_o of_o they_o more_o or_o less_o fail_v and_o it_o be_v more_o wonder_n they_o shall_v see_v so_o much_o truth_n out_o of_o the_o midst_n of_o darkness_n then_o that_o they_o who_o see_v so_o much_o shall_v fail_v in_o any_o thing_n but_o whereinsoever_o they_o fail_v the_o generation_n that_o have_v come_v after_o they_o have_v too_o close_o and_o ungodly_a stick_v to_o their_o example_n yea_o and_o have_v be_v more_o zealous_a in_o the_o defence_n thereof_o than_o have_v seek_v to_o perfect_v what_o they_o less_o defective_a yet_o this_o we_o may_v true_o affirm_v that_o we_o know_v none_o of_o all_o the_o reform_a foreign_a church_n that_o do_v prescribe_v a_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n with_o necessity_n to_o be_v observe_v but_o leave_v their_o minister_n at_o liberty_n to_o use_v the_o same_o or_o some_o other_o form_n to_o the_o like_a effect_n at_o their_o own_o direction_n which_o take_v off_o a_o great_a part_n of_o sin_n and_o burden_n of_o set_a form_n god_n know_v how_o to_o pass_v by_o the_o remnant_n of_o iniquity_n of_o the_o transgression_n of_o they_o that_o seek_v he_o in_o truth_n although_o all_o the_o high_a place_n be_v not_o take_v away_o 2_o chron_n 15.17_o the_o lord_n do_v not_o so_o look_v at_o their_o high_a place_n as_o to_o reject_v his_o people_n for_o idolater_n or_o superstitious_a person_n when_o they_o seek_v he_o in_o truth_n of_o heart_n though_o in_o high_a place_n neither_o yet_o will_v he_o justify_v their_o high_a place_n to_o after_o age_n by_o the_o example_n and_o authority_n of_o their_o ancestor_n far_o be_v it_o from_o we_o to_o censure_v the_o present_a church_n of_o obstinacy_n who_o have_v persist_v in_o the_o precedent_n leave_v by_o our_o holy_a ancestor_n those_o first_o reform_v yet_o neither_o may_v we_o be_v so_o unfaithful_a as_o to_o sow_v pillow_n under_o the_o elbow_n no_o not_o of_o public_a church_n who_o know_v not_o they_o have_v all_o be_v more_o studious_a and_o tenacious_a of_o what_o form_n the_o doctrine_n and_o worship_n and_o discipline_n be_v leave_v unto_o they_o then_o inquisitive_a after_o far_a light_n yea_o sometime_o more_o inclinable_a to_o look_v back_o into_o egypt_n than_o to_o hasten_v towards_o canaan_n it_o be_v true_a we_o have_v cause_n to_o suspect_v ourselves_o of_o error_n rather_o than_o so_o many_o glorious_a light_n of_o former_a and_o present_a time_n to_o wit_n if_o our_o faith_n be_v build_v upon_o ourselves_o we_o shall_v prefer_v their_o judgement_n and_o testimony_n before_o our_o own_o but_o see_v our_o faith_n rest_v only_o on_o the_o word_n of_o the_o lord_n and_o his_o spirit_n breathe_v therein_o and_o the_o word_n have_v promise_v more_o and_o more_o light_a shall_v break_v forth_o in_o these_o time_n till_o antichrist_n be_v utter_o consume_v and_o abolish_v we_o shall_v sin_v against_o the_o grace_n and_o word_n of_o truth_n if_o we_o confine_v our_o truth_n either_o to_o the_o divine_n of_o present_a or_o former_a age_n disc_n be_v that_o all_o the_o church_n may_v err_v in_o this_o yet_o i_o hope_v no_o moderate_a man_n can_v censure_v they_o of_o obstinacy_n as_o man_n not_o willing_a to_o consent_v to_o the_o truth_n show_v and_o manifest_v how_o then_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o none_o of_o they_o hitherto_o have_v subscribe_v to_o this_o opinion_n and_o to_o the_o practice_n of_o our_o brethren_n of_o the_o separation_n the_o true_a church_n of_o god_n can_v err_v fundamental_o nor_o obstinate_o against_o knowledge_n but_o how_o can_v they_o be_v free_v from_o one_o of_o these_o let_v the_o opposite_n themselves_o judge_v answ_n though_o we_o do_v not_o believe_v as_o you_o do_v that_o the_o true_a church_n of_o christ_n can_v err_v fundamental_o but_o do_v conceive_v for_o a_o time_n they_o may_v as_o the_o church_n of_o israel_n in_o the_o golden_a calf_n and_o afterward_o more_o dangerous_o in_o the_o crucify_a of_o christ_n and_o many_o christian_a church_n almost_o all_o in_o that_o time_n when_o hierome_n complain_v the_o whole_a world_n be_v become_v a_o arian_n yet_o we_o do_v not_o look_v at_o the_o read_n of_o devise_a prescript_n form_n as_o a_o
fundamental_a error_n howbeit_o any_o error_n or_o sin_n persist_v in_o against_o light_n will_v in_o time_n argue_v a_o unsound_a and_o corrupt_a heart_n in_o the_o bottom_n and_o although_o we_o dare_v not_o excuse_v true_a church_n as_o you_o do_v from_o possibility_n of_o obstinacy_n at_o least_o in_o some_o degree_n for_o we_o see_v moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n often_o tax_v the_o church_n of_o israel_n of_o rebellion_n and_o obstinacy_n deut._n 31.27_o jer._n 22.21_o ezek._n 3.7_o yet_o we_o dare_v not_o think_v that_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n do_v sin_n of_o obstinacy_n especial_o of_o reign_v obstinacy_n in_o this_o case_n for_o many_o of_o they_o never_o see_v the_o ground_n as_o have_v bear_v witness_n against_o set_n and_o prescript_n read_v form_n of_o prayer_n and_o those_o that_o have_v see_v their_o ground_n have_v not_o be_v convince_v of_o the_o solidity_n of_o they_o and_o therefore_o may_v not_o be_v charge_v with_o obstinacy_n till_o after_o they_o have_v be_v convict_v of_o sin_n herein_o and_o yet_o persist_v herein_o against_o light_n of_o conscience_n which_o god_n forbid_v this_o reason_n from_o the_o judgement_n and_o practice_n of_o other_o church_n have_v be_v wont_a to_o be_v of_o great_a force_n in_o former_a time_n otherwise_o the_o apostle_n will_v never_o have_v allege_v the_o practice_n and_o consent_n of_o the_o church_n to_o confirm_v the_o faithful_a and_o to_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o the_o contentious_a act_v 15.22.28_o 1_o cor._n 11.16_o and_o 14.34_o answ_n the_o argument_n from_o the_o practice_n and_o judgement_n of_o church_n be_v of_o great_a force_n in_o the_o apostle_n time_n than_o ever_o since_o the_o estate_n of_o the_o church_n as_o then_o remain_v tanquam_fw-la intemerata_fw-la virgo_fw-la while_o the_o apostle_n and_o the_o apostolic_a man_n live_v man_n that_o can_v not_o err_v themselves_o and_o be_v more_o watchful_a and_o zealous_a than_o to_o suffer_v any_o error_n to_o get_v head_n in_o any_o of_o the_o church_n but_o let_v they_o that_o press_v the_o like_a argument_n now_o let_v they_o show_v we_o the_o like_a infallibillity_n vigilancy_n and_o zeal_n of_o the_o guide_v of_o the_o church_n in_o these_o day_n and_o we_o shall_v ready_o captivate_v our_o own_o judgement_n to_o such_o divine_a testimony_n otherwise_o the_o judgement_n of_o church_n now_o be_v but_o humane_a testimony_n unless_o it_o may_v appear_v ground_v in_o scripture_n warrant_v we_o only_o hearken_v thus_o far_o to_o a_o argument_n take_v from_o the_o church_n as_o reverent_o and_o meek_o to_o attend_v to_o it_o and_o if_o it_o dissent_v from_o scripture_n yet_o still_o to_o bear_v with_o meekness_n and_o patience_n and_o brotherly_a love_n any_o fail_v which_o be_v find_v in_o they_o but_o not_o therefore_o to_o approve_v and_o justify_v all_o their_o proceed_n chap._n xi_o touch_v the_o other_o question_n of_o the_o people_n join_v in_o prayer_n with_o the_o read_n of_o a_o devise_a prescript_n liturgy_n final_o your_o discourse_n come_v along_o to_o make_v good_a a_o three_o assertion_n which_o you_o have_v at_o first_o make_v a_o part_n of_o the_o state_n of_o the_o question_n to_o wit_n disc_n that_o though_o it_o be_v unlawful_a for_o the_o minister_n to_o use_v a_o prescript_n form_n of_o prayer_n yet_o no_o reason_n can_v be_v show_v why_o it_o shall_v be_v unwarrantable_a for_o the_o people_n to_o be_v present_a at_o such_o prayer_n and_o assembly_n answ_n we_o conceive_v that_o good_a reason_n may_v be_v show_v why_o if_o it_o be_v unlawful_a for_o the_o minister_n to_o pray_v upon_o a_o book_n a_o devise_v and_o prescript_n form_n of_o prayer_n it_o be_v unlawful_a likewise_o for_o the_o people_n so_o to_o be_v present_a at_o it_o as_o to_o join_v with_o it_o or_o seem_v to_o join_v with_o it_o our_o first_o reason_n be_v take_v from_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o church_n if_o the_o officer_n or_o minister_n and_o all_o the_o member_n of_o the_o church_n be_v one_o body_n as_o they_o be_v say_v to_o be_v 1_o cor._n 10.17_o the_o sin_n of_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o church_n open_o commit_v in_o the_o public_a worship_n of_o god_n be_v the_o sin_n of_o they_o all_o that_o do_v join_v with_o he_o and_o do_v not_o bear_v witness_n against_o his_o sin_n according_a to_o god_n a_o second_o reason_n may_v be_v take_v from_o the_o compactnesse_n of_o god_n worship_n and_o communion_n which_o all_o the_o member_n in_o the_o church_n have_v in_o it_o all_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n in_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n be_v put_v up_o to_o god_n as_o well_o by_o the_o people_n as_o by_o the_o minister_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d with_o one_o accord_n act_v 1.14_o the_o prayer_n of_o the_o minister_n be_v the_o prayer_n of_o they_o the_o matter_n of_o his_o prayer_n be_v the_o matter_n of_o all_o their_o prayer_n the_o form_n of_o his_o prayer_n i_o speak_v of_o the_o external_a form_n which_o be_v that_o wherein_o they_o can_v join_v be_v the_o form_n of_o they_o if_o then_o it_o be_v unlawful_a for_o the_o minister_n to_o pray_v upon_o a_o book_n a_o devise_a prescript_n form_n of_o prayer_n it_o be_v alike_o unlawful_a for_o the_o people_n to_o join_v with_o he_o disc_n the_o people_n be_v command_v to_o examine_v themselves_o before_o they_o draw_v nigh_o unto_o the_o presence_n of_o god_n but_o not_o to_o examine_v whether_o the_o minister_n pray_v in_o one_o form_n or_o other_o answ_n the_o member_n of_o the_o church_n be_v not_o indeed_o to_o examine_v the_o secret_a sin_n of_o any_o but_o themselves_o but_o the_o open_a sin_n of_o any_o of_o their_o brethren_n they_o ought_v to_o admonish_v one_o another_o thereof_o and_o to_o prevent_v with_o holy_a watchfullnesse_n the_o sin_n of_o one_o another_o else_o the_o sin_n of_o one_o achan_n become_v the_o sin_n and_o plague_n of_o all_o israel_n joshua_n 7.11_o 12._o disc_n if_o the_o minister_n pray_v cold_o as_o they_o say_v all_o read_n of_o stint_a form_n make_v but_o cold_a prayer_n a_o draw_v nigh_o to_o god_n with_o the_o lip_n when_o the_o heart_n be_v far_o from_o he_o yet_o this_o be_v the_o fault_n of_o the_o minister_n only_o not_o of_o all_o that_o be_v present_a for_o such_o may_v be_v the_o minister_n fault_n to_o pray_v cold_o even_o in_o a_o conceive_a form_n answ_n first_o we_o do_v not_o say_v for_o our_o part_n that_o all_o pray_v upon_o a_o book_n or_o institute_v form_n be_v but_o cold_a prayer_n because_o god_n may_v pardon_v the_o ignorance_n of_o his_o people_n and_o accept_v the_o sincerity_n of_o their_o heart_n help_v they_o with_o some_o spiritual_a affection_n even_o in_o such_o prayer_n howbeit_o a_o form_n of_o prayer_n not_o allow_v of_o god_n will_v not_o of_o itself_o affect_v the_o heart_n with_o heavenly_a warmth_n neither_o do_v we_o say_v that_o the_o coldness_n of_o the_o minister_n heart_n in_o prayer_n if_o it_o spring_v from_o the_o inward_a corruption_n of_o his_o own_o spirit_n do_v wrap_v the_o people_n into_o the_o fellowship_n of_o the_o same_o sin_n de_fw-fr secretis_fw-la non_fw-la judicat_fw-la ecclesia_fw-la nor_o be_v it_o defile_v by_o the_o toleration_n of_o secret_a sin_n in_o other_o but_o if_o the_o people_n be_v convince_v that_o the_o read_n of_o prayer_n upon_o a_o book_n prescribe_v to_o they_o by_o man_n be_v a_o sin_n against_o the_o second_o commandment_n and_o so_o no_o true_a help_n or_o mean_n of_o god_n worship_n be_v therefore_o some_o hindrance_n and_o impediment_n to_o it_o than_o the_o people_n shall_v be_v guilty_a not_o only_o of_o the_o fellowship_n of_o those_o form_n of_o prayer_n but_o also_o of_o the_o coldness_n of_o the_o minister_n heart_n therein_o if_o they_o willing_o join_v in_o that_o which_o corrupt_v and_o cool_v his_o spirit_n disc_n coldness_n and_o lip-labour_n in_o prayer_n be_v not_o help_v with_o separation_n but_o by_o join_v the_o inward_a affection_n of_o the_o heart_n with_o the_o outward_a service_n answ_n true_o if_o the_o coldness_n spring_v only_o from_o the_o corruption_n of_o the_o minister_n heart_n and_o not_o from_o the_o unsanctified_a mean_n and_o helpless_a help_n of_o prayer_n which_o he_o use_v to_o wit_n a_o prescript_n form_n of_o book-prayer_n but_o as_o no_o man_n can_v wash_v his_o hand_n from_o sin_n that_o remove_v not_o away_o all_o outward_a occasion_n of_o such_o sin_n as_o much_o as_o in_o he_o lie_v from_o himself_o and_o other_o so_o no_o man_n can_v be_v free_v from_o the_o guilt_n of_o such_o coldness_n as_o the_o minister_n and_o the_o people_n do_v contract_n by_o the_o customary_a use_n of_o such_o devise_a prescript_n form_n of_o prayer_n if_o he_o do_v not_o so_o much_o as_o in_o he_o lie_v remove_v such_o occasion_n of_o evil_a from_o they_o disc_n the_o jew_n use_v a_o stint_a form_n of_o prayer_n