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
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
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
what they speak of God as in psal 8.1 O God our Lord how wonderfull One that hath not the psalm in their memory knoweth not if the works or mercies or fearfull judgements of God or the great power and cruelty of the enemies be called wonderfull untill that the line be sung out and the next line read In psal 84.1 O Lord since vengeance doth to thee c. three lines are sung out and the fourth read before they know the sentence and weak memories forget what they sing before the second or third line be read some can not repeat the first line after the reading They abuse Gods name also when the last line is read albeit they understand it for it is a none sense to sing only apart viz. the last line not the whole sentence with understanding and many understand not the sentence even at the hearing of the last line because they forget the former lines before the last be read so God is rather mocked than praised by this blind implicit faith modest silence hath more true devotion 2. They say that learned men themselves understand not many words which they both read and sing Ignorance is tolerable when God revealeth not the mater but not when men procure it by a rash practise nor yet when they will seem wise in the thing they understand not Will not a king be offended if his servants speak to him as drunken men not knowing what they say but more justly may God be offended at such contempt 3. The proclaimer of lines of times forgetteth the words of his book and he speaketh other words for them 4. Sometimes his book is wrong printed and he bableth as he findeth it 5. Sometimes people distant from him hear not his voice because he heareth his own voice he believeth that all the rest hear it 6. It is a great contempt of Gods worship at every line to interrupt and mar it giving place to a reader Will any interrupt the shearing of corn by tilling so much ground as is shorn at the shearing of every sheaf this interruption is more uncomely 7. Musick orderly used stirreth up mens hearts to praise God cheerfully this interruption diminitheth cheerfulnesse and hindereth attention unto the matter Quest It is comely in the church that one part of the people shall sing and nes all the rest Ans It is as comely as when some read the word with the Reader and the text with the Preacher and as when some use ejaculations at preaching and not all the rest 2. It is more comely than that all the people shall so often interrupt Gods worship giving place unto a Reader 3. Gods Spirit thought it comely that twelve men only should sing at once in the temple not all the rest Chron. 25. the rest may praise God in a vocall manner saying with Iob Blessed be the name of the Lord Or For thine is the kingdome power and glory for Christ in the Lords prayer did conjoin praise with prayer 4. The Lord in Math. 11.25 said I thank thee O heavenly Father Lord of Heaven and Earth c. this was as true praise as when after his last supper he sung a psalme 5. At the Lords birth the sheepheards heard the Angels praised God without reading of lines for concurrance of the sheepheards this angelicall praise may suffice all the world if the musicall praise be not rightly used 6. If men have in their hearts the substantiall praise of the love reverence and of an high estimation of God the matter is little though all their lifetime they want the shaddow of musicall praise 7. The ignorant may be taught a more comely musicall praise without abusing of Gods Name Quest How shall it bee done Answ Teach them to get in their memories short and materiall psalmes for they are capable of badrie songs that once or twise every Sabboth they may sing some of them with the people they may also sing them in their houses and they may sing the conclusion Glory to the Father c. It were better in the Sabboths after publict service to cause them learn to read then interrupt Gods worship with reading Quest Why do sundrie godlie men cause proclame the lines Answ The blind zeal of some thinketh it the best custome 2 Others do it only till they find a fitter occasion to draw unruly people to a better custome as the apostles did permit some I gall rites Act. 15. which in themselves were become dead untill the estate of the church were better satled Quest May we not thus sing to gain such as cannot read as Paul gained the weak ones 1 Cor. 9. Answ Blind zeal neglecteth that which is more needfull viz. by repeating prayers to gain such as can not pray when as men may be good Christians without musicall praise all their lifetime 2. Paul might not be an idolater a drunkard nor a blasphemer to gain others from these vices but he might use or not use the legall rites which in his dayes should end and be buried honestly without sudden violence he gained people from superstition you teach them to be superstitious making them so esteem of musicall praise as if God could not be praised and themselves could not be Christians without it you teach them to abuse Gods name and to be hypocrites in singing words that they understand not so their words mind agree not together Qu. We thus keep them from idle thoughts vvhen others are in a holy exercise Ans You draw them rather both upon idle thoughts idle words when they sing that which they know not 2. Good Christians do confesse that oftimes in their best exercises of prayer and divine praise when they understand the mater they are assaulted with evill thoughts Satan so hateth Gods worship what then can be expected of such as know not what they speak 3 When twelve persons only did sing at once 1 Chron. 29. the Lord knew that their musicall praise did stir up holy reverend thoughts of God in the hearers rather then if the hearers had sung without understanding So Elisha prophesied not being cheared up by his own musick but by a ministrel 2 King 3. when David danced and leaped before the ark rejoising that God was present with his people his joy was stirred up by the musick of others as well as if it were his own musick 1 Chron. 15.28 29. Qu. Do not these Words pertain to all Christians to vvit that they should speak to them selve in psalmes and hymnes and make melodie in their hearts to the Lord Eph. 5.22 Ans None can rejoice to the Lord not knowing a reason of their joy as they do who sing without understāding if the sound of singers stir up their mirth and cheerfulnesse they not knowing the mater it is a melodie in their hearts but not to the Lord except some holy meditations of their own minde concur with the sound 2. If they rejoice in the assurance of
guilty through practising or countenancing them but if their sins be hid their societie are not guilty thereof 3. Knowest thou the secrets of the heart better then CHRIST and his apostles who served GOD and preached dayly among infidels for their conversion 4. If thou be sincere and void of pharisaicall pride thou will rather condemn thy self than others as did the Publican and Paul called himself the greatest of all sinners 5. Some at the LORDS supper did abhor to take the elements from the hands of laicks as they said least they had beene wiches warlocks or profain For the same causes also they might refuse to take them from ministers for neither can they know their hearts and the ministers might abhor to take back againe the cup from the people or to give them the elements Notable apostats should be eschewed apostasie it self excommunicateth them from true professors except they repent 6. How shall infidels bee converted if the faithfull converse not with them chiefly at Divine service CHAP. XII Some forbid Preachers to read the books of learned men for understanding Gods Word Quest SHould Preachers read the Commentars of godly fathers and learned men for inabling them to preach Gods word for the Lord in Matth. 10.19 saith Take no thought how or what you shall speak for it is not you that speak but the Spirit of your heavenly Father that speaketh in you Answ Hee forbiddeth only excessive care and feare when they are accused before judges for the testimonie of the truth but not when they preach though at preaching also they should not exceed in fear 2. The like speach is in Matthew 6.25 Take no thought what you eat or drink or put on Did they therefore alwayes go fasting and naked not using the means 3. In Matth. 10. vers 7.23 he telleth what they should speak 4. He bad them hear corrupt teachers viz. the Scribes and Pharisees when they sit in Moses seat that is when they teach conform to his doctrine 5. The Spirit brought to their memories the things that CHRIST taught them and so helped them that used the means John 14.26 6. The Lord himself made use of the learning of the Doctors hearing them and asking them questions Luke 3.46 Hee made use of their speaches Matth. 16. viz. When it is evening you say it will be fair weather c. the like is in Luke 12.5 Matth. 23.16 In his doctrine and parables he made use of the customes and doings of the people 7. Some speak of morall things with a mourning accent calling it a preaching from the heart and from the Spirit thogh they never interpret GODS word which is the chief intention of the Spirit in preaching and the chief duety of the ministeriall calling practised by the LORD and his apostles Luke 4.21 and 24.27 Act. 6.4 and 8.3 and Act. 7. GODS word it self clearly opened is the most powerfull meane to enlighten the minde to move the heart and to waken the conscience 9. Why should Timothie give himself to reading and meditation and commit the things hee heard of Paul to such as should teach others 1 Tim. 4.13.19 2 Tim. 2.9 And why desired Paul the books and parchments left at Troas 2 Tim. 4.13 if they were taught only immediatly by the Spirit at preaching 10. Paul maketh use of the speach of Epimenides Cretensis a pagan Tit. 2.12 viz. The Cretians are alwayes lyars evill beasts slow bellies And of a speech of Aratus the Athenian poet Act. 17.28 Wee are also his of spring that is the ofspring or creatures of GOD and of the inscription which the Pagans wrot upon the altar at Athens Act. 17. To the unknown God and of the speach of Menander 1 Cor. 15.33 Evill speaches corrupt good manners Quest We interpret Scriptures by other Scriptures and so we show the meaning of the Spirit in his word Answ That is good to such as know the other Scripturs already but to others it is like words of an unknown language 2. The illustration of obscure Scriptures by other scripturs is no interpretation except the words be plainer nor the obscure scripturs the words that are most in themselves cannot be interpret by other scripture because there are no plainer words in scripturs Item things that are but once written in scripturs cannot be explained by other scripturs as the speach of Lomech Genes 4.23 I would slay am in in my wound c. and the decree of Augustus taxing all the world c. Luke 2. 3. The LORD did interpret Scriptures by things which were not in Scriptures as in Luke 4.21 Matth. 11.5 9 14 and 27.43.46 verses Act. 8.33 4. To repeat the same things from diverse Scriptures helpeth our faith in showing the agreement of the writers but it interpreteth not except the words repeated be plainer therefore use also for the ignorant literall expositions and illustrations used by learned men and amplifie them for their capacitie Quest Men should not read nor preach any thing but Scriptures for Paul said 1 Cor. 2. I determined not to know any thing but Christ and Him crucified Answ That is Hee would know nothing as principally belonging to his calling but the doctrine of our salvation procured by CHRIST and his sufferings all other sciences and learning should be servants unto this otherwise how did Paul know the means of learning foresaid 2. Some affirm that themselves speak nothing but the texts of Scripture which they never did nor can doe except they only do the office of readers for neither the speeches of their method analysis and division of the text nor their doctrine application and uses nor the numbers of chapters and verses are in the text Quest In using the works of learned men you seeme to allow their errours who alledge the church or counsels or fathers or popes to be supreme judges of contraversies and infallible interpreters of Gods word Answ Then CHRIST and his apostles should also seeme to do the same for we imitate their practise 2. If a king or his deputies make people understand his laws by the manner of speaches and words of the people are the people therefore interpreters of the laws So is it if we interpret GODS word using the speaches of men Qu. How hath Christ interpret Gods word in the Scriptures Answ By making some Scriptures so evident that they need no other interpretation from the Scriptures if the reader understand only the language Such are these Are they not twelve hours in the day The servant is not greater than his master c. This evidencie and plainnesse is in stead of an interpretation 2. By providing other plainer Scriptures for opening up of obscure scritures 3. Though wee finde not the meaning of some Scriptures yet we finde sufficient for our edification CHAP. XIII Some forbide the Scriptures to be read without interpretation Quest IS it not lip-labour and idle words to read the Scriptures publictly without interpretation Answ All the Scriptures can not
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
that his reproof should be feared or the praise formall and the prayer included in it materiall as a leper said unto Christ If thou wilt thou canst make me clean Item A broken and contrite bea rt O GOD thou wilt not despise Psal 51. Or whether a formall prayer and a formall praise be together in one sentence as Give ear O sheepbeard of Israel thou that leadest Joseph like a flock Psal 80. 3. Ioy and sadnesse are contrarie Christians may have them together in their remitted degrees in this life but in the next world the Elect shall have joy and the reprobat sadnesse in their extreme degrees In this life if the joy of Christians be greater then their sadnesse they should sing formall or materiall praises or prayers if their sadnesse be greater they should not sing at all as James sayeth but rather pray without singing though praise be included in the prayer they should expresse lesse mirth when their sadnesse exceedeth their joy Quest When we sing a psalme which hath prayers in it we sing to the praise of God is this singing a formall or materiall praise Answ Both materiall and formall praise may be sung to the praise of God 2. In respect of the musick our praise should be formal keeping the right manner of the tune and herein they transgresse who interrupt musical praise giving place to a reader at the end of every line by reading the line following The pauses used between lines is a comely ornament unto singing and is as necessar to distinguish the lines or principall parts of the tunes as it is necessar that shorter pauses should divide every note from another without distinctions and pauses all the tune should be but one note Musick without number and division is not musick but musicall praise is deformed by a non musical interruption of reading and Gods ordinance ordeined to chear up men for divine praise is deformed and rent and so it abaiteth chearfulnesse they do evill that good may come of it choosing a deformed musicall praise when they may have a rightly formed praise They do it that ignorant people may sing with them But humane will-worship can not take a good effect for Gods Spirit never taught it Therefore in stead of praise they abuse Gods name because they sing oftimes many lines not knowing what they say of God even when the sentence is ended Their blind zeal do not read sentences of prayer that the ignorant may learn to pray which is more needfull in this life It were better to sing perquier but one verse of a psalme all our lifetime then to deforme Gods worship thus singing all the psalms Some use this deformitie because niggardnesse hindereth them to buy a number of psalme books and slugishnesse hindreth them to teach their domesticks to read 3. Where there are two or four or six or mo lines in a sentence before the last line be heard the ignorant know not what they have sung and so they play the hypocrit and abuse Gods name seeming to praise GOD when they know not what they say of God and when the last line is read many know not the sense because they have forgotten what was sung and so still they abuse Gods name And such as know the sense also abuse Gods name for they have but sung the last line only with understanding It is a none sense to sing a part and not the whole fentence with understanding And though some have the psalme in their memorie yet they deforme Gods worship interrupting it with reading When ignorant papists pray in Latine not knowing what they say it is as true Divine worship as when we sing words of praise in our own language not knowing what we say If any sing reading on a book not taking heed what he saith it is but his own fault and hee may amend it at other times but when a multitude is forced by a law or custom to do it this is more antichristian like the ignorant might praise God in their hearts with a hundreth fold more true devotiō with understanding if only the psalme were read to them in prose or in verse But the pride of the obstinat will not amend thogh they know their errours In respect of the transcendent condition of all the psalms the praise of every psalm may be called formall for every psalm hath some formall praise in it even the penitentiall psalms as Psal 6.8 9. Psal 51.16 17 4. Materiall praise in singing may be made formall by adding to it and concluding it with a sentence of formall praise as Glory to the Father and to the Son c importing that not only the glory of all things but particularly of the things mentioned in the words presently sung belongeth to the Father c. If the ignorant get these words with the last verse of the psalm 28. viz. Thy people and thine heritage c. they may sing them orderly albeit they sing no more with the rest at all occasions for these words of prayer and praise are as substantiall and plain as any words in the book of the the psalms 5. When men sing words which have no formall confession they may make the praise formall in their hearts if they consider and acknowledge what work God hath in the things mentioned by these words 6. When formall prayers and other speaches are equivolent to formall praises they may also bee called formall praises Quest How are they equivalent to formall praises Answ If a formall praise be added to a formall prayer in the same sentence as in the third petition of the Lords prayer Thy will be done in earth c. and Psal 51.1 Have mercy on me O God according to thy loving kindnesse c. 2. If in the prayer Gods name be expressed with epithites of praise as Give ear O sheepheard of Israel Psal 80 3. If the matter and purpose of the prayer concerne the manifesting of GODS glory in expresse words as in the first two petitions of the Lords prayer In Psal 115 Not unto us O Lord but unto thy name give the glory The third petition of the Lords prayer is a formall praise both in this respect and in the respect forsaid 4. Speaches that are not formall praises by expressed confession if they attribute unto God honourable and divine things by insinuation they are formall praises by insinuation as in Psal 2. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in trembling for it is a direct formall praise that God should be served and feared Quest Who are actors of Gods praises Answ The elect men and angels act his formall praises when they consider his excellent works and the good things in them and the good things of God manifested in his word and works And they ascribe all the honour and glory thereof unto God by confessing him to be the Author Conserver and Ruler of all more Excellent then all void of all imperfections and wants that are in all