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evident_a by_o the_o experience_n of_o many_o good_a christian_n who_o daily_o serve_v god_n in_o the_o use_n of_o form_n which_o be_v not_o their_o own_o but_o the_o word_n of_o other_o so_o that_o neither_o word_n in_o general_a nor_o our_o own_o in_o particular_a be_v absolute_o necessary_a or_o essential_a to_o the_o duty_n of_o prayer_n and_o consequent_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n can_v be_v proper_o say_v to_o consist_v in_o they_o which_o be_v the_o thing_n to_o be_v prove_v sir_n i_o be_o force_v to_o break_v off_o here_o intend_v god_n willing_a to_o give_v you_o a_o far_a account_n of_o this_o matter_n in_o my_o next_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n when_o you_o have_v chew_v the_o cud_n upon_o this_o
i_o expect_v your_o answer_n i_o be_o sir_n your_o affectionate_a friend_n and_o wellwisher_a m._n h._n march_n 13._o 1696._o letter_n ii_o to_o j._n m._n i_o be_v force_v to_o break_v off_o in_o my_o last_o before_o i_o have_v finish_v my_o argument_n which_o i_o shall_v therefore_o pursue_v a_o little_a far_o in_o this_o that_o you_o may_v the_o better_o see_v the_o force_n of_o it_o and_o how_o to_o shape_v your_o reply_n to_o it_o but_o still_o i_o must_v mind_v you_o to_o keep_v close_o for_o there_o be_v all_o the_o danger_n and_o i_o assure_v you_o i_o be_o more_o afraid_a of_o your_o excursion_n than_o of_o your_o argument_n the_o question_n in_o debate_n be_v concern_v the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n scil_n whether_o it_o consist_v in_o a_o faculty_n of_o express_v ourselves_o unto_o god_n in_o our_o own_o new_a and_o vary_a word_n or_o in_o the_o pious_a motion_n and_o elevation_n of_o the_o heart_n unto_o he_o against_o the_o former_a which_o both_o your_o paper_n and_o 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there_o but_o you_o must_v needs_o have_v a_o external_a verbal_a gift_n make_v up_o of_o new_a word_n and_o phrase_n to_o serve_v upon_o occasion_n and_o this_o again_o be_v your_o gift_n of_o prayer_n furthermore_o you_o distinguish_v between_o a_o acceptable_a way_n of_o pray_v with_o respect_n to_o god_n which_o be_v the_o right_a performance_n of_o this_o duty_n and_o this_o you_o very_o well_o place_n in_o the_o inward_a desire_n and_o elevation_n of_o the_o heart_n now_o the_o other_o member_n of_o this_o distinction_n must_v be_v a_o acceptable_a way_n of_o pray_v with_o respect_n to_o man_n and_o this_o may_v lie_v in_o new_a and_o vary_a word_n which_o be_v most_o apt_a to_o tickle_v the_o itch_a ear_n and_o please_v the_o fancy_n of_o vain_a man_n and_o this_o be_v your_o gift_n because_o you_o say_v old_a word_n be_v good_a for_o nothing_o but_o to_o dull_a and_o deaden_a you_o devotion_n again_o you_o distinguish_v between_o a_o moral_a or_o theological_a way_n of_o 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mingle_v with_o their_o affect_a groan_n render_v it_o rather_o a_o scene_n of_o mockery_n than_o devotion_n you_o know_v sir_n verba_fw-la dare_fw-mi be_v to_o deceive_v and_o that_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o guile_n and_o hypocrisy_n lie_v under_o the_o pomp_n and_o flourish_n of_o word_n one_o will_v think_v sir_n that_o when_o god_n say_v my_o son_n give_v i_o thy_o heart_n he_o have_v plain_o direct_v to_o the_o gift_n he_o expect_v in_o prayer_n but_o instead_o of_o that_o you_o give_v he_o the_o tongue_n and_o offer_v up_o the_o calf_n of_o the_o lip_n and_o with_o the_o heathen_n think_v he_o delight_v with_o the_o gift_n of_o much_o speak_v it_o be_v too_o evident_a sir_n by_o both_o your_o letter_n that_o you_o can_v yet_o discern_v between_o the_o gift_n of_o speech_n and_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n for_o you_o confound_v and_o take_v one_o for_o the_o other_o without_o know_v it_o as_o you_o may_v plain_o see_v by_o this_o argument_n the_o ability_n of_o expression_n be_v 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come_v prepare_v with_o suitable_a affection_n to_o join_v in_o it_o in_o the_o latter_a man_n be_v uncertain_a what_o will_v be_v ask_v or_o offer_v up_o they_o must_v be_v uncertain_a too_o whether_o they_o may_v safe_o join_v or_o say_v amen_o to_o it_o again_o by_o man_n join_v together_o in_o public_a well_o compose_v term_n unity_n and_o order_n may_v be_v preserve_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o decency_n and_o harmony_n of_o public_a worship_n may_v be_v secure_v 1.10_o 1_o cor._n 1.10_o for_o hereby_o according_a to_o the_o apostle_n direction_n they_o may_v be_v enable_v to_o mind_n and_o speak_v the_o same_o thing_n 3.16_o phil._n 3.16_o whereas_o by_o the_o liberty_n of_o free_a prayer_n man_n may_v vent_v what_o they_o please_v they_o may_v and_o often_o do_v pray_v one_o against_o another_o and_o mingle_v their_o passion_n and_o error_n with_o their_o prayer_n by_o which_o mean_v confusion_n must_v necessary_o break_v in_o and_o sect_n and_o schism_n be_v 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consider_v whether_o join_v together_o in_o the_o same_o pious_a and_o public_a prayer_n appoint_v by_o the_o church_n be_v not_o a_o better_a mean_n to_o preserve_v this_o unity_n and_o order_n than_o to_o leave_v man_n to_o the_o freedom_n of_o vent_v and_o hear_v what_o prayer_n they_o please_v which_o must_v necessary_o distract_v their_o mind_n and_o lead_v they_o into_o great_a confusion_n and_o disorder_n but_o i_o find_v two_o objection_n in_o your_o letter_n against_o public_a establish_v form_n and_o for_o the_o exercise_n of_o free_a prayer_n the_o one_o be_v take_v from_o the_o variety_n of_o emergent_a accident_n and_o occasion_n of_o humane_a life_n which_o can_v be_v so_o well_o provide_v for_o by_o form_n as_o by_o free_a prayet_n the_o other_o be_v take_v from_o the_o tendency_n of_o the_o constant_a use_n of_o form_n to_o flatten_a and_o dull_a the_o devotion_n which_o must_v therefore_o be_v quicken_v by_o the_o help_n of_o new_a and_o vary_a prayer_n i_o shall_v show_v both_o these_o to_o be_v popular_a mistake_v and_o bring_v on_o great_a mischief_n than_o they_o pretend_v to_o remedy_n and_o when_o that_o be_v do_v i_o shall_v consider_v what_o you_o offer_v from_o bishop_n hall_n and_o bishop_n wilkins_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n i_o be_o sir_n your_o hearty_a friend_n and_o wellwisher_n m._n h._n apr._n 15_o 1697._o letter_n viii_o to_o j._n m._n sir_n i_o promise_v in_o my_o last_o a_o answer_n to_o two_o popular_a objection_n against_o form_n of_o prayer_n which_o i_o find_v you_o make_v use_n of_o as_o argument_n for_o your_o free_a prayer_n the_o first_o whereof_o be_v take_v from_o the_o variety_n of_o emergent_a accident_n and_o occasion_n which_o you_o say_v can_v be_v so_o well_o provide_v for_o by_o form_n as_o by_o free_a prayer_n now_o i_o will_v not_o have_v you_o be_v too_o positive_a and_o confident_a in_o this_o matter_n till_o you_o have_v well_o weigh_v these_o follow_a consideration_n viz._n first_o the_o daily_a and_o 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the_o daily_a the_o other_o in_o the_o communion_n service_n of_o the_o church_n where_o the_o general_a aberration_n of_o humane_a life_n in_o thought_n word_n and_o deed_n be_v so_o pious_o and_o pithy_o express_v that_o every_o true_a penitent_a christian_a may_v and_o aught_o with_o one_o heart_n and_o one_o mouth_n to_o join_v in_o they_o but_o these_o you_o say_v float_v too_o much_o in_o generality_n but_o must_v not_o the_o public_a confession_n be_v so_o general_n that_o all_o man_n may_v be_v able_a to_o make_v it_o will_v you_o have_v it_o descend_v to_o those_o particular_a sin_n which_o many_o be_v not_o guilty_a of_o and_o so_o make_v they_o confess_v that_o to_o god_n with_o which_o they_o can_v charge_v themselves_o there_o be_v many_o not_o doubt_n in_o every_o congregation_n that_o never_o commit_v murder_n or_o adultery_n by_o take_v away_o the_o life_n or_o chastity_n of_o any_o person_n and_o will_v
i_o a_o sad_a story_n of_o you_o and_o other_o misfortune_n in_o fall_v under_o the_o misery_n of_o bad_a time_n have_v your_o study_n rifle_v and_o your_o book_n take_v from_o you_o now_o though_o this_o be_v a_o sad_a calamity_n and_o just_o deserve_v pity_n yet_o here_o it_o be_v a_o deplorable_a excursion_n and_o serve_v for_o no_o other_o end_n but_o to_o let_v we_o know_v that_o you_o be_v force_v now_o to_o speak_v without_o book_n which_o will_v easy_o be_v believe_v next_o you_o take_v a_o leap_n into_o the_o apocrypha_fw-la and_o fall_v upon_o the_o story_n of_o tobit_n and_o judith_n and_o to_o show_v what_o a_o canonical_a man_n you_o be_v damn_v all_o the_o apocryphal_a book_n as_o unworthy_a to_o be_v read_v by_o christian_n upon_o any_o occasion_n admirable_a well_o to_o the_o purpose_n still_o and_o about_o as_o near_o to_o it_o as_o east_n be_v to_o the_o west_n in_o read_v a_o little_a far_o i_o find_v you_o take_v another_o jump_n into_o france_n for_o speak_v of_o 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of_o this_o that_o it_o be_v a_o perfect_a penance_n to_o go_v through_o with_o it_o however_o i_o resolve_v god_n will_v let_v the_o task_n be_v as_o irksome_a and_o unpleasant_a as_o it_o will_v to_o go_v through_o by_o the_o next_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n as_o far_o as_o we_o have_v go_v already_o what_o think_v you_o sir_n be_v the_o foremention_v particular_n excursion_n or_o no_o or_o rather_o be_v they_o not_o a_o plain_a run_v away_o be_v you_o not_o sufficient_o warn_v and_o tell_v of_o this_o that_o it_o be_v the_o loss_n of_o the_o battle_n and_o yet_o sir_n can_v you_o not_o stand_v the_o first_o brunt_n but_o must_v betake_v yourself_o to_o slight_a upon_o the_o first_o attack_v and_o can_v you_o think_v i_o will_v run_v all_o the_o kingdom_n over_o after_o you_o yea_o out_o of_o the_o kingdom_n too_o and_o cross_v the_o sea_n in_o the_o pursuit_n at_o present_a sir_n i_o have_v no_o time_n for_o it_o but_o hereafter_o i_o may_v have_v more_o time_n to_o follow_v the_o 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must_v bring_v you_o back_o in_o my_o next_o in_o a_o word_n all_o the_o rubbish_n of_o your_o letter_n must_v be_v remove_v and_o when_o that_o be_v go_v we_o shall_v see_v what_o little_a sense_n and_o reason_n be_v leave_v but_o real_o sir_n i_o be_o loath_a to_o let_v this_o letter_n altogether_o pass_v without_o something_o for_o your_o edification_n and_o because_o matter_n must_v be_v instill_v into_o you_o by_o degree_n i_o will_v tell_v you_o where_o the_o mistake_n lie_v true_o your_o great_a unhappiness_n of_o which_o i_o give_v you_o a_o hint_n in_o my_o last_o be_v that_o you_o can_v discern_v betwixt_o the_o gift_n of_o speech_n and_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n between_o which_o there_o be_v a_o manifest_a difference_n but_o instead_o of_o that_o you_o distinguish_v between_o the_o gift_n and_o grace_n of_o prayer_n where_o there_o be_v none_o for_o here_o if_o the_o term_n be_v identical_a and_o import_v the_o same_o thing_n the_o distinction_n must_v be_v frivolous_a 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