Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n
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A05689
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Cartain obseruations of that reuerend, religious and faithfull servant of God, and glorious martyr of Iesus Christ, Mr. Randal Bate, which were part of his daily meditations in the time of his sufferings, whilst he was prisoner in the gatehouse at Westminster
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Bate, Randal.
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1625
(1625)
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STC 1580; ESTC S117192
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109,500
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280
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grown farre more licentious and vain c. 14 What are these men zealous against but plain sin and such things as zealous men in Scriptures haue been adverse unto as ceremonies devised by man and abused to Idolatry 15 This way teacheth that men ought freely of loue to giue all respect obedience subjection and life too for the good of the Prince Rom. 13. 16 This teacheth that it is onely in the power of the Civill Magistrate to punish offenders 17 Where this way hath been soundly and faithfully taught there men are most easily held in subjection to the Magistrate 18 What painfull and conscionable Minister but justifies this way This way is schism in many mens account and termed damnable and many things which they cannot proue are objected against this in the cares of his Majesty But truth will overcome and Christ must prevail though they haue brought us to 300 yet these are enough to vanquish the great army of the Aramites Nay if there were but two men they should overcome All that haue fought for it haue overcome and Christ hath gotten victory for us bee wise therfore and kick not against the pricks The Lord is with us fight no more against the Lord but let there be peace amongst us onely hinder us not in our Ministery and saving mens soules And for you brethren whose eares are filled with bitter invectiues daily thrown out against you judg righteous judgment Paul may striue with Peter though his ancient much in the service of the Lord neither let our miseries and crosses cause you to think our standing not to be sound Consider Christs own servants the Prophets how they haue been dealt with all Hath not the visible Church that had the Keyes then under shew of zeal for God and loâ—e to the Church cast them out Esa 66. And must not times come that he shall think he doth God good service that kils you which is not meant of the heathens that alwaies were so minded but of the visible Church And is not Christ a rock of offence and a stumbling block Are not many offended at him Think of this each that reads that you haue no understanding naturally of the things of God to discern but rather yee are prone to misjudge both of the persons and things SECTION XXII HAving spoken touching their Ceremonies and communion with them In the next place it remaineth to speak of their prayers wherin much is controverted For set form of prayer wherin though I think them not unlawfull yet for the Minister I am perswaded be sins 1 Because experience shews that prayers conceived are more pertinent and doe more affect then set form of prayers 2 All might be more briefly and plainly done for the profit of the Auditory 3 It is a disgrace to the Gospell to borrow from Papists any of their Liturgies as though we had not the spirit of God to help us in this as well as in preaching 4 It is the duty of the servant of God to pray for the people as well as teach them and as he varies in the one so ought he in the other and exercise the gift of the Holy Ghost 5 It is a dangerous stumbling block to many others to content them selues with a set form of prayer and striue for no more 6 As the Lord in preaching for the good of his children doth minister many things in the present besides our best meditations when we haue to our utmost endeavoured ourselues so in prayer who knows but the Lord would affoord more plent full matters and affections to profit the people with all 7 We haue no example in the new Testament for any prescript Leiturgy 8 Conceiving prayers would expell our Idoll Ministers and stir up men with more affection and preparation to come thither even Ministers themselues and it would manifest the Ministers care over his people for the best triall of a Minister is by his prayers wheras the contrary upholds an insufficient Ministery and makes the Minister ordinarily doe no more then if amongst heathens he were to read a Grammer lecture and consture some harsh barbarous Latine to his Country Auditors 9 The Holy Ghost is given to help in prayer as well as in any other part of the Ministery Obj. It is not required of a Ministery to be able to pray Answ This is supposed as he is a Christian 2 The man that can preach conscionably for the most part hath gifts to pray Obj. Many cannot pray Answ Nor never striue for it having this glorious but blasphemous pretence that these prayers of then selues where there is nothing else are good serving of God 2 That they are better then such as are conceived by the assistance of the Holy Ghost Answ 2. There ought to be two in every Congregation a Pastor and Teacher and if gifts were denyed to one yet no doubt but the Lord would giue to the other Obj. 3. There would be many idle prayers offered up Answ This doth more corrupt and is more dangerous for the manner the heart which is the chiefe thing in prayer aboue the matter then this for the matter 2 They would doubtlesse if there were the like ignorant and unconscionable Ministers that are now but this Discipline would sweep them away 3 Men should be admonished for this and if they did continue then order to be taken with them Wherfore considering this that many inconveniences come by this which we haue now we desire that there might be a consultation how to reform in this as well as there hath been in the preaching of the Word Now for the people how farre they are forbidden to joyne in any unlawfull prayers Answ 1 Where unlawfull things are asked either such things as are not blessings or such things to be removed as are not evill simply 2 Wherin they professe to aske without faith 3 Wherin the people are to be their own mouths to the Lord. 4 Needlesse and idle repetitions of the same thing and words after the Popish manner as Oh Christ Oh Lord c. 5 To patch in prayers amongst the commandements Grounds why we may not joyn in these and the like 1 That which the Minister offers from us to God is ours hee susteyning all the peoples person 2 All these are to take Gods name in vain and men therby may bring a curse rather then a blessing if after knowledg and consideration they should doe it 3 What an horrible thing is it that there should be such prayers used in the publique worship of God which men should be abashed in private to offer unto God not enduring the light and judgement of the Word 4 Hereby we shall be able to answer all that is or can be objected against any worship of God in the Churches of England Otherwise vvhere no such prayers are used to joyn with a set form we hold not unlawfull being performed by a true Minister 1 Because this is true prayer to offer up lawfull requests unto the true God in the name of Christ 2 Some things may and ought to be asked being in all times necessary and for all persons 3 Therin the spirit of God may be exercised in us in being stirred up to joyn with him 4 This is his sin meerely that is the Minister if he doe not exercise his Ministeriall gifts â—n prayer besides as the Lord requires upon the present occasion 5 Therin is no evill done onely some good omitted not all good but the perfection and excellency of this good of prayer FINIS
are reckoned up that are allowed by Christ which place is left as a rule of trying Ministers Try them by their office and use of the same 4 Math. 28.19.20 Ministers must goe and teach making others Christs Disciples and teach them to obseru what he hath commanded Reading Ministers hence are none for he that hath no authority from Christ hath none for he hath all authority in earth as well as in heaven Reading Ministers are not sent by Christ 2 They cannot so teach as others may be made the disciples of Christ 3 They cannot teach the converted to keep the Ordinances of Christ unto the end of the world which is added lest any should think that either men converted and Churches planted should not need the Ministery of the Word or that in some times of scarcity men may put in Readers 5 Math. 24. He that is not faithfull nor wise is not set over the family of the Lord to giue them their portion in due season But Reading Ministers are not faithfull nor wise neither know mens portions neither the portion of one nor another for they cannot discern twixt a civill man and the child of God neither know the portion of the weak nor of the strong neither can they giue each one their portion in due season This is plain by Experience 6 Whom the Holy Ghost hath not set over the people he is none but these are not set over by the Holy Ghost for there is no rule nor example to warrant them This Argument is grounded on Acts 20.28 where the Holy Ghost is the Author of the Ministery 2 The persons are Elders that are and ought to take heed to themselues and others 3 Are to feed and govern the Church of Christ which doth not agree to the order of Reading Ministers 7 He who is a Bishop of God must be apt to teach but these are not for they haue no Ministeriall gift nor haue they the form of wholesom doctrine This Argument is grounded upon Pauls Canons 1 Tim. 3.1 His wrok who is a Minister is so excellent that who is sufficient for these things But reading ministers haue no such work of excellency but any yong Scholler may be sufficient for this work Every true Minister is successor to the Apostles in the substance of their Calling which is teaching the whole counsell of God to that Congregation they are set over by the Holy Ghost But these Readers are successors to dumb Dogs and blind guides All divine relation is grounded either on the nature of the thing or some divine Institution which indeed is the proper ground To be a Minister is a Divine Relation and hath no such ground in these men Object 1. These are sent by the Church therfore they haue authority Answ It is the priviledge of Christ by his Spirit to send forth Ministers as may appear Math. 28 compared with Acts 20.28 2 the Church hath no authority against the Word this is against the Word to haue such Ministers 3 the Church hath no more authority in Ordination then in Excommunication but Ioh. 9 whom men had unjustly excommunicated the Lord absolved Object 2. These are called dumb dogs therfore Dogs Answ The argument is not firm from the name to the thing For the divill raised up by the witch of Endor is called Samuel 2 they are so called that it may be known to whom the Holy Ghost speaketh From hence it is plain how unlawfull a thing it is to joyn with Reading ministers in any ministeriall duty either praying or administring the Sacraments For 1 All worship done to the Lord must be justifiable by the Word and warranted by same But this worship is not There is no place of Scripture to proue the lawfulnesse of this service done by a Reader This argument is strong For the Scripture is a perfect rule for all things but especially for the worship of God And to use another worship then can be warranted is to sin against the Lord and to follow blind devotion without judgement which brings us to death 2 It was the sinne of Ieroboam that as he devised a new worship so new Priests of the lowest of the people This is both a new worship never known in the Church tâ—ll Antichrist got in to haue onely a sâ—t form of prayer and they are of the lowest of the people that are ministers of it wherfore it is but as Ieroboams worship 3 Christ is not there by his institution gifts nor spirit which is the very life of Christian duties And the servants of God must be where their Master is which is where mâ—n are gathered together in his name which is by his institution and gifts and presence of his holy Spirit 4 These are no true Ministers as is proved before therfore not safe to joyn with them that which they doe is not pleasing to God they having no Calling therunto it is like the sacrifice of Core and Dathan and the sacrifice of Vzzah 5 Men cannot thriue nor grow in grace by such exercisâ—s that haue grace already they cannot come to see theâ—r misery nor be stâ—rred up to râ—nue theâ—r â—epâ—ntance that haue this grace already nor can they keep the Sabboth hereby Wâ—tnâ—sse the experâ—ence of poore Christians â—n this case tâ—at are spirituall and can judge of thâ—ngs these being wells and clouds without water 6 Men cannot possibly be fittâ—d to â—eceiu the Lords Supper by such a Mâ—nistery for thâ—s requires that each should bâ— able to examine himselfe which none can doe but such as are taught the gâ—ounds of Religâ—on 2 Men should be stâ—rred up to this duty being all so backward as is pla n in the practise of the Coriâ—tâ—â—ans which these mâ—n cannot doe Now what dangâ—r it is to receiue the Lords Supper unwoâ—thily you may see 1 Cor. 11 What good or benefit can a man haue by a dumb Dog or a blinde Guâ—dâ— 7 The people should seek the law at his mouth whose lippes prese u knowledge Mal. 2 and goe to that shepheard that can feed them and that Watchman that can admonish them of danger but thâ—se mens lips doe not preseru knowledge 8 These make no difference having no discerning but reade Apocryphall writings and all that is in their way whâ—ch being directly agaâ—nst the Word commandâ—ng Chrâ—st onâ—ly to be heaâ—d how can men joyn in the same wâ—th any comfoâ—t 9 Men hardâ—n the â—gnorant in this evâ—ll way and gâ—ue offence both to the bâ—nd Minâ—stâ—â—s and people makâ—â—g as tâ—ough this were sâ—fficient to salvat on 10 Men by this pâ—oclaine theâ—r small accouâ—t of Gods own Ordâ—nances which they might enjoy by the same pa neâ— cost oâ— removall or â—lse profite themseâ—ues more in prâ—vate You therfore dear brâ—thren that liue under such considâ—r whâ—t you doâ— you liue as Athiâ—sts indeed upon the maâ—teâ— For what are your prayers and recâ—iving of Sacâ—amâ—nts which you th nk is the best serv ce of God but a provoking of the