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
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
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
Gods favour and mercie it is a spirituall song and melodie in the heart to the Lord though it want outward musick Quest But in Coloss 3.16 he biddeth admonish one another in psalmes and hymnes Answ When men know not what they sing they neither admonish nor are admonished by such melody 2. Paul admonisheth Christians not to be like Pagans who at their feasts and other occasions were delighted with badry filthy and protain longs but they should use songs of heavenly consolation and of spirituall admonitions and instructions tending to edification See the end of Chapter 6. CHAP. VI. Some never sing the words Glory to the Father to the Son and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Some sing them at every passage of the psalmes Quest ARE these words or their meaning in the Scriptures Answ In Math 28. the Disciples are bidden baptise in the name of the three persons of the Godhead In 2 Cor. 13.14 Paul prayeth to them In Esay 6.3 the three persons are pointed at in the words Holy holy holy c. In Revel 4.8 is the meaning of the whole sentence viz. Holy holy holy Lord God almightie which was and is and is to come In Psal 45.7 God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladnesse above thy fellows That is The Father hath declared the Son to be anoynted with the holy Ghost fully dwelling in Him by whom His manhead is replenished with gifts above all measure And thus John 1 John 2.27 calleth the Holy Ghost the anointing that teacheth The psalm 136. biddeth Give glorie to God pointing at the unity of his essence in the words Iehovah and Adonai and in the relative His and at the plurality of persons in the words Elohim Haadenim And at His Unchangablenes and Eternity in the words His mercie endureth for ever His mercy indureth not without Himselfe for it floweth from Him In Psalm 110.1 The Lord said to my Lord that is The Father hath said to the Son And in vers 2. the Holy Ghost is called The rod of thy strength Hee is a golden Scepter holden out to comfort the godlie but an Tron Rod to bruise the Wicked Item the three persons are mentioned in the second psalme Quest Should these vvords be sung concluding every passage of the psalmes or should they never be sung at all Ans It is a necessary duety of thankfulnes to make expresse mention of our benefactors so far as we know them such are the persons of the Trinity The papists superstitiously said these words at the masse and at the end of every psalm read in proofe albeit they had read ten psalms in an hour as if the psalms had no religious use without these words others reject them altogether The papist by the frequent use of the words make great shew of holines that men may take lesse notise of their errors and heresies They who neglect the words make a great show of precisenes that their erroneous novations may seem to be nothing else but precisenesse 2. Therefore these words or words of the like sense should be used because the duty of thankfulnes should distinctly expresse our benefactors and sometimes they should be omitted to eschew superstition and the appearance thereof and to show that God may be praised expressing only the Unity of Essence as well as the distinction of Persons Quest May vve not glorifie God sometimes expressing onlie one or tvvo of the persons Ans We may do it both in prayer divine praise for as the wife is inriched by the riches given to her Husband so is the Husband by the riches of his wife Matrimoniall union maketh their riches not to be divided The soul the body and all the members thereof are honoured if a crown be put on a mans Head a ring on his finger a chain on his neck because of the naturall union of the members of the body and because of the personall union which is a more strict naturall union of the soul body so if thou honour any of the three peisons it redoundeth to them all not only because they all work together in every work that God doth to the creatures and therefore all the three merit the same glory honour but also because of their essentiall union in one Godhead 2. This is practised in Philip. 4.20 Vnto God our Father be glorie Paul prayed to the Father and to the Son 1 Thess 3.11 and to Christ only 2 Thess 3.18 2 Tim. 2.22 Peter glorisieth Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 Christ said Pray Our Father vvhich art in heaven Luk. 11.3 If then the Honour expresly given to one of the three persons redound unto all of them it can not be prejudiciall to any of the three if the Honour be expresly given to all the three 4. Albeit neither the whole sentence nor the parts thereof were so expresly mentioned in Scriptures as they are yet either this or the like sentence with good reason should be sung in divine praise because not only the whoole book of the psalms but all the Scriptures all Gods works mercies also tend to the setting foorth of the praise glory of all the 3. persons 5. Christ might have commanded the Apostles to baptise in the name of Father only or of God ony but He commanded to expresse all the three persons to show that as we increase in the knowledge of God so we should expresse more punctually that which we know of God 6. As for the last verse of the 28. psalme containing a short prayer for Gods people it is very pertinent to sing it or the like sentence with the words of praise foresaid because prayer and praise agree well together so Christ conjoined them together in the Lords prayer adding to the prayer the words For thine is the kingdome the power and glory c. and also it is fit oftimes to use such short verses of prayer and praise as we conclude the singing of psalmes that such as can not read may get these lines in their memories to sing them with the people if they can do no further this may be done without abusing of Gods name and it is used by many in a laudable custome Many of the psalmes do conjoin praise and prayer we then may do the same both at the singing of psalmes and in our prayers CHAP. VII Some after Divine Service blesse the People in a legall manner Quest SHould not the Preacher after Divine Service say The Lord blesse you c. Answ He should say The LORD blesse us and save us c. not excluding himself in a legall manner for these reasons 1. To acknowledge thereby his owne miserie and that he hath need of blessing as much as any of the people and so he casteth away pharisaicall holinesse 2. To eschew Judaisme the priests did pray and offer sacrifice for themselves and for the people acknowledging thus their own sinfull condition and miserie
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
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