Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	hear_v	heart_n	pray_v	1,932	5	5.7672	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70449	A debate concerning the English liturgy, both as established in & as abolished out of the worship of God drawn out in two English & two Latine epistles / written betwixt Edward Hyde ... and John Ley ...	Ley, John, 1583-1662.; Ley, John, 1583-1662.	1656 (1656)	Wing L1873; ESTC R20804	55,868	88

without apparent reason were in the year 1605 to the d number of 277 called in question about it 260 were under censure some of Admonition some of Suspension some of Deprivation And it was matter of Scandall to the weak and wicked as the brazen Serpent was for as the Jews did by that so do most ignorant and prophane people do by this Idolizing it so much that they preferre a piece of Service-book at the grave before Preaching of a Sermon in the Pulpit I speak what I know by experience of some who were so much offended at my refusall of the one that they would not give me thanks for my pains in the other and some are constant recu●ants from their Parish-Church though they dwell very near it because I am not constant to a set form of prayer particularly to that of the Service-book I will conclude mine Answer to this Objection with the conclusion of a debate betwixt Dr Edw. Maynw the last Chancellour of Chester and my self as I have observed in my Latine Answer to your Latine Letter which we had many years before the beginning of the last Parliament which was this I having shewed him what offence was given and taken by urging of the Service-book such as it was and how little appearance of just cause of exception there would be if it were laid aside he confessed at last and said We shall never have peace and true charity in the Church untill it be taken away SECT. IX A set or composed form of Prayer how farre lawfull or needfull Obj. BUt the want of that or of some other new composed form in stead of it causeth much scandall by many mens un-premeditated and extemporary utterance whereby they speak that many times which tends rather to the debasing of that holy Office and to the offence of a prudent and pious hearer then to the honour of God Sol. It may be so yet 1. That must not prejudice the gift of God by the Spirit of grace and of supplication Zech. 12. 10. which divers doubtless have and give evident proof of it by their practice I have heard it and e once before published it in Print which I may here pertinently repeat from a very faithfull f witness that a man of high place in the Church and of eminent parts and proficiency in all kinde of knowledge especially of Divinity acknowledged that he hath heard a lay-man in a leathern jacket pray by heart without art or book and with such an evidence and domonstration of the Spirit as hath made him much ashamed of his own defects and disabilities to perform that duty of devotion in such a manner and measure as he had done 2. For those that have not the gif●t they may by premeditation and study compose a set form of prayer for themselves and their people which may prevent the precipitation of any unfit or offensive expression 3. Because most are loth to own their own wants and to seem less able for their calling than other men are who need not tie themselves to any set form of words it might I conceive be expedient as an help to such as are more weak in parts or spirit for some have rather too much bashfulness than too little ability for the service and for a prevention of their errours who are too presumptuous in boasting themselves in a false gift Prov. 25. 14. pretending to have that they have not and so undertaking beyond their power as it is in the note upon the place in the first Volume of the late large Annotations as also to prevent presumption in some and for evidence of consent of Churches in the service of God and lastly for a supply to the defects of the common people who commonly are acquainted with no prayers but those they hear in the Congregation that a set form were composed in stead of the old Service-book but not so imperiously imposed as that was which might be so much better done in the present age by the best gifted in that kinde as when the people are well acquainted with it might give them better content than the Service-book did For as the Translations of the Bible are more perfect now than in King Edwards reign they were and Preaching more solid more methodicall and eloquent than in his daies as will appear by comparing Latimer's Sermons before that King with others before Q. Elizab. the two late Kings the long Parliament which last amount to many Volumes now they are Printed And the singing Psalms are more exactly rendred in Meeter by divers in old England and lately by our Brethren in new England than those Thom. Sternhold Will Hopk and Rob. Wisd. so no doubt if we compare Printed Prayer-books as old as the first English Liturgie with those which have been set forth in our own time we shall finde as much pre-eminence as difference in the latter above the former and if such a design should be so farre taken to heart as to proceed to effect because most of the Reformed Churches of Christendom have found cause to frame a set form of prayer for themselves yet I should never desire to have it so rigorously urged as g Calvin advised nor so premptorily pressed to practise as some Prelates have done but that it were rather commended to the use of all for the reasons before alleadged than strictly commanded to any for many would act in a way of freedom who would not come under a servile obedience especially for that which is neither expresly prescribed nor prohibited in Scripture By this proposall and plea for a set form of Praier I intend not to take off or cool any mans desires or indeavours to be able to walk without such a crutch But for Preachers especially I would have them give themselves to the doubt duty wherein the Apostles exercised themselves viz. Prayer and the Word of God Act. 6. 4. as well that as this that by Gods blessing they may prove good proficients in them both It was the great errour and the mother in gross ignorance in former times that Ministers pinion'd their devotion to the Service-book when many who were but reading Levites were so word-bound with it that upon any occasion which they met not with in that road they were at a stand and as mute as fishes which cals to my remembrance Sr Thomas Holcrofts Curate at the Vale-royall in Cheshire to whom he went his house was on fire desiring him to pray the Curate betook himself with much hast to his Service-book and finding out the prayer for Rain if time require prayed according to the form thereof That God would send such moderate showers c. Moderate showers Sir Humnet so was the Curate called said the Knight that will do no good it is a great fire a very great fire howsoever he had none other holy water to quench it Thus he exposed two things besides himself to derision which should be entertained with gravity