a_o modest_a and_o clear_a answer_n to_o mr._n ball_n be_v discourse_n of_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n write_a by_o the_o reverend_n and_o learned_a john_n cotton_n b._n d._n and_o teacher_n of_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n at_o boston_n in_o new-england_n publish_a for_o the_o benefit_n of_o those_o who_o desire_v satisfaction_n in_o that_o point_n london_n print_v for_o h._n overton_n in_o popes-head_n alley_n to_o the_o courteous_a reader_n we_o think_v it_o not_o meet_v to_o fall_v a_o commend_v the_o author_n of_o this_o work_n who_o have_v be_v so_o long_o precious_a in_o the_o heart_n of_o all_o the_o saint_n and_o for_o his_o learning_n pain_n and_o piety_n so_o famous_a in_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n that_o his_o own_o work_n may_v praise_v he_o in_o the_o gate_n though_o we_o be_v silent_a neither_o shall_v we_o need_v as_o usual_o man_n do_v in_o their_o epistle_n to_o set_v gloss_n upon_o the_o work_n thyself_o if_o thou_o weigh_o it_o with_o a_o serious_a and_o 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the_o issue_n will_v be_v the_o question_n admit_v the_o lawfulness_n of_o some_o cherubim_n in_o general_n which_o be_v out_o of_o question_n the_o practice_n will_v conclude_v the_o lawfulness_n of_o jeroboam_n calf_n in_o particular_a which_o be_v the_o sin_n which_o make_v israel_n to_o sin_n 2._o your_o five_o rule_n acknowledge_v that_o neither_o christ_n nor_o his_o apostle_n prescribe_v any_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n and_o therefore_o that_o no_o prescript_n form_n of_o prayer_n of_o lyturgie_n be_v simple_o necessary_a answ_n but_o this_o argue_v not_o only_o no_o necessity_n of_o prescript_n form_n but_o also_o no_o expediency_n thereof_o to_o the_o edification_n of_o the_o church_n unless_o it_o may_v be_v presume_v that_o there_o be_v some_o help_n or_o mean_n of_o god_n worship_v expedient_a to_o the_o edification_n of_o the_o church_n which_o never_o come_v into_o the_o heart_n of_o christ_n and_o of_o his_o apostle_n to_o commend_v unto_o the_o church_n in_o your_o sixth_o rule_n you_o profess_v you_o never_o hold_v it_o lawful_a to_o tie_v any_o man_n self_n or_o to_o be_v tie_v always_o to_o a_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n as_o know_v that_o our_o request_n be_v to_o be_v frame_v according_a to_o the_o present_a necessity_n and_o occasion_n answ_n but_o by_o the_o same_o reason_n neither_o will_v it_o be_v lawful_a to_o be_v tie_v at_o any_o time_n to_o a_o ordinary_a use_n of_o any_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n at_o all_o for_o there_o be_v no_o change_n of_o time_n wherein_o the_o church_n have_v not_o some_o special_a occasion_n to_o change_v their_o petition_n either_o by_o add_v some_o petition_n more_o than_o former_o be_v needful_a or_o by_o take_v away_o some_o petition_n which_o be_v former_o needful_a it_o may_v be_v at_o the_o last_o meeting_n which_o be_v not_o needful_a now_o and_o look_v upon_o what_o ground_n it_o may_v be_v lawful_a to_o tie_v other_o or_o to_o be_v tie_v by_o they_o to_o a_o set_a form_n to_o day_n upon_o the_o 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the_o crutch_n from_o the_o lame_a and_o bread_n from_o the_o hungry_a answ_n in_o case_n a_o distress_a soul_n do_v meet_v with_o a_o prayer_n pen_v by_o a_o godly_a and_o well_o experience_a christian_a and_o do_v find_v his_o own_o case_n pithy_o and_o ample_o decipher_v and_o anatomize_v therein_o we_o deny_v not_o but_o his_o heart_n and_o affection_n may_v go_v along_o with_o it_o and_o say_v amen_o to_o it_o and_o thus_o far_o may_v find_v it_o a_o lawful_a help_n to_o he_o but_o if_o you_o set_v a_o part_n such_o a_o prayer_n to_o support_v he_o as_o a_o crutch_n in_o his_o prayer_n as_o without_o which_o he_o can_v walk_v straight_o and_o upright_o in_o that_o duty_n or_o if_o he_o that_o pen_v that_o prayer_n or_o other_o that_o have_v read_v it_o do_v enjoin_v it_o upon_o he_o and_o forbid_v he_o to_o pray_v especial_o with_o other_o unless_o he_o use_v that_o form_n this_o instead_o of_o a_o crutch_n will_v prove_v a_o cudgel_n to_o break_v the_o bone_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o prayer_n and_o force_v he_o to_o halt_v in_o worship_v god_n after_o the_o precept_n of_o man_n as_o it_o have_v be_v say_v before_o so_o it_o may_v be_v again_o remember_v here_o a_o man_n may_v help_v his_o spirit_n in_o meditation_n of_o his_o mortality_n by_o behold_v a_o dead_a man_n scalp_n cast_v in_o his_o way_n by_o god_n providence_n but_o if_o he_o shall_v set_v a_o part_n a_o death_n head_n or_o take_v it_o up_o as_o enjoin_v to_o he_o by_o other_o never_o to_o meditate_v or_o conserre_v with_o other_o about_o his_o mortality_n and_o estate_n of_o another_o life_n but_o in_o the_o sight_n and_o use_v of_o the_o death_n head_n such_o a_o soul_n shall_v find_v but_o a_o dead_a heart_n and_o a_o dead_a devotion_n from_o such_o a_o mean_n of_o mortification_n if_o some_o form_n of_o prayer_n especial_o such_o as_o give_v occasion_n to_o this_o dispute_n do_v now_o seem_v to_o be_v as_o bread_n to_o the_o hungry_a we_o say_v no_o more_o but_o this_o then_o hungry_a soul_n will_v never_o be_v starve_v that_o never_o want_v store_n of_o such_o like_a bread_n as_o this_o be_v disc_n the_o ample_a and_o particular_a lay_v out_o of_o our_o necessity_n do_v ease_v the_o heart_n and_o move_v affection_n and_o when_o this_o may_v be_v better_o do_v by_o the_o help_n of_o a_o book_n in_o prayer_n then_o of_o ourselves_o it_o be_v senseless_a to_o accuse_v the_o use_n hereof_o as_o a_o lip-labour_n and_o a_o quench_n of_o the_o spirit_n he_o stint_v not_o the_o spirit_n that_o labour_v to_o blow_v the_o coal_n of_o grace_n etc._n etc._n answ_n it_o be_v true_a he_o stint_v not_o the_o spirit_n nor_o quench_v he_o that_o use_v any_o mean_n sanctify_v by_o the_o spirit_n to_o blow_v the_o coal_n of_o grace_n but_o this_o we_o deny_v that_o a_o stint_a form_n of_o prayer_n upon_o a_o book_n devise_v by_o man_n and_o enjoin_v to_o be_v use_v as_o the_o prayer_n of_o a_o christian_a soul_n be_v a_o mean_v sanctify_v by_o the_o spirit_n to_o blow_v the_o coal_n of_o his_o grace_n or_o that_o the_o repeat_n of_o such_o a_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n though_o ample_a and_o particular_a in_o lay_v out_o his_o necessity_n will_v ease_v his_o heart_n or_o move_v his_o affection_n according_a to_o god_n god_n do_v not_o delight_v ordinary_o to_o breath_n in_o the_o masterly_a injunction_n of_o brethren_n upon_o brethren_n or_o of_o one_o congregation_n upon_o another_o especial_o in_o such_o thing_n whereof_o we_o have_v neither_o precept_n nor_o precedent_n in_o the_o word_n disc_n he_o do_v not_o substitute_v his_o christian_a friend_n in_o the_o place_n of_o the_o word_n and_o spirit_n who_o not_o able_a to_o lift_v up_o his_o soul_n to_o god_n by_o reason_n of_o straightness_n of_o heart_n and_o grievous_a pressure_n do_v crave_v his_o help_n and_o assistance_n in_o prayer_n and_o may_v not_o a_o godly_a book_n supply_v the_o want_n of_o a_o christian_a companion_n answ_n it_o be_v a_o ordinance_n of_o god_n to_o crave_v the_o help_n of_o the_o prayer_n of_o our_o brethren_n and_o to_o join_v with_o they_o show_v the_o like_a warrant_n for_o prayer_n upon_o a_o book_n prescribe_v to_o we_o and_o then_o we_o will_v grant_v a_o godly_a book_n may_v supply_v even_o in_o this_o case_n the_o lack_n of_o a_o christian_a companion_n if_o a_o minister_n be_v not_o able_a to_o preach_v by_o reason_n of_o the_o straightness_n of_o his_o heart_n and_o grievous_a pressure_n he_o may_v get_v his_o christian_a friend_n to_o preach_v for_o he_o but_o he_o may_v not_o make_v use_n of_o a_o godly_a homily_n enjoin_v to_o he_o by_o other_o to_o supply_v the_o lack_n of_o a_o christian_a friend_n disc_n why_o shall_v it_o be_v a_o sin_n to_o read_v or_o pronounce_v a_o godly_a form_n of_o prayer_n be_v it_o for_o that_o it_o be_v read_v and_o pronounce_v or_o because_o a_o man_n can_v lift_v up_o his_o heart_n in_o faith_n unto_o god_n when_o he_o utter_v his_o request_n in_o a_o stint_a form_n of_o word_n to_o assign_v the_o former_a be_v superstition_n to_o say_v the_o latter_a be_v to_o offend_v against_o common_a experience_n answ_n we_o do_v not_o say_v it_o be_v a_o sin_n to_o read_v or_o pronounce_v a_o godly_a form_n of_o prayer_n but_o to_o read_v a_o form_n of_o prayer_n devise_v by_o other_o and_o to_o set_v it_o a_o part_n to_o read_v be_v devise_v by_o other_o enjoin_v to_o i_o as_o my_o prayer_n this_o be_v sin_n not_o because_o it_o be_v pronounce_v for_o all_o public_a prayer_n be_v pronounce_v nor_o always_o in_o private_a because_o it_o be_v read_v for_o as_o have_v be_v say_v a_o man_n may_v go_v along_o in_o his_o spirit_n and_o be_v affect_v with_o some_o prayer_n which_o occasional_o he_o read_v and_o may_v lift_v up_o his_o own_o heart_n in_o it_o to_o the_o lord_n but_o a_o sin_n it_o be_v as_o it_o be_v set_v apart_o by_o himself_o for_o his_o prayer_n or_o as_o it_o be_v so_o enjoin_v to_o he_o by_o other_o and_o in_o public_a it_o be_v of_o sin_n both_o because_o it_o be_v read_v as_o the_o prayer_n of_o the_o church_n and_o so_o another_o book_n bring_v into_o the_o church_n beside_o god_n book_n and_o because_o it_o be_v devise_v not_o by_o the_o gift_n of_o god_n spirit_n in_o themselves_o but_o in_o other_o and_o also_o because_o by_o other_o it_o be_v prescribe_v or_o enjoin_v to_o be_v read_v as_o the_o service_n and_o worship_n of_o god_n in_o another_o church_n for_o we_o do_v not_o find_v that_o ever_o god_n give_v warrant_n either_o for_o the_o offer_v up_o of_o read_v prayer_n to_o god_n as_o the_o ordinary_a prayer_n of_o the_o church_n and_o least_o of_o all_o for_o prayer_n prescribe_v and_o enjoin_v by_o one_o church_n unto_o another_o it_o be_v so_o far_o off_o from_o superstition_n to_o affirm_v this_o that_o we_o look_v at_o it_o as_o a_o superstition_n to_o deny_v it_o for_o to_o speak_v of_o superstition_n according_a to_o the_o true_a nature_n of_o it_o and_o not_o according_a to_o the_o old_a etymology_n if_o superstition_n be_v cultus_fw-la supra_fw-la statutum_fw-la there_o be_v none_o of_o all_o these_o kind_n whether_o as_o read_v upon_o a_o book_n in_o the_o congregation_n for_o their_o ordinary_a prayer_n or_o devise_v by_o man_n of_o other_o congregation_n for_o that_o end_n or_o as_o impose_v upon_o we_o by_o they_o but_o they_o be_v all_o of_o they_o and_o each_o one_o of_o they_o cultus_fw-la supra_fw-la statutum_fw-la worship_n and_o help_n and_o form_n of_o worship_n which_o never_o come_v into_o god_n heart_n to_o allow_v for_o his_o statute_n and_o worship_n disc_n will_v any_o man_n object_n that_o read_v prayer_n be_v not_o god_n ordinance_n it_o have_v be_v answer_v already_o that_o prayer_n be_v the_o ordinance_n of_o god_n but_o whether_o our_o prayer_n be_v only_o conceive_v in_o heart_n or_o utter_v by_o word_n whether_o in_o our_o own_o or_o other_o word_n whether_o by_o pronounce_v or_o read_v that_o be_v not_o appoint_v when_o speak_v he_o one_o word_n of_o prayer_n within_o book_n or_o without_o 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why_o such_o a_o necessity_n as_o have_v be_v open_v of_o a_o set_v devise_v form_n of_o sing_v shall_v excuse_v a_o set_a form_n of_o psalm_n and_o yet_o not_o excuse_v a_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n but_o rather_o excuse_v the_o people_n from_o join_v in_o it_o answ_n because_o there_o be_v no_o necessity_n at_o all_o of_o a_o devise_v set_v form_n of_o prayer_n unless_o it_o be_v through_o the_o sinful_a defect_n of_o the_o minister_n gift_n in_o prayer_n which_o be_v such_o a_o necessity_n as_o god_n abhor_v both_o it_o and_o the_o minister_n for_o it_o but_o the_o necessity_n of_o a_o set_a form_n of_o psalm_n be_v such_o which_o god_n himself_o have_v put_v for_o the_o celebration_n of_o that_o service_n with_o one_o accord_n both_o in_o heart_n and_o voice_n as_o have_v be_v show_v and_o therefore_o you_o may_v well_o have_v forbear_v that_o confident_a expression_n disc_n if_o christian_n shall_v not_o exempt_v themselves_o from_o the_o stint_a prayer_n use_v in_o the_o 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