Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prayer_n	book_n	form_n	prescribe_v	2,576	5	9.6098	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54151	The guide mistaken, and temporizing rebuked, or, A brief reply to Jonathan Clapham's book intituled, A guide to the true religion in which his religion is confuted, his hypocrisie is detected, his aspersions are reprehended, his contradictions are compared / by W.P., a friend to the true religion.	Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1668 (1668)	Wing P1301; ESTC R15309	49,937	66

he hits not on the true one What 's this more than to say it's necessary man should do somewhat though he be dam'd for it And if it 's a dream to expect Salvation in being true to some Religion is it not a lethargy of impertinency that it 's necessary to be of some Religion and to live and die in it There are many false Religions in the world p. 15. It 's a mistake to think that there is such a multitude of Religious in the world p. 27. There being such diversities of Religions you had need to have your eyes about you p. 26. There are to speak properly but four Religions p. 28. These cross sayings must needs be manifest to the weakest capacity for if he speaks properly on one side he speaks very improperly on the other Sect. 2. It s not sufficient that it be delivered to you by tradition from Ancestors by education from Godly-Parents commended by the practice of wise and pious persons but make a wise choice for your selves p. 25. Man must discern the verity and certainty of these doctrins that he may venture his soul upon them for which end it s exceeding necessary to be conversant in those treatises which prove the verity of the Christian Religion p. 10. Those that take up Religion because it 's profest in the Country and commended by example how slight are they therein p. 19. I add one Rule of Caution more against a common but dangerous mistake Take heed of setting up your own apprehensions of the sense of Scripture though Fundamentals are plainly laid down yet points controverted are hidden from ordinary understandings that know not the Languages and proper Idioms of Scripture and other advantages of Learning p. 109. In one side this Guide is for every individuals chusing from a reason in himself in the other that he should accept things from the apprehensions and greater skill of others But it 's unseasonable to be contending about things not so clearly revealed in Scripture p. 44. Search the Scriptures and look well to them they are your Chard and Compass to steer your Course by try all things by them p. 47. But darkly laid down p. 47.   Take heed of that great mistake that nothing is to be admitted in and about the Administrations of the Church of Christ but what is held forth in Scripture p. 99 100.   O strange confusion A Rule and no Rule revealed and not revealed Is it not unreasonable to suppose that Christ instead of rendring his Church more glorious infallible than ever should leave her destitute of information in those things which concern her peace since contrary apprehensions about them have been the ground of all Division and Persecution through Ages and will be yet with most notwithstanding this Guide's directions Can the Scriptures be clear in deep and not in shallow matters God hath committed the care of Religion and the settlement of it to those in Authority in their Dominions in such a way as they judg most agreeable to the Rule of the Word p. 68. It 's not sufficient that 't is commanded by the Laws of the Land but make a wise choice for your selves p. 25. Let every one be fully perswaded in his own mind p. 53. They are to see all be administred according to the same and in the particular circumstances undetermined by God they have a power to order and settle things according to the general Rules laid down in the Word p. 104. And men that act according to Reason will look into the Oracles of God himself wherein God hath revealed his Will concerning Faith and VVorship p. 9. If God has invested Magistrates with the power of Interpretation and settlement of Religious matters accordingly is it not absurd to bid men chuse for themselves since they are to be concluded by anothers choice and how the Oracles of God should be perspicuous to all understandings and yet need an Interpreter I mean the Magistrate I would fain understand Sect. 3. The Christian Religion was confirm'd by many signs by the means of propagation of it by weak and unlearned men by whose preaching it overspread the world p. 31. The Quakers in respect of their want of learning and outward accomplishments are contemptible P. 62. The Fundamentals of Christianity are so plainly laid down in Scripture that the weakest Christians may understand them pag. 110. Controverted points are hidden from ordinary understandings that know not the Languages and proper Idioms of Scripture and customs of the Church and other advantages of Learning that its ordinarily impossible they should find out the mind of God therein p. 111. What Contradiction is here that what he designs to have been proof or argument to have recommended the more unquestionably the belief of the Christian Religion in old times to the primitive Christians he here should make the reason why he rejects and reviles the Quakers and their Testimony and that he should tell us the Spirit they received perfectly inform'd them and yet that Learning is to be the only means of knowing God's mind in these dayes whilst he confesses at the same time the weakest Christian may understand the Fundamentals of Religion God is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth p. 70. The essence of Prayer lies in lifting up true desires to God in the Name of Christ p. 71. For who is there that knows not that forms of Prayer have been of exceediag long continuance in the Christian Church p. 91. To pray is part of God's Worship but whether it be in a Book or out of it is no part at all pag. 109. set-Set-forms are not only used and prescribed in the Old Testament but also in the New p. 94. How Worship in Spirit and yet by words of man's prescription Can any man bring the Spirit to so many words to begin with I and end with R or who knows the Spirit 's mind so punctually as to prescribe for Generations to come the words it will use for all persons and conditions that may be in the world who can pretend to know all states that he may write prayers for each Why not forms of sighs and groans Was it not a Spiritual-Worship Christ Jesus set up above sixteen hundred years ago in opposition to the Jewish one and all other particular Worships in the World which are known to have been forms and such as this Guide pleads for at least the Jewish and produce me a Form put forth and establish't by any of the Apostles who were faithful in God's House But did not Forms creep up when the primitive Power and Spirit was lost imitating Prayer but not Praying And did not Tertullian in his Apology who is generally rank't in the beginning of the third Century write that the Christians prayed not by Book but as they were moved by the Spirit of God or to that purpose And I challenge this Guide or any living to make appear

that a Form of Prayer was establish'd till sometime after his death And this Guide himself acknowledges in his Stone smiting the Image on the feet that the Apostacy was began the Empire yeelded up to the Papacy the primitive purity of Christian Worship fail'd and became corrupted and let him tell me if the Worship of the Church of England had not its beginning there at least those things he calls Additaments and Modes so that they are not concluded as necessary by any Light or Prudence but innovated by a vain formal and superstitious nature Besides examine the contradiction of his own Assertions God must be worshipped in Spirit and yet in Form Forms are not only of Legal but of Gospel-Institution and yet whether Prayer be within Book or without Book it matters not It s a vain delusion to think that the Spirit should discover all deep Mysteries p. 111. VVherein you are otherwise-minded He will REVEAL the Truth the Mystery unto you pag. 46. The Spirit of God teaches not by such immediate Enthusiasms or Revelations p. 111. God will REVEAL his Secrets to such as fear Him and lead you by his Spirit p. 46 47. If it be a vain delusion to say the Spirit only can discover all deep Mysteries pray what is it to say it shall reveal the Truth which comprehends all and that it will reveal God's Secrets what are they but Mysteries And if God's Spirit does not teach immediatly why does Clapham say that it will REVEAL God's Secrets and lead us which implies the familiarity and constancy of his presence What contradiction's this Sect. 4. For who is there of the highest Form of Christians that are ascertained that in every particular doctrine and practice that these be in the right seeing the best of men are imperfect and may and do erre p. 53. Let the Doctrins and Mysteries of Faith you receive influence your hearts lives sanctifie change them Rest not in the Form of Godliness without the Power of it p. 27. God only is to be sanctified of all them that come near to him p. 70. Who is in all things free from error What Church or Person upon Earth p. 65. For what Churches are so pure but they have some defects errors or corruptions p. 81. In the Church of England is a professed renunciation of the Devil the World and the Flesh with ALL their sinful works and lusts p. 70. The Quakers trust in a pretended sinless perfection p. 63. Let this Truth influence your hearts and lives so as you sincerely obey the Gospel and live in the daily expectation of the coming of the Lord and give diligence to be found of him without SPOT and BLAMELES p. 40. Here 's the perfection of his contradictions 1. Is it sence to affirm that Societies are sanctified and chang'd and yet imperfect corrupt and erroneous 2. If God is to be sanctified of all that come near unto him then such as can't sanctifie him cannot approach him but Clapham and such as cry They have no health in them and consequently unsanctified cannot sanctifie the Lord therefore can't they approach him 3. He asks the question What Church is without corruptions and as patly answers it The Church of England for she renounces the Devil the World and the Flesh with all their deceitful works and lusts So that perfection is an Article of Clapham's Faith as being of that Church 4. And why should he be angry that the Quakers trust in a sinless perfection as that which will exceedingly rejoyce at the appearance of their Lord Since he has found so suitable a defence that in so many words admonishes all to give diligence to be found of him in peace without SPOT and BLAMELES And Reader though he never did intend by his Discourse a Vindication of the Quakers Principles yet may'st thou easily perceive how he is left of God in this conceited undertaking to manifold gross contradictions and whil'st he would be thought competent to enervate such Opinions as don't quadrate or agree with his his Book is made his confutation Nor have I hinted at the moity because I would avoid prolixity professing in sincerity I scarce have ever read such a compendium of absurdities although when first I saw his Treatise I was in expectation of some essay or new Atlantis in Religion as might if not deserve an approbation of its Doctrine at least have manifested the ingenuity of its Author but to find the gleanings of some mouldy Authors and dark suggestions of unwarrantable Tradition venture to put a cheat upon the World under the specious Title of a Guide who had not gone a page before he lost his way at once exprest more ignorance and impudence than any piece I have met with since I have held the least intelligence with Books and I hope what hath been already writ will by thee be esteem'd a sufficient answer to this Guide and so unvizard his designs as neither thou or any else from thence shall take the least encouragement to embrace his Religion or give entertainment to his false Aspersions but rather am willing to believe that persons ingenious and deliberate will never look upon a time-serving Priest thus circumstantiated with great variety of misdemeanours or any thing his parts and mallice can suggest so favourably as to accept his sentiments to the apparent prejudice of such whose carriage and correspondence amongst men are in the general confest to be discreet and friendly for if the Persons invested with Authority shall once admit of implicit apprehensions for their Rule and that from one whose very actions carry such undeniable malignity with them those differing Perswasions against whom he may have treasur'd up revenge must certainly expect the effects of their severity and displeasure let them in other matters where publick preservation is concern'd appear never so ready and contributory But such procedures relish rather of Romish bigottry and inhumane inquisition than Christian tenderness and humane prudence For as a gentle treatment of Dissenters has ever been the most effectual way for uniting differences in Religion at least preserving of the peace so should all Magistrates remember if they please that their Authority cannot reasonably extend beyond the end for which it was appointed which being not to inthrone themselves Sovereign Moderators in causes purely Conscientious and relating to a World in which they cannot pretend the least Jurisdiction but onely to maintain the impartial execution of Justice in regulating civil matters with most advantage to the tranquility enrichment and reputation of their Territories they should not bend their Forces nor imploy their strength to gratifie the self-seeking spirit of the Priests or any private interest whatsoever An Exercise below the dignity of their Office and much too narrow for that universal influence it should have upon the Publick Sect. 5. But to conclude judicious Reader hold not so slight an esteem of the Quakers Principles because decri'd by such