alone or one familie alone may pray privatly and ordinarly Gods word warrandeth both and if any come into the familie occasionally he may pray and use familie exercise with them the Christian calling warrandeth it But persons of sundrie families may not meet ordinarly for that end It is usurpation because the publict Preacher or Reader only should convocat persons of diverse families for divine service or in their absence they should depute another seeing the charge is theirs nothing should be done of that kinde without their concurrance When there is no publict Ministers by reason of apostasie and persecution the people then without usurpation may provide for themselves and likewise when people dwell far distant from Churches If a Pastour want a Reader he himself should do the office or cause one do it with advise of his people CHAP. II. Some forbide fathers of families to interpret any passages of GODS word to their domesticks Quest SHould the fathers of families interpret any Scriptures to their domesticks Shall not their ignorance breed error and heresies making a false glosse on Gods word Ans They should teach them making a true glosse to that effect they should frequently hear preachings read and confer with others and enquire of their Pastors the meaning of doubtsome Scriptures but some idle pastors labour not to understand the Scripture and would discharge this exercise because they can not resolve such doubts 2. Their sympathie with the papists bringeth the same arguments for hiding the light of Gods truth for the papists say that laiks should not read the Scriptures least their ignorance Breed error and heresies 3. Heresies were never bred but by the ignorance of publict preachers The opinions of private men were never so much regarded that men would follow them to strengthen their heresies 4. Paul speaketh of a Church in the house of Nymphas Col. 4.15 and in the house of Aquila and priscilla Rom. 16.5 Could these be kirks without interpretation of the word 5. Many by frequent catechising and teaching their domesticks became learned publict teachers Qui docet indoctos c. 6. The neglect of such holy exercises rather breedeth hereticall opinions both in private and publict persons 7. Iudge not before the time publict Preachers are not censurand condemned untill their herefies be known so should private men be used and though some were guiltie yet the exercise it self is lawfull and profitable to such as use it well Should planting of vines and publict preaching be discharged because Noab and Lot were drunk with wine and Arrius turned an heretick 8. Hirelings like papists would have people ignorant least too much knowledge make them take notise of the ignorance errors and lewdnesse of their teachers they are not like Paul who wished that Agrippa and all that heard him were like him in all things except his bonds Act. 26. and Moses Numb 11. wished that all the people were prophets 9. By these exercises publict preachings are better understood which faithfull Pastours should desire 10. He that careth not for his familie in temporall things is worse then an in fidell if hee neglect spirituall things he is no better Quest Who calleth private men thus to teach their families Answ GOD in his word as Deut. 4.9 10. and Deut. 11 18 19. they are commanded to teach them sitting in the house walking in the way lying down and rising up The Psal 78. from 1. to 8. biddeth men teach their children in all ages the testimonies and works of GOD. Where are they written if not in his word How can they teach them if they show not their meaning This command is not ceremoniall but morall The fift command willeth both parents and children to do their dueties Naturall parents should also be spirituall parents in bringing up their children in nurture and in the fear of the LORD How can children fear GOD without the knowledge of his word see Ephes 6.4 2. When Paul desired aged women to teach younger women Christian dueties hee made not humane philosophie the ground of their instructions but GODS word saying That Gods word bee not blasphemed Tit. 2.5 Of the dueties of familie exercise see the preceeding chapter in the answers to the fourth question CHAP. III. They forbid all set formes of prayer Q. WHat is a conceived form and what is a set form of prayer Answ All set formes are first conceived being formed according to his conception that prayeth then if any ordein them to be used again how often so ever 1 2.3 dayly c. so far are they set formes because they are set appointed for a more frequēt use 2. When Christ in garden prayed thrise using the same words Matth. 26. at the first expression it was a conceived prayer but afterwards a set form which he set and ordeined to be said againe at two diverse times 3. If people concur using the words of him that conceiveth it is a set forme to them for they conceive it not their concurrance is a second expression of the prayer it is first expressed by the conceiver Quest Do none pray nor wrestle with God by the Spirit but in a conceived forme Answ GOD commanded the high priests to blesse the people in a set form Numb 6.24 Is not GODS Spirit the inditer of all GODS word 2. When the Israelites in the wildernesse began any journey at the taking up of the ark Moses said Arise O Lord and let thine enemies bec scattered and when the ark rested hee said Return O LORD to the thousands of Israel Numb 10. Our LORD in the garden said thrise a set form and albeit the Euangelists differ in repeating the words of his prayer because they only pointed at the matter thereof yet Mark at his second and Matthew at his third prayer affirm that he said the same words and on the Crosse His complaint was words of the psalme 22.1 My God my God why bast thou forsaken me and His last prayer on the Crosse was words of the psalme 31.5 Into thy hands I commit my Spirit Hee had never a greater presence of the Spirit nor a greater wrestling with GOD against the sense of his wrath against Satan death hell and all the power of darknesse which he overcame by the same Spirit who never left him in his greatest agonie 4. Paul in the beginning of ten Epistles said Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ they say he might well do it writing to sundrie people Thus they yeeld that some way he might have the Spirit using a set form but he wrot two epistles to the Corinths and two to the Thessalonians using this salutation and two to Timothie using another salutation 5. In psal 57.1 are the words Be mercifull to me twise repeated In psal 68.1 the foresaid words of Moses are repeated In psal 80. is a set forme thrise repeated viz Turn us again O Lord and cause thy face to shine and we
a sinner in repeating his owne words againe in the garden and the words of the psalme 22.1 and psal 31.5 if he might conceive or he is blasphemed if they say he used set forms because he could not conceive 3. Men walk uprightly both unto GOD and with GOD by true faith in whatsoever form they pray though blind zeale knoweth no walking but by varietie of conceptions and eloquence 4. Whether we read words or say them from the memorie expressing the same wants the words belong to him that prayeth as much as to the first conceivers As the light of the Sun is no more proper to them that first used it then to such as used it afterwards so is it with words and languages which are the gifts of the holy GHOST whether men acquire them immediatly as the apostles did on the Pentecost or by studies and education as all others doe Quest Is it not sufficient that set forms be committed to Readers for publict reading Answ When prelats did commit baptisme and the LORDS Supper to the inferiour Clergie and themselves did minister confirmation it made the people despise the LORDS ordinances and magnifie humane confirmation So when Preachers commit the reading of prayers only to Readers the people despise them because the Preachers despise them Quest I acknowledge the set forms in Scripture for Gods Spirit did indite them but the set formes out of Scripture have not such authoritie Answ Neither have the conceived forms out of Scripture such authoritie 2. But GOD to whom we speak hath as great authoritie when wee read our own set formes as when we read GODS word it self then our reverence to GOD should be no lesse 3. Seeing GODS Spirit was effectuall with both the formes in Scripture what restraineth his operation from the one more than from the other out of Scripture Quest The books of Discipline show that our first Reformers purposed not that set forms should continue for ever in the church of Scotland but only untill that God send sufficient able men but who can blame giftlesse old and failed men to plead for a stoffe helping themselves to walk Answ This reproach redoundeth to our blessed Saviour and to his servants foresaid as if they wanted spirituall gifts when they used set formes 2. Few or no preachers since the first reformation were so unable but they also used conceived prayers 3. Therefore it should be insert in the books of Discipline that set forms must continue in the church for these causes 1. For people that can not conceive that by frequent hearing of them they may remember some words for their private use rather then to pray nothing at all 2. For preachers diseased in the head whereby their conception is troubled 3. For other preachers least afterwards they be diseased that then the suddain change of the form seeme not strange unto the people 4. Both to countenance their infirme brethren and to countenance the LORD his prophets and apostles who used set forms not through infirmitie but because the words were sanctified and directed by Gods Spirit and were as acceptable to God and as able to expresse their desires as new conceived words They who love Christ should countenance himself and his members and their religious exercises chiefly when they are in contempt as set forms are at this time this is a confession of Christ and of his word before men 5. For repressing the insolencie of such as are puft up with eloquence doting so upon it as if Gods Spirit were not effectuall without it Quest Should any pray for the space of dayes moneths and years untill that Gods Spirit come and assist them Answ They who want faith can not pray though they use the words of prayer yet no man should be hindered to pray for none knoweth what is in man but his own Spirit the Lord suffered babes to come to him though they understood not the word which worketh faith 2. They who have faith may pray at all times for Gods Spirit never leaveth his owne work though sometimes hee bee more or lesse effectuall in them Quest Should not these novations be received seeing their defenders are of a godly life and conversation Answ The danger is so much the greater for as a godly life helpeth to edifie when men preach Gods truth so the blamelesse life of the pharisies and of hereticks did procure great respect unto their heresies and errours which a profain life could never do 2. When Paul persecuted the truth he was blamelesse touching the righteousnesse of the law Phil. 3.6 3. If they be godly in life and of a sound judgement when they consider these things more deeply they will glorifie God in forsaking them It proceedeth not from Gods Spirit to despise the form of worship which Hee approved and commanded in his word such were the Lords prayer the blessing of the priests and the praying for the coming of Christ Revel 22. 4. None are more godly then Christ and his apostles who used both the forms Quest If people concur with any prayer before the sentence be ended take they not Gods name in vain not knowing what they pray for Answ So they do if they concur by assenting or saying Amen before they know the full sentence it is a mocking of God to seek the thing they know not 2. If the preacher pray for one that was sick and the people are informed that he is dead it is superstition if they concur So is it if hee pray that people may show their humilitie by kneeling to sacraments or idols or that they thankfully remember Christs doings and sufferings by keeping superstitious dayes but they may concur with set formes before the sentence bee ended if they have them in their memorie because they know the matter CHAP. V. Some interrupt Gods worship continually reading the lines of the psalme by intermissions in the time of singing Quest HOW is it that many despise set formes of prayer and yet they praise God is set formes of muter When did Gods Spirit choose the one and refuse the other both are paraphrases and not texts of Scripture to vvit of the Lords prayer and of the psalmes Some use a double set form to vvit the miter and the proclaiming of linese this vvas never practised nor commanded in Scripture as vvere the single set forms of prayer and praise A. Blind zeal proclameth the lines that such as can not read may sing but they neglect to repeat a set form which is more needfull that they may learn to pray privatly rather than to pray nothing at all 2 The miseries of this life and happines of the life to come do show that prayer is more requisit now and praising of God in the next life we have dayly motives of praise but much more of prayer Quest. What errours are committed in repeating the lines at singing Answ There is a continuall abusing of Gods name in it for men oftimes sing divine praise not knowing
we have no sin we deceive our selves John numbreth himself among them he being a father of perfect age in grace he calleth GODS people My little children 1 John 2.1 Things that make sin compleet and perfect are finall impenitencie and a full resolution to sinne and a full desire and delectation in sinning without reluctation they that are born of GOD sin not in this kinde their sins come not to a full grouth for before they sin they studie to eschew it in the act it self of sinning they strive and wrestle against it when it is committed they cut the threat of sin by speedie repentance the seed of GOD by repentance choaketh this wicked grouth 2. Our union with Christ taketh not away all inherent sin in this life but it worketh in us a hatred of all sin a sorrow for sins committed a thirst for righteousnesse and it freeth us from the imputation guilt and punishment of sin Answere to the third reason That the joy of Christians is interrupted See the answeres to the fourth proposition The seventh proposition CHristians effectually called are oblidged to sing the psalms of praise as a part of their task in heaven yet it is unlawfull for them to sing the penitentiall psalms for so men make themselves lyars not being under the sense of Gods wrath Answ No Scripture showeth that any did sing these psalms when they were under the fearfull fense of Gods wrath or under a fearfull judgement but at these times they prayed for succour and relief all singing importeth mirth though sometimes sorrow be mixed with it The sentence of James was evermore true that in trouble men should pray and in mirth sing psalmes Jam. 5.13 2. When Gods heavy hand was on David his roaring and crying was fittest Psal 32.3 4. When he confessed his sins and had gotten assurance of remission he might cheerfully sing the same words which he used in his prayer in his agonie He made not the 51. psalme in the time of his murther and adulterie his forewardnesse and resolution to sin would not suffer him nor yet when his conscience was fore troubled for sin the extremitie of his grief and sorrow would not suffer him but afterwards he made this psalm that in the midst of his mirth he might glorifie God by confession of his sins and by calling to remembrance the fearfull estate that sin brought him into 3. As Christ after his resurrection and begin glorification receined some remembrance of his sufferings and humiliation to wit the marks of his wounds so in our mirth we should remember our sin and miserie using the same words of the penitentiall psalms which we might also have used in our prayers 4. Thus the most sanctified men are not lyars in singing the penitentiall psalms because partly they were under such dangers which now they remember in their mirth or they are now under the like dangers which if they have any confort they may confesse in their mirth or they deserve the like evils because of sin which dayly provocketh Gods wrath but his sparing of them is equivalent to a deliverance from such dangers for albeit God loveth his children he loveth not their sin but correcteth them for it because he loveth them Prover 3.12 Qu. May we sing psalmes in time of great trouble or sense of Gods wrath Ans We may if in the mean time we have any comfort or assurance of our deliverance but if all things seeme bitter or fearfull we should rather pray So Christ that night he was betrayed after supper he knew what troubles were at hand but he was conforted in the affurance of a joyfull deliverance and therefore he sung a psalme but in the gardein when his confort was abatted and his agonie great he only prayed Thus Paul and Silas did sing praises to God in the prison Act. 16. thus the holy martyrs praised God in the mids of the fire and of other torments looking that God will turn all to the best The eighth proposition CHristians effectually called whether they pray or praise in the immediat worship of God they so constantly fixe their mindes upon GOD and upon the divine purposes betwixt GOD and them that though they praise or pray so long as the body is able without wearying the minde wandereth not for a minut Answ 1. That is to say the minde can not be long upon a good purpose for they measure the constancy of the minde with the strength of the body saying So long as the body is able c. The Lord showeth that the body is not able to continue long upon a good purpose without wearying speaking to his disciples that could not continue with him in watching and praying viz. The Spirit is ready but the flesh is weak Mat. 26.41 2. Paul in Rom. 7.18 saith That in his flesh dwelleth no good thing and of his minde he saith To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I finde not And in vers 23. I see a law in my members warring against the law of my minde Thus the flesh in Christians disquieteth the Spirit chiefly at divine service which the flesh abhorreth and the body hateth The conformitie of these Novations with peprie 1. Papists use alwayes privie meetings and night meetings in places where true religion is professed so do the defenders of these novations 2. The hindering of the interpretation of GODS word in private families as well as in publict assemblies strengthneth antichristian ignorance and darknesse 3. They diminish GODS word who leave out the words of the text as the papists left out the second command and they diminish it who make the text but a cipher and of no effect as if it were left out so doe the papists unto all texts that warrand conceived prayers when they stint the set forms of the service book only unto the people so do others unto all texts that warrand set forms when they stint conceived forms only unto the people they use varietie of words but they stint their prayers unto conceived forms both doe restraine the libertie of GODS Spirit who allowed both the forms All men may make use of set forms if their itching ears hinder not but many weak Christians are debarred from accesse unto their heavenly Father by prayer because they understand not and can not make use of conceived forms and set forms are taken from them except that some say the LORDS prayer but no further GODS word alloweth further in that CHRIST and his apostles used also set forms 4. They who hinder the reading of prayers on paper restraine the liberty of set formes as they do who hinder the reading from the invisible book of the memory 5. The singing of the psalms at the reading of every line is like praying in an unknown language as the papists do for both take Gods name in vaine speaking without understanding 6. The continuall all use of the words Glory to the Father c. is a popish
conceived formes so far as they can 4. But thou condemnest thy self in judging others who read prayers when thou readest either prayers or praise unto God at the singing of psalmes Gods Spirit worketh at the reading of both Quest Do any despise set formes altogether Answ Yea for some affirme that Gods spirit helpeth no mans infirmities but at the first conception of prayers but they fight against themselves unawars admitting sundry prayers in a set forme 1. They conclude the divine service saying the blessing in a set forme 2. Their conceived prayers are set formes to the people that concurre with them It is a second rehearsing of their prayers for the people conceive them not 3. They stint them to say Amen at the end of every prayer Amen is a short summe of the prayer 4. The preachers conclud their conceived prayers with a set form like to this To the Son with the Father and with the boly Spirit be glory c. 5. At singing of psalms which is a set form of praise they say also many prayers among them Quest Is it not sluggishnesse to use set formes neglecting varietie of meditations Answ We neglect them not for we conceive also 2. If the use of set forms be sluggishnesse then the contemners of se forms are sluggish in using these set formes foresaid and the people which concur are sluggish 3. It is a greater sluggishnes when men apply not set forms unto their hearts when their conscience can not deny but they signifie their wants they can not pray without noveltie of words Some were moved to pray with set forms taking them to be new conceptions because they heard not these prayers before but afterwards they loathed them also They knew not the working of Gods Spirit whereof they brag so much they think Gods Spirit be like themselves delighting only in novelty of words and abhorring his own words which himself dyted unto Christians before so that he worketh no more by his own words as they imagine but they who grow in grace despise not to use them also afterwards as did Christ and his dearest Saints Quest Can book prayers be steadable at our departing from this life Ans The last prayer that Christ said upon the crosse was a book prayer written in the book of the psalms He rehearseth it from the book of his memorie Into thy bands I commit my Spirit Psal 31 2. Oftentimes at death God holdeth before men the book of his judgements wherein all their senses may read sufficient matter for meditation and prayer 3. A well formed prayer for their present condition may be read to the great confort of distressed souls who cannot read by themselfs Quest How know you if the words of set formes be dyted by Gods Spirit Answ If they expresse things agreeable to Gods revealed will in his word Quest How know you if Gods Spirit teacheth us effectually to use them rightly Answ Every man knoweth best what is in himself if Gods Spirit work in his heart hee prayeth expressing the words with faith with fervent desires and bumilitie intending Gods glory his own salvation and the good of others though his expression be weak his desires may be fervent no otherwise are conceived prayers known to be dyted and made usefull by Gods Spirit then as the reading of a supplication hindereth it not to be a supplication unto a King and the reading of a psalm hindereth it not to be a praise unto God so the reading of prayers hindereth them not to be prayers but it furthereth us being ready to supplie the defects of our memory and it keepeth our mindes from wandring when our eyes and memories are fixed upon the same matter for diverse objects of the sight oftimes perturbeth the memorie and if we have not the words in our memorie a well formed prayer in the book of things perpetually needfull will surnish unto us matter and words for our expression and it bringeth our wants to remembrance Gods Spirit assisteth all who use the lawfull meanes and confide not in their own strength Quest Do you match two or three read lines with Gods Spirit as if they could inable us to pray Answ Neither can two or three new conceptions inable us to pray 2. By what spirit do you calumniat us as contemners of Gods Spirit unto whom we never matched the Canonick Scriptures much lesse conceived and set forms all which profit nothing if Gods Spirit work not by them 3. In the psalme fourth in miter O Lord grant us thy countenance thy favour and thy grace all such prayers of the psalms in miter are paraphrases of the text as the read prayers are of some petitions of the Lords prayer Thou by reading them at singing condemnest thy self in judging others who read prayers which is more needfull then singing of psalms in this life if at the reading the words of prayer in the psalms thou prayest not in thy heart if the words expresse thy wants thou playest the hypocrite and if thou pray then thou readest a set form of prayer as well as of praise for they are not new conceptions You confesse that men speak by the Spirit in their new conceptions our set forms at the first expression were new conceptions then who bindeth the Spirit to the set forms of prayer in miter more then without miter or who bindeth him to a read praise more then to a read prayer The Spirit inableth us to both 1 Cor. 14. and Ephes 5.18 4. Naturally all men abhor prayer more then singing of psalms because of the melody in singing if they pray without singing they supplie the melody with novelty of words which is admired by Pagans as well as by Christians it proceedeth not from Gods Spirit in christians but from satan and from their naturall part to abhor any forme of worship which was in request with Christ and his dearest saints and was dyted by Gods Spirit in his word if Gods Spirit work not with him that readeth because the conceptions are not his so is it with him him that concurreth for the conceptions are not his but if both apply the words to their hearts the conceptions are theirs as truely as they were unto the first expressours neither can any now living be the first expressour for many have had the same conceptions before Quest Reading seemeth more barnly and therefore it is fitter for children then for aged men it seemeth barnly because the words are few and often repeated c. Answ Seeing Christ the ancient of dayes and his Prophets and Apostles did read from the book of memory it becometh men if they were older then Methusalem and wiser then Salomon to read upon the artificiall memorie of books At Divine Service Christ did read on the book of Esay Luk. 4. vers 16. The apostles did read also on visible bookes for Paul had bookes and parchments 2 Tim 4. Gods Spirit who was effectuall with Christ reading a text of old conceptions will also be
shall be saved this is insert among conceived prayers In psal 136. which was dayly sung in the temple 1 Chron. 16.41 is a set form of praise 26. times repeated viz for his mercie endureth for ever They who reject set forms of prayer use often this set form of praise in meeter which is but a paraphrase of the text 20 the set forms of prayer are paraphrases of the LORDS prayer 6. Christ who best understood the Spirit of prayer heard and accepted the devotion of the people crying Hosanna or Save now I beseech thee taken out of the psal 118.25 which the Hebrews affirm was yearly said at the feast of tabernacles and Mathew 21. showeth that they often repeated the words both before they came to the temple and also within it The pharisies in their hypocrisie were offended thereat but Christ defended and commended it 7. The last prayer in the Scripture is a set form praying for the coming of Christ Revel 22.17 20. The Spirit and the Bride say Corns that is the Spirit speâ—keth in the church viz. the regenerat teaching her to say Come And John biddeth them that hear this prophesie say Come and John himself prayeth in the full sentence saying Come Lord Jesus 8. Set formes oftimes seeme to have more of the work of the Spirit then conceived forms for after their first conception other godly men moved by the same Spirit revise them they reteine the materiall and cancell the superfluous and they alter and supplee words needfull Thogh Gods Spirit inable men to pray yet He suffereth humane frailtie to bee seene in their prayers to humble them he giveth no perfection of graces in this life conceived prayers are not so well tryed though some boast much of them in contempt of set formes Quest Are any so infirme that they have need of set formes more than of conceived formes Answ Negligent pastours never try it neither know they that many people never understand nor can imitate conceived formes because themselves and others whom they take notise of can conceive they think that all men can conceive But these following among others have more need of set formes then of conceived formes 1. Some weak Christians of a honest life and of good age could never remember all the Lords prayer as their Pastours affirme who diligently taught them If they cannot remember a few words often repeated much lesse varietie of words never twise repeated 2. Others learned the Lords prayer but cold do no further 3 Some learned also set formes by frequent hearing of them but could never conceive 4. Some using set formes a long time in end became able to conceive once in the day and they also used dayly a set form for the weaker sort 5. Some children could pray nothing at all untill they had used set formes but afterwards they conceived 6. Some by a distempered brain can not conceive when the disease rageth but at other times they conceive few congregations want some of these if they have not all 7. It is a very eloquent and powerfull prayer with God if a humble heart groan under the burden of sin with faith and fervent desires of mercie and sanctification though they can scarslie expresse three words without these all varietie of words and conceptions is but babling Moses at the red sea and Anna at the house of the Lord in Shilo prayed in the spirit of prayer not uttering one word He is a blinde judge that measures inward grace by outward eloquence 8. If there were but one of those weak ones in a congregation a faithfull Pastor should use set formes to teach them to pray for their private use they are cruell and mercilesse sheepheards who neglect the weak ones in a mater so needfull for salvation 9. And when they are helped with a better conscience they may conceive for the stronger sort Quest When I use set formes men esteeme basely of my preaching account me unlearned if I expresse not varietie of meditations Answ But when you conceive in the prayers following they will change their thoughts 2. For your estimation should you suffer the weak ones to perish not teaching them to be acquainted with God by prayer 3. The disciple is nor above his master the Lord and his apostles used set formes not fearing contempt you should do the like Quest When the Lord taught his disciples to pray he said not Vse these words but Pray after this manner Ans The Evangelists write both to be after the Lords meaning for Math 6. saith Pray in this manner Luke 11. saith When you pray say Our Father which art in Heaven c. The speech of Matthew who did first write the Gospel can not be the interpretation of the speech of Luke who had not as yet written it for the custome of the Scripture showeth and the order of nature requireth that the interpretation should bee given after the obscure words but not before them 2. If the LORDS prayer conteine things needfull for us we may use the same words to expresse the same things which CHRIST the wisdome of the Father used If it signifie not things needfull it were a fools sacrifice to pray after the manner thereof seeking things needlesse 3. Therefore modest Christians more wisely do conclude their own prayers with it acknowledging thereby it to be more perfect and significative than any prayer conceived by sinfull man 4. Some call it hard and obscure Preachers should explaine obscure Scriptures chiefly which are dayly in use If thou think it obscure thou canst not form a prayer like it nor imitat the thing thou knowest not neverthelesse use this prayer for the Lord unto whom nothing is obscure knew that it meant things needfull for thee and pray the Lord to hear thee after his own meaning in it 5. Some strain out a gnat and swallow a cable abhorring all set forms of prayer and yet after Divine service they say the blessing in a set forme Quest It is not mentioned in Scripture that the apostles said the Lords prayer Ergo we should not say it Answ Charitie should perswade us that they obeyed the Lords commandment in using it seeing no Scripture saith the contrate Many of the apostles had they never faith and repentance nor the love of GOD and honoured they never their parents because particular mention of these things are not in Scripture Qu. Is it not a tautologie to conclude our prayers with the Lords prayer seeing we have prayed for the same thing alreadie Ans A tautologie is a needlesse repetition of the same words or mater but when we repeat the same things to show the vehemencie of our desires it is not needlesse 2. A conceived prayer repeateth oftimes the same mater though it change the words 3 To this effect the Lord in Math. 6. after the Lords prayer taught us to say the word Amen which summarly includeth in it the whole prayer 4. Every repetition includeth in it self a new complaint
as if you would say I am not sufficiently sensible nor cōforted in the assurance that my former words were accepted therefore I pray again for the same things No man hath power and authoritie from GOD to abrogate or despise any form which GODS word approveth Quest If we use set formes we should only use the Lords prayer for no other forme is enjoined to us Answ The apostles also used other set forms and so do we they spake by the Spirit in using them also Quest In Numb 6. the Lord said Thus shalt thou blesse that is in this manner Hee said not Vse the same words Ergo the Priests used not a set form of blessing If thus import the same sense then it is a set form of sense why may not the same sense have the same words seeing the words are a manner of speaking as the sense is a manner of signification no words can better expresse the same sense then the words that Gods Spirit hath dited 3. The text showeth that the priests should have used the same words for the Lord saith Thus shalt thou blesse saying The Lord blesse thee they are bidden say The Lord blesse thee this is the manner how they shall blesse 4. Albeit the priests had used only conceived words yet the despisers of set formes blesse only in a set forme Quest What call you stinted prayers Are they lawfull Ans Both prayers and divine praise are stinted when men willingly reject the ful libertie of using them which GOD hath granted GOD in his word hath given us alike warrand and libertie to use both conceived and set forms of prayer hee that rejecteth any of the two stinteth to himself the form which he useth and restraineth the libertie which GODS Spirit hath granted in rejecting the other form The papists in their service book have stinted set formes others stint unto themselves conceived forms though they alter the words yet they stint the form but we stint neither the form nor the words because 1. we use both the forms 2. we sometimes change the formes a set form into a conceived form or we use diversitie of set forms in the same purpose and so we stint not the words of a set form 3. At the end of a conceived prayer wee sometimes say a set form as the LORDS prayer or the blessing sometimes we conceive words at the end of a set form 4. Sometimes we mixe words of a set forme among conceived words Quest Do not many through envie complaine that we absteine from set forms because themselves want eloquence Ans It is as true in some who want it as it is true in others who have it that they despise such as want it 2. But it is not true in many both private and publict persons who have as much eloquence as you have and yet they use set forms not onely to countenance the lawfull practise of Christ his prophets and apostles but also because GODS Spirit worketh by it and warrandeth it in his word as he doth conceived formes Quest Should not all men conceive at all times for Gods word proveth that all men can conceive as Ioel 2.18 I will poure out my Spirit upon all flesh and Zacharie 12. I will poure out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication Answ Thus you prove that both private and publict persons can conceive which we deny not of some but negligent pastours know not that others can never conceive nor yet understand mens conceptions they know not pastorall dueties who know not this both of young and aged persons 2. But you make a false glesse on these texts as if the pouring out of the Spirit in Joel were only a giving of the gift of conceiving prayers Peter Act. 2. interprets it to be the extraordinarie gifts of the Spirit given unto GODS servants in a greater measure then was usuall as diversities of tongues prophesies visions working of miracles c. and also the ordinarie gifts as faith hope charitie humilie temperance c. were given more largely and you interpret the Spirit of grace and supplication in Zacharie to be only the gift of conceiving prayers as if Christ his prophets and apostles wanted the spirit of grace and supplication when they used set forms Quest Are not conceived formes of greater dignitie and therefore wee should not use set formes Answ Doth GOD abolish the Moon and Stars because the Sun is of greater dignitie Shall a man cut off his little finger because the other fingers are stronger Shall the Sacraments bee neglected because the Word edifieth more 2. The two forms of prayer are of equall dignitie in these respects viz. they have one author the holy SPIRIT who dyted them in his Word they are both in one language they both signifie alike excellent and spirituall things both alike able to stir up our devotion otherwise the LORD would not have used set formes in his greatest extremitie it is out corruption that hindereth us to make such use of them Eloquence and varietie of words are much admired by Pagans and naturall men like Agrippa who was almost perswaded to be a Christian and yet was void of sanctification Our corruption doth still dote too much upon the same though we be Christians so that we contemn the other form which Christ and his Saints made use of 3. All the prerogative of a conceived form is that it expresseth mo meditations than a set form but it neither maketh our prayer more acceptable unto GOD neither can it expresse more excellent things The examples foresaid of Christ and his Saints do show that GOD accepteth the one as well as the other and if he make a difference it is his custome oftimes to respect more of the things which the world esteeme least of so CHRIST in his greatest extremitie choosed a set form as was said before see the rest in the next chapter CHAP. IIII. They forbid all reading of prayers Qu. SHould not set formes be said from the memorie or from the heart that is they should be said perqueer seeing reading of prayers is not commanded in Scripture Answ Neither repeating from the memorie nor conceiving of prayers nor singing of psalmes on a book nor off the book are commanded in Scriptures should they therefore not be used The dueties of prayer and praise are commanded and these circumstances are lawfull usefull and no wayes hurtfull to these exercises 2. Whether you read them out of the invisible book of your memorit or from the visible book of paper the words are alike heard by the people and the devotion of both reader and hearer is alike stirred up thereby if the corruption of our unruly hearts and itching ears hinder not Qu. Is it not ridicolous if a child ask from his father bread or a fish on paper so is it to read prayers unto God Answ It is as comely thus to seek benefits from God as to
praise him on paper for the same benefits at the singing of psalmes Quest The psalmes are the text of Scriptures read prayers are not so Answ Our psalmes in meeter are not the text of Scripture otherwise preachers should make sermons on them they are but paraphrases of the text having the same sense So are our read prayers paraphrases of the LORDS prayer or of some petitions in it for all things needfull are generally included in the LORDS prayer and particularly in other Scriptures Quest Read prayers expresse not all our wants Ergo they should be rejected Answ It is no mater if they contein things perpetually needfull the Preacher at the end of his read prayer or afterwards in his conceived prayers may expresse mo wants 2. Neither doe his conceived prayers expresse all his own wants nor yet the wants of the people he never knoweth them all 3. The Lords prayer concluding our prayers may supplee all the omissions of our imperfect prayers though wee know not all our wants 4. Thy speech reproacheth the LORD and his servants who sought oftimes a supplee only of some wants The Lord said Father forgive them they know not what they does If it bee possible take this Cup from mee Abraham prayed for Children Jacob for food and rayment and safetie from his enemies the apostles for increase of faith Paul that the messenger of Satan might be taken from him Many prayed that Christ wold cure their diseases Christ never censured such prayers but pharisaicall holinesse censureth prayers that expresse not all their wants which their own prayers could never do 5. If by faith we seek but one thing with inward desires and outward expressions this prayer is perfect in respect of the essence and nature of prayer so is every petition of the Lords prayer or the meaning thereof but the whole summe of the petitions is perfect in respect of the enumeration of things needfull this enumeration needes not be said at all times as the foresaid example shew though we have need to seek them dayly we may seek mo or lesse of them as we are sensible of these wants Quest Is it needfull to read prayers publictly Answ Yea for many learned men of good understanding and conception have weak memories throgh diseases in the head men sometimes forget words which at other times they remember it is best therefore not to trust in the memorie Quest Rom. 8.26 It is said We know not what we should pray Ergo we should not use set forms for men know not what matter is in them Ans If we should not pray when we know the matter neither should we conceive if we know the matter 2. Much lesse when we know not the matter for ignoti nulla cupido wee can not desire the thing wee know not our desires are the best part of our prayers 3. But the text speaketh of the manner saying We know not what to pray as we ought and the Spirit helpeth our infirmities and interceedeth for us that is he assisteth us to pray not with varietie of words and conceptions but with groanings that can not be exprissed by any form of prayer the Spirit groaneth not but he kindleth strong desire in our hearts the servencie whereof causeth groanings 4. Groanings both show our earnest desires and prove that we know the matter before wee seek it Paul 1 Cor. 14. saith I will pray with the Spirit and with the understanding also Quest Doth not the Spirit help us also by putting new meditations and new desires in our hearts which were not in our mindes when we began to pray Can this be done with set forms Ans The Spirit helpeth us also at set forms making us expresse the words with a deeper sense of our wants and with more fervent desires of the things we seek that oftimes we have not at the beginning of our prayers both our conceived prayers and set forms are but lip-labour if GODS Spirit thus help us not He interceedeth for us because these and such other of his graces in us do inable us to pray and GOD heareth us because he respecteth these graces and work of his Spirit in us Quest What is the Spirit of prayer Answ Not varietie of words and eloquent conceptions that some may have without the sanctifying Spirit but it is an earnest crying unto GOD with faith and fervent desires and groanings in any form of prayer Moses and Anna the mother of Samuel prayed with this spirit expressing no words at all Quest Is not that prayer best that cometh from the sense of our wants Answ So it is and therefore set forms should contein things perpetually needfull and the sense of them should bee perpetuall as are increase of faith remission of sins sanctification and such things as are in the Lords prayer if any words of the prayer concerne the present time only as war famine pestilence they should be altered or removed as the evils are changed Quest Should the Church use the same meanes of Gods worship both in her infancie and perfect age Answ The ceremonies are abrogat our prayers are morall for by them we confesse the LORD to be GOD in the first Command we adore him in the second and we honour his Name in the third using both the forme of prayer 2. If a set form should be abrogat because the church used it in her infancie much more a conceived forme which was first used for in it Abraham prayed for children Genes 15. and for the Sodomites Genes 18. Jacob used it Genes 32. The first set forms in Scriptures were said by Moses at the lifting and resting of the ark 3. It was the fulnesse of time and a full age when CHRIST and the apostles used set forms Now it is like a doting age when set forms which were in request with them are become tastlesse and loathsome to many 4. As the church in her outward estate had an infancie and perfect age so hath every member thereof in all ages Every man coming in this world is as ignorant of GODS word and worship as were the Patriarks at their birth and some are so weak that discreet Pastours should use them like infants all their lifetime It is as good reason to urge people to speak all languages because the apostles did so as to urge the weak ones that have no eloquence to conceive prayers because the eloquent do so it is a tempting of GOD to require of people above their power Quest Reading is not a prayer but a receiving into the heart information from the words read Answ You should speak so of the hearing of both the forms of prayer 2. We must first know before we speak we receive information by ocular reading or looking on the book and then we speak to inform others that they may concur with their desires and with a still voice and also we speak to glorifie GOD with our mouth as we do with our heart that hee may hear us though
sometimes true prayer may come from the heart alone Quest No Apocrypha should be brought into publict assemblies but onely Gods word and the lively voites of his owne graces mens writings are Apocrypha Answ Mens sermons the psalmes in meeter and conceived prayers are not Canonick more then read prayers 2. If they be the lively voices of GODS graces so are read prayers for godly men gifted with GODS graces first conceived them and they still signifie the same things and men having saving grace use them as the first conceivers did in earnest prayer assisted by GODS Spirit so that they make use of them as if themselves had conceived them Quest Mens writings are not without errour they carie not such majestie as the pen of the holy Ghost they are not so authentick confirmed by signes and wonders Answ Neither are mens unwritten conceptions so authentick Quest Doe not read prayers restraine the libertie of GODS Spirit who inableth men to conceive Answ Not for neverthelesse of them men may conceive as much as ever they did 2. Did Christ his Prophets and Apostles restrain this libertie when they said set forms 3. Seing GODS Spirit in his word indited both the forms they restrain his libertie who abolish any of the forms from GODS publict worship seeing GODS word which alloweth these forms is made publict to the world Quest Is it not a quenching of the Spirit to read other mens words when I should poure forth mine owne heart Answ If you have the same wants the words of a read prayer are yours as well as these who first conceived them GOD doth not appropriat words and speeches to particular men Thou wouldst have people to concur with thy conceived words which are no more theirs then read words if the one be a quenching of the SPIRIT so is the other for both are the words of other men and both are set formes to the people that conceived them not 2. It is not a quenching but a cherishing of the Spirit to use reverently the gifts which he made usefull to others it is a quenching to despise these gifts 3. Some being in stranger churches were much moved with set formes thinking them to be newly conceived because they never heard them before but at the next hearing of them they become loathsome So it is not the form but the noveltie of the words which pleaseth mens itching ears GODS word it self often tepeated is loathsome to our corrupt nature Some judge GODS SPIRIT to be like themselves delighting only in noveltie of words and therefore they make idols of new conceptions affirming that GODS SPIRIT speaketh only when men use new conceptions The papists banish away conceived forms others discharge set forms True grace should make us strive against both these extremities in the battell between the flesh and the SPIRIT for GODS Spirit indited both the forms in his word 4. A set form at the first hearing is esteemed a work of the SPIRIT but afterwards unconstant people despise the same words as a work of Satan Quest Ministers are called to preach and not to do the office of Readers Answ Then neither should they read the psalmes when they sing nor text when they preach as did the LORD out of Esay 61 1 in Luke 4. 2. Prayer is not preaching if they be only called to preach they should not pray in any form 3. Thus some confesse against themselves that a set form may be used for they say it belongeth to Readers 4. If Ministers be called to preach then they may do the office of Readers and they should do it when they want Readers for all GODS word are canonick preachings of GODS truth his mercies judgements power and wisdome and of his properties works and wonders c. Ministeriall preachings serve for a further explication clearing of the sense and application of the canonick preachings Quest Is not the reading of a prayer a neglect of conception and a shamefull prostrating of our selves to be ruled by men even to the shame of our heavenly Father who giveth unto us better gifts Ans There is no such neglect seeing you may conceive before or after the reading 2. If you concur with a conceived prayer the shame is as great you are no lesse ruled by men whose conceptions are no more thine then the conceptions of read prayers 3. It shameth not but it honoureth GOD if you reverently use the work of his SPIRIT in others but when thou despisest that which he approveth in his word on thy part thou procurest his shame Quest To read a prayer when men may conceive it is to bring the weak and the lame when they have a male in the flock Malac. 1.14 Answ But if I conceive before or after the read prayer I offer the male also 2. If I read a prayer with faith with fervent desires and humble expressions it is a male without blemish before GOD through Christ the Lord and his apostles and prophets offered such males reading set forms from the invisible book of their memorie So wee may read from the visible booke of paper which is an artificiall memorie A book is a rich treasure of conceptions an artificiall memorie a wonderfull providence of God to help such as are weak both of understanding and memorie Quest Should not Christians studie to perfection and grow in godly exercises Answ The grouth of Christians is not in multitude and varietie of words and conceptions for Tullius and Demosthenes might then have been Christians who could be eloquent in any subject even in Christian maters if they had midled with them albeit they had been but hypocrits 2. Neither consisteth this grouth in forsaking the form of prayer which Christ the fulnesse of all perfection used and approved in others but it is a grouth in holinesse of life heavenly knowledge faith hope charitie fervencie in prayer of any form and in other spirituall graces and in doing good works Our Lord in his greatest perfection ended his life saying a few words first conceived by David in psal 31.5 Into thy hands I commit my Spirit and Steven said Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Quest If any that can walk perfectly come to his father creeping or desiring to be born by others will it not offend his father and procure a refusall rather than the benefits which be seeketh So he that can conceive cloquently if be read a prayer or say a set form and so is born up by other mens speaches be offendeth God and procureth a refusall of his benefits Answ Hee that concurreth with conceived prayers is as much born up with other mens speaches 2. Thus the high Priests using the words of the blessing which Aaron first said and the Prophets and Apostles using such set forms as are mentioned in the preceeding chapter are here reproached as born up by these speaches or that they offend GOD using set forms when they may conceive and CHRIST is blasphemed as an offender of GOD and so is
Spirit faith unto the churches In Matth. 23. Christ said 7 times Woe be unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrits In the books of the Chronicles are many histories which were in the preceeding scriptures The 4 Evangelists oftimes repeat the same histories Quest Is it not a sufficient and substantiall prayer if the weak ones say God help me or be mercifull to me for Christs sake which they may learn at a conceived prayer Answ Much more is it sufficient for the strong ones who have no need of so many helps so they need not hear conceived formes but they may learn at set formes to say GOD help me or be mercifull to me 2. If then you conceive that the stronger sort may have more aboundance of mater words use also set formes that the weak may have more matter and words which they can not have by conceived formes which they can not imitat nor understand They may groan or mourn at them only because others do so or because it is a custome Quest It is not mentioned in scriptures that the Apostles said the Lords prayer Ergo we should not say it Answ Neither is it mentioned that they prayed in that manner Should we therefore not pray in that manner 2. Neither is any prayer in scripture so compleat and perfect in parts as the Lords prayer 3. Charity should perswade us that they obeyed the Lord using this prayer seeing no scripture saith the contrary 4. Many Apostles knew they not the ten commandements had they not faith and repentance and dyed they not in the Lord albeit they are not particularly mentioned in scriptures Quest It is more evident that they prayed in that manner then that they said these words Answ They never used in scriptures so compleat a manner But if the matter was included in the Lords prayer they used also some of the words of the Lords prayer Christ said Father forgive them they know not what they do Luk. 23 Not my will but thy will be done Luk. 22. Father glorifie thy Name I pray that thou keep them from evill Joh. 17. Here are many words of the Lords prayer Adde these to the Chap. 4. viz. Quest SHould not set formes be said from the memorie or from the heart or said perquier seeing reading of prayers is not commanded in scriptures Answ Neither is conceiving of prayers commanded in scriptures 2. When Paul biddeth read his epistle 1 Col. 4 16. He biddeth read all the prayers as well as other things in it Such is the set formes in Chap. 1. vers 2. Which ten times said in his epistles The valediction Chap. vers 18. See the like in 1 Thess 5 18. When Iohn Revel 1. vers 3. calleth them blessed who read his prophesic and Christ requireth if some had read the scriptures Math. 12. vers 3.5 Luk 6. vers 3. they did not except prayers 2. In Rom. 15.4 Paul saith Whatsoever things are written are for our learning how shall we learn them if they be not read And if we learn them rightly we should use them as the matter requireth that is we should pray if the words of prayer signifie things needfull for us Be they words of praise wee should glorifie God be they words of promise stir up our hope be they words of his law learn obedience If the words pray for such as read the epistle both the Readers Hearers thereof should concur as they do with the prayers of a Preacher so these prayers are set forms Quest. How is Gods Spirit said to interceed for us at prayer Answ In that his graces planted in our hearts inable us to pray and God heareth us because he respecteth these works of his Spirrt in us Christ interceedeth for us by meriting these graces and the Spirit interceedeth by working and making them usefull in us and God heareth us for the merit of Christ and for the work of his Spirit in us Quest Is the reading of prayers on a book lawfull more then the reading of homilies Answ No Scripture proveth the publict and private reading of homilies to be unlawfull more then the expression of preaching without reading for Christ is preached both the wayes to our hearing and Faith that cometh by hearing excepteth none of the wayes all the Scriptures are canonick preachings of divine veritie and are continually read So holy ministeriall preachings which illustrat the Scriptures may as lawfully be expressed with reading as without it chiefly when newly conceived ministeriall preachings can not bee had 2. Reading of homilies is sometimes forbidden not as unlawfull in it self but because it maketh idle ministers neglect their studies and hindereth them to interpret many Scripturs when they dwell upon a few homilies for they are called to interpret all the Scriptures so far as they can 3. The frequent repetition of the same homilies is not so needfull as of the same prayers for many weak ones can not at all learn to pray except they hear the same words often repeated Prayer is required in some measure of all Christians but though every Christian should admonish one another yet it is not requisite that every Christian should make preachings which is the particular calling of the ministrie but prayer belongeth to the generall calling of all Christians 4. If men forget any words of homilies they may speak other words of the same sense for them without prejudice to the weak hearer who need not the words in their memorie if they know the sense but if they forget words of set forms of prayer though ministers speake other words of the same sense for them yet it perturbeth the memorie of the weak ones who can not learn to pray except they hear the same words often repeated and not diversitie of words of the same sense 5. Then it is better to read set forms for oftentimes the best memories forget words unawars But they who esteeme it Christian perfection to change evermore their conceptions they want that excellencie of perfection which Christ and his dearest Saints had in the submission of themselves to the practise approven by Gods word in praying heartily using the words which are read and used by the Saints of former ages when in their consciences they know that these words expresse their wants Quest If a read prayer be lawfull then you may cary your prayers in your pocket or buy them in a book-binders shop c. Ans If conceived prayers be lawfull men may have them for a lesse price for they may conceive at their pleasure if the essence of prayer consisted in words heard or seene But the words heard or seen are only images and expressions of prayer as painted men and beasts are but the images of men beasts though they be so named so the naked images and vocall expressions of prayer are called prayers but if faith and fervent desires concur with the outward images and expressions that prayer is a true prayer and the inward desires alone are
more substantiall and true prayers then the outward expressions alone though both severally be called prayers 2. These images in a lively way teach us how to form our prayers but the holy Ghost inableth us effectually to pray whether we use the means of hearing or seeing these images so the most substantiall prayers can not bee born in a pocket or gotten from men though the expressions may be gotten from men it is only the expressions which men receive from ministers as they concur but the holy Ghost addeth true prayer to the expressions heard or seene Quest Christ after his ascension gave gifts unto men to bee faithfully used should we then by reading neglect our conceptions Ans You need not neglect them seeing you may conceive as much as ever you did before or after reading 2. True grace is more known in using the basest means as Christ and his servants used then to use the most glorious means that our loftie nature affecteth most Q. The Scripture biddeth us pray it biddeth not read the words Ans Neither biddeth it conceive the words 2. We are bidden drink wine in a cup at the Lords supper we are not bidden drink in a cup of mettall or timber shall we therefore use only cups of gold rejecting silver cups saying they are not Gods ordinance because they are not expresly commanded to be used at the Sacrament and shall we say that cups of gold are Gods ordinance because we esteeme most of them when as God warrandeth not the one more than the other So we are commanded to pray without naming any form yet we should rather use both the forms then both these cups for examples of both the forms but not of the mater of sacramentall cups is mentioned in Scripture Then when generals are commanded in Scripture we should obey in such particulars as wherein true obedience may bee seene So we may pray truely in any form read or not read if we do otherwise the cause is not in the form but in our corrupt naturs that can not use the formes which the dearest Saints used Quest Is it not idolatrie in Gods worship to direct our faces towards a book we should look up to heaven where God sitteth in glory Answ If thou canst read turning thy back to the book thy speach would seeme to have some reason But thou canst not read without looking on the words the book is not a religious object of adoration but an object of necessitie 2. The words are images of the things signified if it be idolatrie to direct thy face towards them at prayer so should it be at the singing of Psalmes and at the reading of scriptures for it is Divine Service to read GODS word for edification 3. Elias upon mount Carmel and our Saviour in the garden without idolatrie prayed with their faces towards the earth Quest How many wayes doth Gods word warrand us to exercise spirituall dueties in particular circumstances Answ Three wayes 1. When Gods word expreslie commandeth the duety with the circumstances as when the Lord forbad his disciples to fast like the hypocrits he bade them wash their faces and anoint their heads 2. When scriptures bring exampls of the godly practising these duties in their circumstances as when Steven prayed kneeling Act 7. 3. It warrandeth by way of consequent that is it commandeth the general duety not showing the particular circumstances But none can obey except in circumstances which inable them to obey Then Gods word which commandeth the duety expresly consequently commandeth to use the same circumstances because without them they can not do the duety Wee have a threefold warrand of setformes of prayer in scripture 1. It is commanded as in Math. 6. Luk. 11. He sets down the manner and forme of prayer 2. We have examples of set formes in scripture as the blessing of the Priests it was also commanded Numb 6. And Christ prayed thrise in the same words in the garden So did the Psalmest in the Psal 80.3 By of consequent the scripture proveth that such as can not understand nor imitat new conceptions must use often repeated conceptions or else they can not pray at all And learned men though they can conceive by the same consequent they must use set formes or else they can not teach the weak ones to pray neither can they be free of the contempt of the practise of Christ and of his servants and of the simplicitie of GODS word except they use also set formes They should not seeme wiser but esteeme it great wisdome to imitat them in things lawfull which are neither cerimoniall rites that are abrogat nor miracles that can not be imitat Then as Christ commanded to give almes to the poor consequently he commanded Peter to cure a creple because he had no other riches He commanded to baptise with water consequently biddeth that in cold regions infants should be sprinkled least dipping in water kill or hurt them So in commanding us to pray he willeth us to use formes fittest for our habilitie Quest Commandeth he such as can not make use of conceived formes consequently to read or hear them read Answ He willeth 1. that they pray in set formes and concur with them 2. And if they can not read they should get some set formes perquier by hearing them often repeated by reading without reading 3. And for that purpose ministers should read them for the best memories through cold and other deseases will forget words unawares and they say other words of the same sense for them yet it confoundeth weak memories who are forced to forget the words in whose place they hear new words repeated A book is an artificiall memory ordained to help the weaknes of naturall memories for this end God did writ his law on two tables caused his prophets write the scriptures Gods Spirit worketh holy motions in mens hearts at the hearing of his word read and also of read prayers which the enemies of read prayers confesse were dyted by Gods Spirit at the first conception and what hindereth him to be still effectuall with his own work Quest Is it not a shinting of prayers if the weak ones use set formes only Answ It is rather a stinting when the strong ones use conceived formes only they stint the forme though not the words men stint their prayers when they use only a part and not the full liberty which God hath granted in his word when they are able to use the rest also which the weak ones cannot do God hath given them liberty only to use a set form for he hath not made them capable of any further so that without miracle they can not conceive 2. They who urge them to conceive because others can conceive they tempt God as if they urged them to speak all languages because the apostles spake them If God enlarge their gifts none hindereth them also to conceive 3. Neither are they so stinred but they have liberty to concur with
effectuall with his members reading old conceptions in any Divine Service 2. The censuring of read prayers is an indirect disallowing of reading the Scriptures except the Lords Prayer which expresseth all our wants and that for the same reasons which they use against read prayers viz. They are read They expresse not all our wants Men know them before they read them They are often repeated They are not their conceptions who read them 3. Thus thou disallowest that aged men sing psalms which is more barnelie then reading of prayers for children delight more in musick But except we be humble like bairnes in submitting our selves to the simplicitie of Gods word we shall not enter into the kingdome of Heaven 4. Reading and conceiving prayers without feeling is both bairnly and manly for it is naturall to young and old to pagans and Pharisaicall professours but if there be a sense and feeling Gods Spirit worketh it above nature 5. If few conceptions maâ—â— prayers bairnly then our set forms are more manly then almost all the prayers in Scripture of any form for we expresse mo conceptions in them Thus our Novators will seem to have more of the working and presence of Gods Spirit then all Gods Saints in Scripture and out of Scripture who follow not their errours because they have longer prayers God grant that they devour not widows houses under pretence of long prayers and that they think not to be heard by much speaking as Christ speaketh of the Heathen Matth. 6. Shall Christ and his Saints in Scripture be esteemed lesse zealous lesse religious and of lesse perfection because their prayers were shorter and because many of their prayers did not expresse all their wants Quest Why hath Gods Spirit mixed prayers with the praising of God in the Psalmes Answ That in our mirth and singing we should not be exalted out of measure but in the midst of our mirth we should remember our miserie in seeking iuccour and relief 2. Because the prayers include in themselfs a confession of his praise for when we seek good things it is an acknowledging that God is able and willing to give them this is a great praise 3. Christ in the Lords prayer did joine praise with prayer to stir up our courage in the assurance that God will hear us when we say For thine is the kingdome power and glory c. And in the psalms prayer is joyned with praise for the same end also thus we pray in a cheerfull manner and praise God in a modest gravitie Adde these following to the Chap. 5. Of formall and materiall praise in the psalms Quest WHat is divine praise formally Answ It is a serious and loving commemoration of any good thing that is in God or from God which is done to the setting foorth of his excellencie and worthinesse Thus if the words expresse directly his properties and noble acts to be in him or from him whether in a proper or figurative speach it is a formall divine praise It is acted two wayes first without melodie and in prose as when Job said The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken blessed be the Name of the Lord Job 1. and David said Let us fall into the hands of the LORD for his mercies are great 2 Sam. 24. Secondly or with melodie vocall or instrumentall If it was vocall only the Hebrews called it Shir a song if instruments were added to it then it was called Mizmor a psalme Quest What is divine praise materially when this formalitie is not expressed Answ When the good things which procure praise unto God or prove Him to be praise-worthie are mentioned not expressing any confession that they belong unto God as the first five verses of the first psalm prove by way of consequent that God is good and bountifull in that they are blessed who sit not with scorners but meditate continually on Gods lavv c. If God were not good and bountifull they could not be blessed nor prosper for as wicked tyrants afflict the godly rather than others so would God do if he were unmercifull and cruell 2. When the wicked deeds of Doeg and Achitophell and others are mentioned it commendeth the long suffering patience of God in that they lived on the earth a moment his justice is more manifested in punishing them 3. In the psalmes 6.51 and 143. in their prayers by way of consequent God is acknowledged to bee Almighty and mercifull otherwise men would not seek such things from him 4. All formall praise consisteth in an expressed confession and acknowledgement that the good things are in God or from God The materiall praise hath not this confession and acknowledgement expressed but understood and included in the words and may be proven to be procured and merited by the things mentioned in the words 5. The materiall praise is as true and reall as the formall as true praise is included in this prayer Leave not my soul in hell as when we say Thou hast not left or dost not or shall not leave my soul in hell by way of confession but the praise included in the prayer is not so conspicuous Quest Why is the book of divine praise called the book of the psalmes seeing many prayers are also in it Answ Because these prayers are also divine praises materiallie though not formallie for divine praise is included in them 2. Many works are named from the things in them which are of greatest moment or manyest in number a book of Jeremy is called the Lamentations for it is full of mourning speeches yet divine praises and prayers are also in it the books of the Kings have also histories of some priests and prophets the Lords prayer hath also some formall praise in it viz. For thine is kingdome power and glory c. but mo formald petitions and prayers are in it praise is included in them in the first three for things that concern Gods glory in the last three for things that concerns mans necessitie Quest Can we in one sentence and in the same words both praise God and pray unto him at once Answ Many sentences have formall praise which include no prayer in them as when we say God is Almighty and Eternall God dwelleth in heaven Christ is the only begotten Son of God he is God and Man in one person but no sincere prayer wanteth divine praise included in it the formall prayers of the psalmes have materiall praises included in them and so he that singeth the prayer doth also praise 2. Two contraries in extreme degrees can not be in one subject as they may be in their remitted degrees prayer and praise are diverse things but not contrary then as the Sun in one beame of light may send down both heat and illumination at once so we may send up unto God prayer and praise in one sentence whether the prayer be formall and the praise materiall as O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger for it redoundeth to Gods praise
c. They act his materiall praise also in that themselves are the excellent works of God a matter of great praise and therefore they should take notise of themselves to be stirred up to praise God formally as they are alwayes his praise materially 2. All other creatures act only his materiall praises that is They are a matter of his praise in that they show forth in themselves admirable effects of his power wisdome love bountifulnesse justice and holinesse c. which things prove procure most great praise and glory And therefore in the psalme 148. all creatures are exhorted to praise God that is They should show forth the excellent things that God placed in them that the great creator of all may be taken notise of thereby and praised The psalmest speaketh to dumb creaturs who can not make answer but in that God inableth them to hold out show to the world his excellent gifts it is in stead of an answer for it is a materiall praising of God And also his speach to creatures void of understanding provoketh men to take notise of Gods gifts in the creatures to be stirred up to praise God formallie lest they prove worse then the creatures Quest Our Psalms in meeter are they a translation or a paraphrase of the Hebrew text You call them paraphrases as the set forms of prayer are of the Lords prayer Answ The miter showeth them to be paraphrases for it hath the meaning of the text in mo words then a translation requireth 2. When translators adde mo words then the just interpretation requireth it is because the meaning of the text can not otherwise be understood and yet the text that hath these words added if with these words all be considered as parts of one sentence they are a short paraphrase because more then the text is added to explicat the text But when all the words or sentences of the book are explicat and illustrat by other words there the whole work is a paraphrase 3. The most learned Latine Poets call their psalms turned mirer a paraphrase Buchanan calleth his psalms Paraphrasis Poetica because sometimes sentences figurative speaches and other illustrations and words are added to the text sometimes the words of the text are turned into other words and sentences of the same sense these things are done in the whole work that the Poet may have choose of words to make the miter agree with the text so is it with our psalms in miter for no Scriptures can bee turned into miter by a naked translation Qu. If our psalms in miter be a paraphrase then we may make paraphrases of all the Scripturs and so read them publictly A. That is not needful for many scripturs are understood at the reading without a paraphrase 2. If our psalms in meeter were only the translated text then Preachers should make sermons on them and readers should read them publictly as they do other scripturs the verses in miter cited to prove matters of divine verity 3. It were not hurtfull but profitable for the hearers sometimes to read paraphrases of all scriptures but this is supplied by preaching catechising by the plainnes of many scripturs at the reading then these paraphrases are not so needfull Quest Seeing the translators of other Scripturs adde some vvords to the text vvhy may not the translations be called paraphrases Ans If the whole scripturs had illustrations other helps forsaid in every sētence as the book of the psalms hath then might it be so called but such helps are few seldom foūd in other scripturs Adde these following to the chap. 6. viz. GIve some example in the book of the Psalms where the vvhole sentence Gloris to the Father and to the Son c. is said in substance Answ In Psal 110.1 The Lord said to my Lord c. that is The Father said to the Son sit thou at my right hand c. and vers 2. the holy Ghost is called The rod of thy strength He is a golden scepter holden out to comfort the godly but an yron rod to bruise the wicked thus glory is given to all the three persons the Father is glorified in subduing the enemies of Christ the Son is glorified in sitting at the right hand of God and that his enemies shall be his footstool the holy Ghost is glorified in that he is the effectuall rod of Gods power ruling in the mids of Christs enemies and subduing them and in verse 4. the Eternitie of the three persons is expressed in that the Lord made Christ a Priest for ever without beginning and without ending because He is after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 7. He can not be a priest for ever except God his Father continue for ever for none can be a priest without a God unto whom he must offer sacrifice and with whom he must interceed for people the holy Ghost must also continue for ever for if the anoynting whereby Christ is effectuall shall cease at any time then Christ could no longer remain a priest nor doe that office So in this psalm God is glorified according to the full sentence wherewith we conclude our psalmes Quest Pope Damasus caused first that sentence be sung in Gods Kirk should we not reiect it because papists first practised it Answ Shall no man make use of cities tents harps and musicall instruments because cursed Cain builded the first city and his children invented the rest Balaam the false prophet fist said Let me die the death of the righteous Palladius sent from pope Celestine brought the gospel first into Scotland and one Augustine sent from pope Gregorie brought it into England when popish superstition was greater then in the dayes of Damasus who lived in the 400 year Palladius in the 500. and this Augustine in the 600 year of Christ The builders of Babel first spake all languages shall wee therefore absteene from all these things 2. Therefore let us embrace the good things agreeable to Gods word which they made use of but cast away the infidelitie of Balaam the vain confidence of the builders of Babel the superstition of papists who used this sentence at the masse and at the end of every psalm read or sung 3. Pope Damasus said not first the substance of that sentence neither used he it first in musicall praise the substance of it was said in Revel 4.8 and it was sung when the psalm 100. was first sung and other passages of the psames have the sentence included in them as the psalm 45. vers 7. psalm 2. and salm 136. Quest Is it comely at one exercise of divine praise to sing parts of diverse psalmes together as if they were parts of one psalm or song and that in publict meetings Answ Gods Spirit approveth it by the like practise in 1 Chron. 16 7. When David gave a psalm to thank the Dord into the hands of Asaph and his brethren this song or psalm was made up thus to wit from the verse eight of the chapter unto the end of the verse 23. are written fifteene verses of the psalme 105. and from the 23 verse unto the end of the verse 33. are written the words of the whole psalme 96. and in the verse 34. is the first verse of the psalm 107. all is one song Item the first five verses of the psal 108. are the last five verses of the psal 57. and the rest of the psal 108. are the last eight vers of the psal 60. Quest. Is it not good to practise some of these erroneous novations for eschewing of shisme and for keeping of union and conformitie with some religious persons who in great Zeal defend them Zeal in defending error is not a godly but a blind zeal it is thus known in that they defend these errors as carefully as they do the clearest principals of divine veritie and they persecute such as embrace them not as if they were hereticks 2. Would thou keep union with them in their errours rather than with Christ and his apostles who were immediatly taught by Gods Spirit in divine veritie which admitteth not such novations By so doing you eschew not but you entertaine a most dangerous schisme dividing your selves from the puritie of the most loyal and infallible preachers of the truth 3. If for to make you strong with humane friendship you so despise Gods truth that you make errors equall unto it professing both together as if they were both but one truth then it will be a just reward if God suffer you to fall by degrees into palpable antichristian darknesse and if God kindle unquenchable hatred and discord between you and your affected societie wo shall be to him that maketh flesh his arme Jerem. 17.5 FINIS
Answeres to certaine Novations desired by some to be embraced by the reformed Church Some defend one part others another part of these novations In this treatise their chief objections are turned into Questions Luke 9. verse 26. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of man bee ashamed when he shall come in his glory c. HET HUYS OP EEN STEENROTZ GHEGRONT SCHAEDT GEEN PLASREGEN OP STARCKEN WINT The Table CHAP. 1. Against usurping privie meeting and night meetings Chap. 2. Some forbid masters of families to interpret any Scriptures to their domesticks Chap. 3. Some forbid all set formes of prayer Chap. 4. Some forbid read prayers Chap. 5. Some interrapt Gods worship reading lines at the singing of psalmes Chap. 6. Some never sing the words Glorie to the Father c. Others sing them at all times Chap. 7. Some after divine service blesse the people in a legall manner Chap. 8. Others reject presbyteriall government Chap. 9. The baptisme of children before their years of discretion forbidden Chap. 10. They deny that Ministers admitted by bishops arc lawfully called Chap. 11. Some forbid to converse or serve God where infidels or ignorant people are present Chap. 12. They forbid preachers to read the works of learned men for understanding Gods word Chap. 13. Publict reading of Scriptures without interpretation forbidden Chap. 14. The office of Readers dissallowed by some Chap. 15. They forbid private prayers of preachers in the pulpit before publict service and they forbid all private prayers of people in Churches Chap. 16. The principall opinions of Antinomians or Libertines CHAPTER 1. Against usurping privie meetings for exercising ministeriall dueties pretending mutuall edification as also of night meetings Question MAY we not at all times and in all places convocat people for mutuall edification not seeking libertie of their Pastours as did the apostles and disciples Answ Not only men not called to preach but also Pastours and Preachers may not doe it 2. The apostles and disciples might lawfully preach publickly privatly in all places without usurpation for none other had the ministerial charge but themselves 3. Preachers law fully called by men first teaching true doctrine and afterwards they turne apostats or hereticks thereby they losse the right of a lawfull calling for GOD sendeth none to teach errors and heresies and men have no warrand of GOD to call them These apostats and hereticks are become usurpers of the places whereunto they were called and therefore sound teachers may convocat privie meetings in these paroches without their warrand and without usurpation But it is usurpation to do so in the paroches of sound teachers 4. Paul forbad Timothie to lay hands upon any suddenly and that hee should not be partakers of their sins 1 Tim. 5.22 Women may not speak publictly 1 Cor. 14. They may teach younger women privatly Tit. 2.3 and they who admit men untryed unqualified and without imposition of hands are partakers of all their sins he resies and abuses which they bring into GODS church 5. The apostles themselves might not preach in any place uncalled The Lord forbad them to go to the Gentiles and to the cities of Samaria and bade them go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Mat. 10. But after his resurrection he sent them to all nations Mat. 28. Paul Act. 20 biddeth Pastours take heed not to other mens flocks but over which the holy Ghost made them overseers The Spirit suffered not Paul and Timothie to preach in Bithynia and Asia but in Macedonia Act. 16.6 Many pretend private meetings but they plead for publict meetings under this name Quest How are they publict Ans In respect of persons place and manner of exercise 1. The persons are not of one familie only nor two or three of sundrie families meeting occasionally but oftimes many families and persons of diverse families towns and parishes c. their number exceeding sundrie parishes 2. The place though it be a chamber or house ordained for private uses yet they make them publict houses appointing them for ordinarie publict meetings and publict exercises Churches are for no other respects made publict houses 3. The exercises are publictin their usage for they doe not every two and two or two and three or three and three confer privatly together but one speaketh to all the rest and oftimes many speake one after another So these meetings are more publict then ours where only one or two speak publictly Quest Can the privie meetings of two or three usurpe the ministeriall charge Ans Two or three may usurp over the dignitie and office of kings as really as two or three thousand though the usupation of a greater number be more notable If they appoint one of their number continually or every one their time about to be king over the rest prescribing and executing lawes and receiving royall honour and obedience from the rest not being deputed by the lawfull king to that effect it is usurpatition Paul Rom. 13. saith There is no power but that which is ordeined of God yet without usurpation we may admonish and counsell one another to do all civile dueties Such usurpation may be in every jurisdiction of princes rulers and magistrats c. So in the ecclesiasticall jurisdiction if two or three establish an ordinarie custome of preaching and of doing ministeriall dueties whether one alone or every one their time about do the charge they not being deputed nor warranted by the ordinarie pastor it is usurpation In a well ordered citie the citizens suffer none to encroach upon their callings liberties and priviledges much lesse should such abuses be tollerat in a well ordered church 2. Pastors may preach both privatly and publictly in their own parishes If in their infirmitie absence or lawfull distractions they imploy others in their places it is a lawfull calling 3. Men may teach their own families it is warranted by GOD though like Abrahams familie 318. souls dwell together 4. All other meetings should be occasionall not hindering familie worship not ordinarie publict worship nor the dueties of servants to their masters of children to their parents and wives to their husbands Quest What meetings are occasionall Answ Such as are not of set purpose appointēd for ordinarie ministeriall exercises but when by the providence of GOD men meet for other occasions either civile or ecclesiasticall as 1. when two or three together take occasion of the publict preachings in the Sabboth to repeat the things they have heard 2. They may edifie one another going together unto churches 3. Within the churches before the publict exercises begin and between preachings and when they are ended 4. At the preaching men may stir up one another unto attendance by example and exhortation 5. Returning home they may use conference 6. Walking or sitting in the fields 7. Meeting two or three together at markets or publict places 8. Eating or drinking together 9. In buying or selling
together their speaches and purposes should savour of holinesse and of a godly conversation and of a good conscience 10 Labouring together in a calling and in all honest exercises 11. Going to wars together 12. In doubtsome matters enquire at their pastors or other learned men 13. At publict catechising men may learne hearing the answers also the preachers should cause some rehearse conceived and set formes of prayer that others may learn to pray and schoolmasters should do so to their disciples 14. And by missive letters as the Saints did edifie one another in the primitive church 15. And sailing together 16. Ryding or travelling on journeyes 17. Meeting at burials 18. At extraordinarie feasts 19. At familie worship catechise them teach them to pray interpret obscure passages of Scriptures take an account what they have heard at publict preachings If any occasionally come in he may hear these exercises 20. Visiting the sick the father lesse the prisoner the afflicted 21. Visiting friends and acquaintance 22. By a godly life conversation good example edifieth dayly Quest Do not the Scriptures warrand us to meet ordinarly for ministeriall exercises and mutuall edification as Hebr. 3.12 Exhort one another while it is called to day Heb. 10.25 Let us consider one another not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is exhorting one another c Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received even so minister the same one to another 1 Thess 5.14 Warne them that are unruly comfort the feeble minded support the weak Coloss 3.16 Let the Word of GOD dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another Answ 1. Such places perswade mutuall edification which may sufficiently be done at the foresaid occasions but no scripturs do warrand the usurping meetings GODS word rather terrifieth from such usurpation and boldnesse as is seene in Vzza smitten to death for touching the ark and king Vzzia smitten with leprosie for offering incense The earth swallowed up Korab and his companie which were Levits for seeking the Priesthood Numb 16. The sons of Scaeva were wounded by one possessed with a devill for usurping the apostolick charge these offices were good but the persons were not called Moses sent of GOD to Pharao fearing his own weaknesse desired the LORD to send another But now men neither sent of GOD nor fearing their weaknesse usurp the charges of others 2. In Hebr. 10.25 the apostle forbidding to forsake the assembires speaketh not of usurping meetings-but of meetings where the apostles and preachers lawfully called were present wherein the people exhorted one another to observe and practise such things as were preached and the People asked resolutions of their doubts from the Preachers As What shall we doe to bee saved Are they many that shall be saved How often shall I forgive my brother unto seven times What shall bee the signes of thy coming and of the end of the world Declare unto us this parable c. Math. 18. and 24. Act. 2. c. yea of times men did forsake the assemblies where Christ preached Qu. God giveth not men talents to be hid up but to be usefull to others Ergo men should assemble for exercising their gifts Answ 1. Doubtlesse Korab and the foresaid usurpers had gifts which they could make use of but they had not a calling a. Men wanting a particular calling may sufficiently use all their gifts in their generall calling and Christian conversation at such occasions as are forementioned 3. Because some can govern a kingdome shall they therefore take to themselves royall jurisdiction and government 4. Gifts are not hid up if men be willing to use them as GOD offereth occasion if no occasion be offered thy readie and willing intension excuseth thee thy gifts are not idle if thou gaine thine own soul by them Quest The gifts of every member should redound to the whole mysticall bodie of Christ Therefore wee should convocat many to be partakers of our gifts Answ A hurt finger disquieteth the whole bodie if it bee cured the whole bodie is eased so he that doeth good by one member of CHRIST doth it to all yea CHRIST este emeth it done to himselfe Quest Should wee not edifie mutually seeing it is said in Zacharie 8.21 The inhabitants of one citic shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord of Hostes and I will goe also c. Answ Are these either private or usurping meetings when they go openly to worship in the temple as GODS people did yearly at the three great feasts So do the people of sundrie townes in diverse kingdomes go together into one church 2. Is mutuall edification hindered when thou art forbidden to doe it in an usurping way having lawfull occasion beside you may thus say Wee hinder you to live because we forbid you to live on roberie and thift having sufficient lawfull meanes beside Of night Meetings Quest MAY wee not meet for mutuall edification in the night time seeing the Apostles practised it Act. 12. When Peter came to the house of Marie and Act. 20. Paul preached untill midnight Answ Vsurping meetings are neither lawfull day nor might 2. In time of persecution and when Gods church was not in a setled estate the Apostles and Disciples might lawfully meet privily and publictly both day and night without usurpation for none had the charges but themselves At that time it was extraordinarie that people heard any preaching at all therefore they spent both the day and the night in hearing not knowing of the like occasion againe Paul preached never so long at Troas before nor after and hee departed on the morrow The people conveened occasionally at the house of Marie because of the present persecution to exhort one another unto courage and constancie and to pray for the deliverance of Peter and other persecuted Saints 3. You have dayly occasions of publict preaching Varitas non quierit angulos the Truth and the Professors thereof seek not to bee imployed in corners and secret places if they can finde commodious publict places though persecution may chasse them unto secret places But you affect secret places when you haue suficient publict it bewrayeth that your novations agree not with the truth Quest. What offenses are effected by the usurping privìe meetings Ans They have no warrand of God but the charge of ordinarie publict and privie meetings for religious exercises are committed to ordinarie Pastors and familie exercise to the Masters of families or their deputees The Lord said Math. 10. That which I tell you secretly proclaime you on thee hous tops Many things are more lawfully done in persecution and apostacie and in the beginning of a church then afterwards in time of peace and libertie 2. They bewray some unwarranded exercises and though the exercises be lawfull in themselves yet this secret usage of them in time of libertie shameth them as if they were works of darknesse the enemies of the truth
have a fit occasion so to judge of them and to slander the profession 3. The fruits of privat meetings which they call mutuall edification are not greater knowledge of Gods word and more devotion and holinesse of life then all these who are content of the lawfull ordinarie meetings but they are greater ostentation of these things and the contempt of such as follow not their courses the contempt of sundrie religious exercises allowed by God in his word as set formes of prayer privat prayer in the pulpet and in publict places c. They spread abroad erroneous novations people forsake their own pastours who preach against these novations leaving their churches almost emptie and they follow other preachers who countenance their errors they so disgrace the Ministrie that their travels can do little or no good to their own flocks 4. Thus they disgrace the ordinarie publict meetings as if they were but ciphers and unprofitable for edification thereby they cause a schisme but they are called schismaticks who refuse to be schismaticks 5. They skar pagans and hereticks from conversion who think that they meet for some lewdnesse and filthinesse which they dare not do openly 6. Hereticks at such meetings the Gospel having libertie wont to spread abroad their heresies who could censure them for none knew what they taught untill that so many were infected that their errours could be no longer kept secret and then they professed them openly 7. The papists in Scotland did meet privatly for idolatrous worship whereby they made way for the power of prelars that they began to obtrud their traditions publictly 8. Though the brasen serpent was a divine ordinance yet when they became a mean of dishonouring God and of spirituall hurt to the people it was destroyed So though privie meetings were tolerable in time of apostasie yet when they now bring forth such bitter fruits they should be abolished 9. The Patriark themselves were priests untill that the Leviticall order was established but afterwards king Uzzia was punished for offering incense Bezaleel A holiab might touch the ark and look into it when they were making the vessels of the tabernacle but after the consecration of these things they might not touch them nor look into the ark no more then Uzza and the Bethshemits So it is usurpation to use such meetings when a lawfull publict order is established Quest If the generall assemblie est ablish such meetings can they be hurtfull Ans If the kings and people of Israel had established a libertie that the people might choose rulers and judges over the whole kingdome whensoever they pleased neverthelesse that they had kings If much treason and usurpation was committed when the king only rules much more should be committed by the multitude of rulers So when the publict ministrie is so contemned before the establishing of such meetings much more should it bee after all should be in confusion neither civile nor spirituall rulers should keep people in order 2. If a Lord send for some unruly servants to do some service they come to him passing through their neighbours standing corn though many plain passages bee besides if any reprove them for treading the corn they accuse the reprovers as enemies to their Lord to his service because they are forbidden to go to him in an unlawfull backward way and they prove that their Lord bad them come that way only because he bad them come to him So the defenders of privie meetings accuse their brethren as enemies to mutuall edification because they forbid them to do it in an usurping way having sufficient lawfull occasons beside they prove that they should doe that dutie in an usurping way only because Gods word biddeth them do that duetie 3. Salomon sayeth Thoverb 9 Stollan waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant So secret meetings a stollen worship unwarranted novations and usurped exercises are so sweet to some that they confesse that when they are wearied with labours in the day yet they spend a long time in the night at these meetings without sleeping which they can not do at the ordinarie publict exercises of Gods worship in the day time Naturally all men are inclined to obey humane traditions more strictly than Gods ordinances One preaching at the privie meetings is sweeter then many in a lawfull ordinarie way and many come together for privie prayers who abhor the ordinarie publict prayers So papists keep the festivall dayes of Saints more solemnly then the Lords Sabboths 4. Some make this habilitie of night-waking an argument to prove the lawfulnesse of privie meetings and night-meetings But it may as well prove the lawfulnesse of theft and of whoordome which are done in the night by men who watch for that end And papists who watch in the Canonicall hours of the night shall as soone prove that poprie is lawfull Qu. Should not familie worship also be reiected because men meet privily thereat Answ Not for 1. it is Commanded of God Deut. 4.9 10. Deut. 11.18 19. Psal 74. from 1. to 8. the usurping meetings have no such warrand and therefore can not look for such a blessing 2. Families professe their meetings before all men they hinder none to come and try their exercises but none come to the usurping meetings untill they be tryed to be of their opinion Quest. Doth not Gods Word warrand all privie meetings for religious exercises saying Be instant in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 Answ 1. That warrandeth not people of civile Callings to preach nor that Timothie should leave his own kirk at Ephesus and encroach on other mens charges He must teach in season and out of season that is at ordinarie and extraordinarie occasions only where he is called 2. The apostles might not teach in Bithynia and Asia Act. 16.6 7. nor among the gentiles untill they were called after the Lords resurrection Mat. 10.6 28.9 Quest. Is it not more comely thus to meet for edification then to meet ordinarly for excessive drinking and idle conference as some Preachers have done Ans 1. Both are unlawfull and excessive the one exceedeth the limits both of their Christian calling and of their particular lawfull calling over other mens charges the other exceedeth the necessarie and lawfull use of Gods benefits 2. Thus Josephus surnamed Justus who was not chosen with Mathias to be an apostle and the sons of Scaeva might say It is more comely to be an apostle than to betray Christ as Judas did his offence could not warrand them to doe that charge neither can the offence of Preachers justifie such usurpation Because the sons of Eli abused their callings should Uzza and king Uzzia there fore doe the office of the priests 3. Women may not speake publictly but if men would preach let their gifts first be tryed and let themselves receive imposition of hands by the Ministrie Quest May not two or three meet for private prayers ordinarly Ans One person
but they spake the typicall blessing to the people in the second person only not including themselves Numb 6. because in it they were not to acknowledge their own miserie but to typifie and represent CHRIST who blesseth really and substantially and of whose fulnesse every man receiveth blessing but he of no man and therefore when CHRIST came in the flesh the Priest of Aorons seed being about to blesse the people was made speechlesse to show that the true high Priest who blesseth really was now coming in the flesh Luke 1. Then he that imitateth Aaron in blessing the people so far he denyeth CHRISTS coming in the flesh 3. To eschew affectation of grandour for though some honest man say The Lord blesse you c. through simplicitie and custome yet others do it in ambition and desire of preheminence thinking the words in Hebr. 7.7 do militar for them viz. The lesse is blessed of the greater c. But the sense is that GOD almighty is greater absolutely and every manner of way than all his creatures because he blesseth them really and the high Priest is greater than the people whom he blesseth typically not every manner of way but by representation only thus he represented Christ who blesseth really but ambitious men preach their owne pride when they should preach Christs humilitie they blesse in the second person to show their affected vain grandour that they may be esteemed greater then the people whose servants they should be for Iesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 4. To eschew conformitie with antichristians for it is also a popish rite the popes in the years of their Iubilee in their progresse through Rome they stretched forth their hands towards the people saying The Lord blesse you my people c. Their clergie in the Letany of the service book are said to blesse such as receive orders including themselves but when they demit the people from the communion they blesse excluding themselves to show that they are greater then the people When the priest endeth his divine service a bishop if he present saith the blessing to show his grandour above the priests and the people A deacon if he say the service if then a priest be present he blesseth for the same respect Quest Are not ministers called to blesse the people Answ That particularly pertained to the priests as well as the bearing of the ark and the burning of incense and sacrifices Deut. 10.8 1 Chron. 23.13 Mimsters are not called to the one more then to the other 2. CHRIST sent them to preach the Gospel and not to blesse neither typically nor substantially the one is abrogate He taketh the other in his own hand and therefore in his first preaching he altered the form of blessing the Apostles used not their forme of blessing but prayed in other wordes 3. If a preacher take blessing only for preaching he may blesse the people as he doth himself he is alike called to both 4. Hee may blesse new marryed persons saying The Lord blesse you c because he prayeth for a particular blessing viz. the prospering of their new begun estate of marriage 5. If any salute his neighbour present or absent he may say The Lord blesse you c. that it may be shown unto whom the honour is given for saluation is a kinde of honour given to our neighbour superiour inferiour or equall for intertaining friendship it is used both among pagans and Christians but ambitious courtasie should not conclude Gods worship though by way of praise people may blesse GOD Deut. 8.21 and by way of prayer beggars may blesse Princes are they therefore greater When Melchisedeck blessed Abraham he was greater in a typicall grandour representing Christ but when he blessed God he glorified God as a servant Gen. 14.19 unto Abraham he sought a blessing from God as a supplicant Qu. May I not say Blessed are they that hear Gods vvord and do the same An You may safely do it for it is a preaching sentence proclaiming salvation to such as obey GODS word 2. It excludeth neither preacher nor people and so it is no note of singularitie nor pride Quest Some say that the priests blessing vvas no prayer but a ceremoniall blessing Whether it be a prayer or a blessing if it be ceremoniall it should not be used 2. Thus you may say the moon is no planet it is but a moon the words are in the imperative mood therefore they import either praying counselling or commanding Is GOD inferiour to the priests that they should command him Is he weak witted or rash in his interprises that they should counsell him 4. The Hebrews who best understand the words take it for a prayer so Maimony discourseth of it in a treatise of prayer 5. Some say that the words are equivalent both to a prophesie and to the pronouncing of a blessing so were the words of Noah saying God perswade Japhet to dwell in the tents of Sem but that hindered none of their words to be prayers the form of pronouncing of blessings which are also prophesies but no prayers are written in Deuter. 28. CHAP. VIII Others reject presbyteriall government Qu. IS it lawfull seeing Gods church is independent upon any except Christ as their supreme and absolute ruler head Answ If that independencie forbid presbyteriall government much more should it forbid civile government which doth lesse participat in spirituall things and therefore is lesse able to rule according to GODS word CHRIST only hath supreme and absolute authoritie to rule in all lawfull government In church government mens lives and consciences are ruled by church discipline and by GODS word the sword of the Spirit In policie civile laws and the civile sword must rule people but their sword and laws must also be ruled by GODS word 2. All creatures depend immediatly upon GOD in their bodily and spirituall existence and being in the secret providence whereby he overruleth their actions and operations and in the secret blessings which he addeth to his bodily and spirituall benefits but in giving the outward benefits themselves and in keeping people inorder they have a mediat dependance on GOD by using his appointed outward means thus Salomon Prover 8. saith By me Kings reigne and Princes decree justice See Rom. 13.1 Cor. 6. Of church government Christ saith Math. 18.18 Whatsoever you shall binde or louse on earth shall be bound or loused in Heaven 3. The budding of Aarons rod and the giving of the keyes of the kingdome of heaven to the apostles are infallible witnesses that GOD hath ordeined church government to be ministred by certaine persons qualified to that effect and that every member of CHRISTS church hath not this power see Act. 15. 1 Cor. 5. and 2 Cor. 2 4. If any offend his brother why should the offended person tell him thereof secretly next before one or two witnesses thirdly to the church should not the Lord only take order thereof because of independancie see
with as good reason be discharged for these evils may accompanie them also Quest Can private prayer edifie in a publâ—ct assemblie Ans Practise and example edifieth as well as preaching 2. Example maketh people seek a blessing for their hearing as the pastor doth for his preaching Quest In a publict assemblie should not preachers and people concur in doing the same publict actions Ans They should concur in the same mater but not alwayes in the same manner and actions at publict prayer all should pray the Preacher with a loud voice the people in their hearts with a still voice At preaching all should be exercised in the word one in preaching the rest in hearing it but at divine praise all should sing with a loud voice In a publict house men may pray for particular blessings to themselves with as good reason as in a private house they may pray for the church militant 2. A publict house may admit private exercises as duely as a publict person may have private affaires So Christ in the temple bad one whom He healed Sin no more John 5.14 So said He to the woman taken in adulterie John 8.11 So in a church men may meditat read privatly and do the private actions of faith and repentance So the Preacher first considereth every word in his minde least he preach in publict unadvisedly and out of purpose 3. At any time of the preaching men may send up ejaculations without concurrance of the rest and why may not the preacher do so before his publict exercises whether the people be singing psalmes or hearing the word read But when he entreth in publict their exercises should give place to his more publict exercises for they may read and sing at home when they can not have preaching 4. At reading the word only at singing of psalmes a paraphrase of the word only but at preaching both the word and paraphrases with the interpretation doctrin and application are said therefore other exercises should give place unto it as unto a greater shining of the spirituall light of the same word Quest Did not the Lord forbid his Disciples in Matth. 6.5 to stand in the Synagogues and corners of the streets at private prayers Ergo privat prayers should not be in a publict place Answ It was never forbidden in the Scriptures 2. Because hee forbiddeth to doe after the meaning of all these words together forbiddeth he therefore to do after the meaning of any part of these words separat from the rest He forbiddeth not to pray nor to pray standing in the synagogues and corners of the streets nor to pray desiring to be seen of men but that they should not pray standing in the synagogues and corners of the streets desiring to be seen of men as the hypocrites do for they do all things for ostentation and humaine praise as the Lord faith of the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23.15 so they abused fasting and praying and giving of almes 3. For eschewing of hypocrisie and vain glory he bad the disciples do these things secretly as well as openly which hypocrites do not 4. They should do these things before men not for humaine praise but to provock others to do the like and to show that they are not ashamed to glorifie God before men they should also do them privatly to be exercised in the sinceritie of well doing and to be frequented with the neglect of humane praise and thereby to acknowledge that they are in the presence of the Al seeing God before whom they dare not be idle from well doing they should esteem it a greater honour if God alone behold them doing good then if all men and angels were looking upon them 5. The affecting to be seen of men at private prayer is oftimes a notable glorifying of God So Daniel prayed 3th the day opning his windows of set purpose to be seen of men Anna the mother of Samuel prayed privately in the Temple in the sight of men 1 Sam. Christ prayed for himself before men Ioh. 17.1 and he willingly heard many praying to himself before men as Jairus for his daughter the thief on the crosse the Cananitish woman Mat. 15. Peter prayed the Lord to wash his hands head and feet John 13. the Lord corrected the matter but not the manner of his prayer 6. The Lord in Mat. 5.16 saith Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your heavenly Father No good works have mo heavenly vertues seene in them then prayer faith is seen in it for we believe that God heareth us and hope for we expect a good answer and charitie for in the Lords prayer we pray for others as we do for our selves and holinesse praying not to be led into tentation temperance in desiring only dayly bread patience in suffring and meeknesse in pardoning wrongs in the words As we forgive them that sin against us the zeal of Gods glory in the first three petitions a thankfull praising of God in this confession For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory c. Quest May any pray privatlie in a publict place where there is no assemblie Answ They may because of the reasons foresaid whether they be forced thereto because they want secret chambers or because the church is the most secret house they can finde or because occasionally they are in it when they would pray or men are hindered by other businesse to goe to their chambers being far distant from them or because men appoint churches for private as they doe for publict prayers the one is as comely as the other but men make decencie a reason for every thing for the which they can not finde a reason CHAP. XVI The principall opinion of the Antinomians or Libertines The first proposition conteining their chief tenet EVery faithfull Christian being united to CHRIST by faith is one with Christ Christ with him therfore as it is impossible for Christ to sin so for the Christian Answ If the union of two diverse natures make the united parts alwayes equall in properties then the body is immortall invisible and an understanding substance like the soul for they are united in one person and all the members may hear and see c. because they are one body with the ears and eyes and every faithfull man is almightie infinit and eternall God and man in one person for they are united to Christ God and man 2. If any be united to Christ the Iust are united to him but Salomon saith they fall seven times a day Prover 24.16 3. Before that David was made King GOD testified of him as Paul saith Act. 13.21 I have found a man according to myne owne heart This was not the decree whereby GOD ordeined him to be holy it was a divine testimonie yet after this though he had union with Christ hee fell in murther and adulterie and hee numbered the people 4. Job 3.1 2. cursed the day of his death
superstition the constant neglect thereof is an antichristianlike extremity to hide by silence the chiefest principals of GODS truth which should bee confessed before men 7. Papists also blesse the people in a legall maner 8. Popish prelats are enemies to presbyteriall government taking upon themselves the whole power of church government so some pretended reformers would have the ministration of church government to be common to all the people that none should rule above themselves 9. The baptizing of children onely in the the years of discretion is like popish confirmation which is a baptizing of children in the years of discretion as if the baptisme ordained by Christ were of no effect 10. Some deny that Ministers admitted by bishops are lawfully called though some bishops be actuall Ministers popish prelats do take the power of admission from Ministers if they be not bishops so both are enemies to Ministeriall authority 11. Pharisaicall professors separat themselves at divine service not onely from pagans but also from such weak Christians as are not much respected among men so papists are much addicted to separation men of Church office are separat from the people in that they are called clergy and the people laiks And prelats as if they were more holy are separa-from the inferior orders and they separat all sound professors from themselves by excommunication 12. The forbidding to read the works of learned men and sound writers is oftentimes practised by papists to the maintaining of antichristian darknes 13. To forbid reading of Scriptures without interpretation is a hindering of people as the papists do to read any Scriptures at all for if people be perswaded that publict reading edfieth not what confort can they expect of privat reading 14. To forbid the publict office of readers bringeth also privat reading in contempt and so it maketh for hiding of Gods truth 15 To forbid privat prayer in a publick place before people it hindereth the glorifying of God before men in a worship wherein God should be most glorifyed so Antichristianlike it obscureth Gods glory To forbid privat prayer in churches whether people be present or not it maketh a superstitious difference of places as if God should not be worshipped in every place by Christians in their generall calling papists made the like difference between the body of the church and the chancell or quier 16. The Antinomians are members of Antichrist for they are enemies to faith and repentance the chief doctrine of the Gospell they either contradict or pervert the Scripturs in all their tenets 17. All the humaine traditions herisies and errours were brought into the church under the pretence of pietie and reformation of religion and many embraced them through blinde zeal thus are the foresaid novations brought in none of them have warrand from Scripture which is GODS revealed will An addition to the foutrh Chapter 〈…〉 26. the Lord saith to the Apostles that 〈…〉 â—â—â—ost cometh he shall teach you all things and bring all 〈…〉 go we should only use conceived prayers for the Spirit 〈…〉 conceptions and bringeth them to our memories Answ When Christ his prophets and apostles used of times words which were said before had Gods Spirit no medling with these words because they were not new conceptions 2. That text speaketh chiefly of preaching which was the proper end of their particular calling If they should not preach using meditation reading and other mens travels as means to help them but only look for new conceptions from Gods Spirit it would almost seeme that prayer should be so used but the text proveth nothing of these 3. The words of the text seeme rather to favour set forms of prayer for the Lord saith The Spirit shall teach and bring all things to your memorie whatsoever I have said unto you there is no mention here of new conceptions but of things which Christ spake to them before the text showeth that Gods Spirit bringeth to mens memories things spoken before 4. Gods Spirit giveth new conceptions and maketh to remember old conceptions forgotten and also to keep in memorie conceptions not forgotten and he giveth men grace in their hearts to make use of all conceptions new and old forgotten and not forgotten whether they be read from the visible book of paper or from the invisible book of the memorie 5. Then as the Sun and Stars are not only Gods work when they are newly created but also they still remain Gods work so the conceptions of devout prayer are not only the work of Gods Spirit when they are newly dyted unto men but they remaine still his work whether they be written or keep in memorie as it is a gift of God that men may make use of the Sun and Stars newly created or at any time afterwards so it is the gift of Gods Spirit to use religiously any devout conceptions when they are newly conceived or at any time afterwards The poesie of Homer is his as well now as at the beginning so are the meditations of prayer the effects of a sanctifying Spirit as well no was before FINIS The second answers against some Novations Adde these to the Chap. 1. viz. Question SHould we not use privie meetings for exercising our talents lest they be given unto us in vain Answ Davids brethren were stronger then himself The souldiers which Gedeon removed were stronger then the three hundred which he retained but God glorifieth himself in doing great things by the imployment of the weak ones and by the humble patience and ready attendance of the strong ones GOD did accept the zealous readinesse of David in preparing materialls for the temple as well as the travels of Salomon in building it The service done to GOD in the heart and intension shall be as surely rewarded as the labours of the hand if these things be done in faith All the waters of a river and the clouds of the air attend on mens service though all be not imployed So gifts given unto men should glorifie GOD either attending on his service or imployed in his service Adde these to the Chap. 3. viz. Quest SEeing the set formes of prayers in scripture are but short tailed prayers as some affirme can they be fit for our imitation who use longer prayers Answ If short prayers should not be imitated nor used then we should neither use the Lords prayer nor yet pray after that manner as the LORD commanded 2. Neither should wee use nor imitat conceived prayers whereof the most part in Scriptures are short tailed as they call them 3 The longest prayer in Scripture was said by Salomon at the dedication of the temple It is twise repeated viz. in 1 King 8. and 2 Chron. 6. Thus Gods Spirit indyted twise the longest prayer Repetitions are often indited by Gods Spirit as in the 7 epistles Revel 1.2 and 3. chap. In the beginning of every epistle is written I know thy works And in the ending Let him that hath an ear hear what the