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
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
be read without interpretation for many Scriptures do interpret others Quest But also they must be interpret by the studies and commentaries of learned men otherwise he that readeth them is like a woman holding out a toome pape void of milk that the infant can not feed thereon Answ Peter calleth GODS word sincere milk 1 Pet. 2.3 therefore it feedeth by it self hence he and other Apostles wrote epistles without such interpretation Some milk is thin that children may easily feed on it some is hard and curded which must be made thin and rarified by hearbs So some of GODS word is plain and easie to bee understood some Scriptures are hard and obscure but they are rarified and made plain that people may understand their Preachers by prayer meditation and reading obteine of the LORD the understanding the gifts of interpretation right applying and dividing of the word of the old and new Testament which are the spirituall papes of the church these gifts are the hearbs which rarifie this milk and make it plain for the peoples capacitie 3. The obscure scriptures should be read for that which is obscure to some is plain unto others and also GODS Spirit can help our faith by obscure scriptures as when CHRIST cured the blinde with clay which otherwise maketh blinde This is known when men say in their hearts I know whatsoever you obscure scriptures signifie it is for my well and if it be needfull GOD will revale it to me 4. Moses without interpretation did read publictly the books of the law Exod. 24.7 Josua did the same Jos 8.34 and Shaphan the scribe 2 King 22.10 The Eunuch read Esay Act. 8.28 Philip reproved him not for it though he understood not the particular yet hee might bee edified by some generals in it before that Philip taught him he saw in the words a rare example of patience and humilitie fit for his imitation viz. One led like a sheep to the slaughter that opened not his mouth against his persecutors No chapters in the scriptures wanteth some plaine things in generals or particulars 5. Prophesies and obscure Scriptures should bee read and heard as reverently and attentively as the disciples heard obscure things out of CHRISTS own mouth and they learned humilitie not being wiser than CHRIST making a glosse of their own upon his words but patiently did attend untill the LORD after his resurrection and the holy Ghost after his ascension did teach them 6. John calleth them blessed that heareth and readeth this prophesie though many things in it be not understood and therefore could not be interpret Revel 1.3.7 The forbidding to read GODS word publictly is an indirect forbidding it to be read altogether which increaseth antichristian darknesse for if it be like a toome pape read publictly without interpretation what milk can it give privatly See the next chapter CHAP. XIIII Some deny the office of publict Readers to be lawfull Quest THe charge and office of publict readers is it allowed by Gods word Answ It is as warrantable as the charge of publict preachers 1. for Moses a prince and a prophet was commanded Deut. 31.11 12. to read Gods word publictly when the people should appear before the LORD that men women children and strangers may hear and learn and fear the Lord and observe the words of the Law 2. Gods word is written that it may be read therefore it is called the Scripture Neither is publict nor private reading forbidden in scripture both are commanded and allowed The Eunuch of Ethiopia read privatly and Moses publictly so did Josua and Shaphon mentioned in the former chapter 3. The Scriptures themselves are canonick preachings of Gods properties his works mercies judgements providence and promises c. therefore they should be read publictly either from the visible or from the invisible book of the memorie if they can do it but the reading on the visible booke is more sure 4. Paul Act. 13.27 testifieth that the Prophets were read every Sabboth Day This was done without interpretation for he saith They knew not the voices of the Prophets therefore they could not interpret the things they understood not but CHRIST and his apostles did interpret them 5. Preachers are also readers for they read their texts publictly before they give the sense so did Nehemie chap. 8. and CHRIST Luke 4. They who dissallow the publict reading of GODS word contradict themselves in practise for they are publict readers when they rehearse publictly the Lords prayer or the blessing from the book of their memorie and the text the ground of their sermons yea they and all the people read publictly the paraphrases of the psalmes when they sing them in miter with a loud voice in the open assemblie much more should the canonick Scriptures themselves be read publictly 7. Necessitie also forceth publict reading for poor people that can not read may not suste in readers to their private families therefore they must hear publict reading or else they shall never hear at all Also it is a honouring of GOD to heare his word reverently before men If the ministeriall preachings be called Gods word much more the canonick preachings dyted immediatly by GODS Spirit are his word but who can hear it without a reader then it appertaineth to the kingdome of darknesse and of antichrist to disallow this charge 8. It is objected that some readers are drunkards or profaine but that should not hinder reading more then preaching for some preachers have the same blemishes 9. It is objected that they understand not many things which they read so many make sermons on texts which they understand not but none hindereth the lawfull tryall of the life gifts of such as enter in both the callings CHAP. XV. Private prayer of Preachers in the pulpit and of people in the Church is forbidden Quest IN a publict assemblie should a Minister pray privatly in the pulpit before he begin his publict exercise Is it not idolatrie or superstition as some affirme or ostentation or against decencie and good order seeing he hath prayed for the same things alreadie in his chamber Answ Christ that night that He was betrayed prayed thrise in the garden for the same things 2. If within the church a Iump of a wall fall down upon the preacher should he neither pray to God nor man for relief because he prayed for Divine protection in his chamber 3. If men ascribe divine vertue or merit to the prayer because it is said within the pulpit it is idolatrie if they think it a more religious worship done in the pulpit then else-where it is superstition If they do it to be seen of men rather then to glorifie God it is ostentation if the matter of the prayer be not holy and the manner be not in reverence and humilitie seeing the place is ordeined for a holy use it is undecent and against good order But who can know the secrets of mens hearts Therefore all publict religious exercises may
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