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
c. They act his materiall praise also in that themselves are the excellent works of God a matter of great praise and therefore they should take notise of themselves to be stirred up to praise God formally as they are alwayes his praise materially 2. All other creatures act only his materiall praises that is They are a matter of his praise in that they show forth in themselves admirable effects of his power wisdome love bountifulnesse justice and holinesse c. which things prove procure most great praise and glory And therefore in the psalme 148. all creatures are exhorted to praise God that is They should show forth the excellent things that God placed in them that the great creator of all may be taken notise of thereby and praised The psalmest speaketh to dumb creaturs who can not make answer but in that God inableth them to hold out show to the world his excellent gifts it is in stead of an answer for it is a materiall praising of God And also his speach to creatures void of understanding provoketh men to take notise of Gods gifts in the creatures to be stirred up to praise God formallie lest they prove worse then the creatures Quest Our Psalms in meeter are they a translation or a paraphrase of the Hebrew text You call them paraphrases as the set forms of prayer are of the Lords prayer Answ The miter showeth them to be paraphrases for it hath the meaning of the text in mo words then a translation requireth 2. When translators adde mo words then the just interpretation requireth it is because the meaning of the text can not otherwise be understood and yet the text that hath these words added if with these words all be considered as parts of one sentence they are a short paraphrase because more then the text is added to explicat the text But when all the words or sentences of the book are explicat and illustrat by other words there the whole work is a paraphrase 3. The most learned Latine Poets call their psalms turned mirer a paraphrase Buchanan calleth his psalms Paraphrasis Poetica because sometimes sentences figurative speaches and other illustrations and words are added to the text sometimes the words of the text are turned into other words and sentences of the same sense these things are done in the whole work that the Poet may have choose of words to make the miter agree with the text so is it with our psalms in miter for no Scriptures can bee turned into miter by a naked translation Qu. If our psalms in miter be a paraphrase then we may make paraphrases of all the Scripturs and so read them publictly A. That is not needful for many scripturs are understood at the reading without a paraphrase 2. If our psalms in meeter were only the translated text then Preachers should make sermons on them and readers should read them publictly as they do other scripturs the verses in miter cited to prove matters of divine verity 3. It were not hurtfull but profitable for the hearers sometimes to read paraphrases of all scriptures but this is supplied by preaching catechising by the plainnes of many scripturs at the reading then these paraphrases are not so needfull Quest Seeing the translators of other Scripturs adde some vvords to the text vvhy may not the translations be called paraphrases Ans If the whole scripturs had illustrations other helps forsaid in every sētence as the book of the psalms hath then might it be so called but such helps are few seldom foūd in other scripturs Adde these following to the chap. 6. viz. GIve some example in the book of the Psalms where the vvhole sentence Gloris to the Father and to the Son c. is said in substance Answ In Psal 110.1 The Lord said to my Lord c. that is The Father said to the Son sit thou at my right hand c. and vers 2. the holy Ghost is called The rod of thy strength He is a golden scepter holden out to comfort the godly but an yron rod to bruise the wicked thus glory is given to all the three persons the Father is glorified in subduing the enemies of Christ the Son is glorified in sitting at the right hand of God and that his enemies shall be his footstool the holy Ghost is glorified in that he is the effectuall rod of Gods power ruling in the mids of Christs enemies and subduing them and in verse 4. the Eternitie of the three persons is expressed in that the Lord made Christ a Priest for ever without beginning and without ending because He is after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 7. He can not be a priest for ever except God his Father continue for ever for none can be a priest without a God unto whom he must offer sacrifice and with whom he must interceed for people the holy Ghost must also continue for ever for if the anoynting whereby Christ is effectuall shall cease at any time then Christ could no longer remain a priest nor doe that office So in this psalm God is glorified according to the full sentence wherewith we conclude our psalmes Quest Pope Damasus caused first that sentence be sung in Gods Kirk should we not reiect it because papists first practised it Answ Shall no man make use of cities tents harps and musicall instruments because cursed Cain builded the first city and his children invented the rest Balaam the false prophet fist said Let me die the death of the righteous Palladius sent from pope Celestine brought the gospel first into Scotland and one Augustine sent from pope Gregorie brought it into England when popish superstition was greater then in the dayes of Damasus who lived in the 400 year Palladius in the 500. and this Augustine in the 600 year of Christ The builders of Babel first spake all languages shall wee therefore absteene from all these things 2. Therefore let us embrace the good things agreeable to Gods word which they made use of but cast away the infidelitie of Balaam the vain confidence of the builders of Babel the superstition of papists who used this sentence at the masse and at the end of every psalm read or sung 3. Pope Damasus said not first the substance of that sentence neither used he it first in musicall praise the substance of it was said in Revel 4.8 and it was sung when the psalm 100. was first sung and other passages of the psames have the sentence included in them as the psalm 45. vers 7. psalm 2. and salm 136. Quest Is it comely at one exercise of divine praise to sing parts of diverse psalmes together as if they were parts of one psalm or song and that in publict meetings Answ Gods Spirit approveth it by the like practise in 1 Chron. 16 7. When David gave a psalm to thank the Dord into the hands of Asaph and his brethren this song or psalm was made up thus to wit from the verse eight of the chapter unto the end of the verse 23. are written fifteene verses of the psalme 105. and from the 23 verse unto the end of the verse 33. are written the words of the whole psalme 96. and in the verse 34. is the first verse of the psalm 107. all is one song Item the first five verses of the psal 108. are the last five verses of the psal 57. and the rest of the psal 108. are the last eight vers of the psal 60. Quest. Is it not good to practise some of these erroneous novations for eschewing of shisme and for keeping of union and conformitie with some religious persons who in great Zeal defend them Zeal in defending error is not a godly but a blind zeal it is thus known in that they defend these errors as carefully as they do the clearest principals of divine veritie and they persecute such as embrace them not as if they were hereticks 2. Would thou keep union with them in their errours rather than with Christ and his apostles who were immediatly taught by Gods Spirit in divine veritie which admitteth not such novations By so doing you eschew not but you entertaine a most dangerous schisme dividing your selves from the puritie of the most loyal and infallible preachers of the truth 3. If for to make you strong with humane friendship you so despise Gods truth that you make errors equall unto it professing both together as if they were both but one truth then it will be a just reward if God suffer you to fall by degrees into palpable antichristian darknesse and if God kindle unquenchable hatred and discord between you and your affected societie wo shall be to him that maketh flesh his arme Jerem. 17.5 FINIS
as if you would say I am not sufficiently sensible nor cōforted in the assurance that my former words were accepted therefore I pray again for the same things No man hath power and authoritie from GOD to abrogate or despise any form which GODS word approveth Quest If we use set formes we should only use the Lords prayer for no other forme is enjoined to us Answ The apostles also used other set forms and so do we they spake by the Spirit in using them also Quest In Numb 6. the Lord said Thus shalt thou blesse that is in this manner Hee said not Vse the same words Ergo the Priests used not a set form of blessing If thus import the same sense then it is a set form of sense why may not the same sense have the same words seeing the words are a manner of speaking as the sense is a manner of signification no words can better expresse the same sense then the words that Gods Spirit hath dited 3. The text showeth that the priests should have used the same words for the Lord saith Thus shalt thou blesse saying The Lord blesse thee they are bidden say The Lord blesse thee this is the manner how they shall blesse 4. Albeit the priests had used only conceived words yet the despisers of set formes blesse only in a set forme Quest What call you stinted prayers Are they lawfull Ans Both prayers and divine praise are stinted when men willingly reject the ful libertie of using them which GOD hath granted GOD in his word hath given us alike warrand and libertie to use both conceived and set forms of prayer hee that rejecteth any of the two stinteth to himself the form which he useth and restraineth the libertie which GODS Spirit hath granted in rejecting the other form The papists in their service book have stinted set formes others stint unto themselves conceived forms though they alter the words yet they stint the form but we stint neither the form nor the words because 1. we use both the forms 2. we sometimes change the formes a set form into a conceived form or we use diversitie of set forms in the same purpose and so we stint not the words of a set form 3. At the end of a conceived prayer wee sometimes say a set form as the LORDS prayer or the blessing sometimes we conceive words at the end of a set form 4. Sometimes we mixe words of a set forme among conceived words Quest Do not many through envie complaine that we absteine from set forms because themselves want eloquence Ans It is as true in some who want it as it is true in others who have it that they despise such as want it 2. But it is not true in many both private and publict persons who have as much eloquence as you have and yet they use set forms not onely to countenance the lawfull practise of Christ his prophets and apostles but also because GODS Spirit worketh by it and warrandeth it in his word as he doth conceived formes Quest Should not all men conceive at all times for Gods word proveth that all men can conceive as Ioel 2.18 I will poure out my Spirit upon all flesh and Zacharie 12. I will poure out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication Answ Thus you prove that both private and publict persons can conceive which we deny not of some but negligent pastours know not that others can never conceive nor yet understand mens conceptions they know not pastorall dueties who know not this both of young and aged persons 2. But you make a false glesse on these texts as if the pouring out of the Spirit in Joel were only a giving of the gift of conceiving prayers Peter Act. 2. interprets it to be the extraordinarie gifts of the Spirit given unto GODS servants in a greater measure then was usuall as diversities of tongues prophesies visions working of miracles c. and also the ordinarie gifts as faith hope charitie humilie temperance c. were given more largely and you interpret the Spirit of grace and supplication in Zacharie to be only the gift of conceiving prayers as if Christ his prophets and apostles wanted the spirit of grace and supplication when they used set forms Quest Are not conceived formes of greater dignitie and therefore wee should not use set formes Answ Doth GOD abolish the Moon and Stars because the Sun is of greater dignitie Shall a man cut off his little finger because the other fingers are stronger Shall the Sacraments bee neglected because the Word edifieth more 2. The two forms of prayer are of equall dignitie in these respects viz. they have one author the holy SPIRIT who dyted them in his Word they are both in one language they both signifie alike excellent and spirituall things both alike able to stir up our devotion otherwise the LORD would not have used set formes in his greatest extremitie it is out corruption that hindereth us to make such use of them Eloquence and varietie of words are much admired by Pagans and naturall men like Agrippa who was almost perswaded to be a Christian and yet was void of sanctification Our corruption doth still dote too much upon the same though we be Christians so that we contemn the other form which Christ and his Saints made use of 3. All the prerogative of a conceived form is that it expresseth mo meditations than a set form but it neither maketh our prayer more acceptable unto GOD neither can it expresse more excellent things The examples foresaid of Christ and his Saints do show that GOD accepteth the one as well as the other and if he make a difference it is his custome oftimes to respect more of the things which the world esteeme least of so CHRIST in his greatest extremitie choosed a set form as was said before see the rest in the next chapter CHAP. IIII. They forbid all reading of prayers Qu. SHould not set formes be said from the memorie or from the heart that is they should be said perqueer seeing reading of prayers is not commanded in Scripture Answ Neither repeating from the memorie nor conceiving of prayers nor singing of psalmes on a book nor off the book are commanded in Scriptures should they therefore not be used The dueties of prayer and praise are commanded and these circumstances are lawfull usefull and no wayes hurtfull to these exercises 2. Whether you read them out of the invisible book of your memorit or from the visible book of paper the words are alike heard by the people and the devotion of both reader and hearer is alike stirred up thereby if the corruption of our unruly hearts and itching ears hinder not Qu. Is it not ridicolous if a child ask from his father bread or a fish on paper so is it to read prayers unto God Answ It is as comely thus to seek benefits from God as to
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
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
Spirit faith unto the churches In Matth. 23. Christ said 7 times Woe be unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrits In the books of the Chronicles are many histories which were in the preceeding scriptures The 4 Evangelists oftimes repeat the same histories Quest Is it not a sufficient and substantiall prayer if the weak ones say God help me or be mercifull to me for Christs sake which they may learn at a conceived prayer Answ Much more is it sufficient for the strong ones who have no need of so many helps so they need not hear conceived formes but they may learn at set formes to say GOD help me or be mercifull to me 2. If then you conceive that the stronger sort may have more aboundance of mater words use also set formes that the weak may have more matter and words which they can not have by conceived formes which they can not imitat nor understand They may groan or mourn at them only because others do so or because it is a custome Quest It is not mentioned in scriptures that the Apostles said the Lords prayer Ergo we should not say it Answ Neither is it mentioned that they prayed in that manner Should we therefore not pray in that manner 2. Neither is any prayer in scripture so compleat and perfect in parts as the Lords prayer 3. Charity should perswade us that they obeyed the Lord using this prayer seeing no scripture saith the contrary 4. Many Apostles knew they not the ten commandements had they not faith and repentance and dyed they not in the Lord albeit they are not particularly mentioned in scriptures Quest It is more evident that they prayed in that manner then that they said these words Answ They never used in scriptures so compleat a manner But if the matter was included in the Lords prayer they used also some of the words of the Lords prayer Christ said Father forgive them they know not what they do Luk. 23 Not my will but thy will be done Luk. 22. Father glorifie thy Name I pray that thou keep them from evill Joh. 17. Here are many words of the Lords prayer Adde these to the Chap. 4. viz. Quest SHould not set formes be said from the memorie or from the heart or said perquier seeing reading of prayers is not commanded in scriptures Answ Neither is conceiving of prayers commanded in scriptures 2. When Paul biddeth read his epistle 1 Col. 4 16. He biddeth read all the prayers as well as other things in it Such is the set formes in Chap. 1. vers 2. Which ten times said in his epistles The valediction Chap. vers 18. See the like in 1 Thess 5 18. When Iohn Revel 1. vers 3. calleth them blessed who read his prophesic and Christ requireth if some had read the scriptures Math. 12. vers 3.5 Luk 6. vers 3. they did not except prayers 2. In Rom. 15.4 Paul saith Whatsoever things are written are for our learning how shall we learn them if they be not read And if we learn them rightly we should use them as the matter requireth that is we should pray if the words of prayer signifie things needfull for us Be they words of praise wee should glorifie God be they words of promise stir up our hope be they words of his law learn obedience If the words pray for such as read the epistle both the Readers Hearers thereof should concur as they do with the prayers of a Preacher so these prayers are set forms Quest. How is Gods Spirit said to interceed for us at prayer Answ In that his graces planted in our hearts inable us to pray and God heareth us because he respecteth these works of his Spirrt in us Christ interceedeth for us by meriting these graces and the Spirit interceedeth by working and making them usefull in us and God heareth us for the merit of Christ and for the work of his Spirit in us Quest Is the reading of prayers on a book lawfull more then the reading of homilies Answ No Scripture proveth the publict and private reading of homilies to be unlawfull more then the expression of preaching without reading for Christ is preached both the wayes to our hearing and Faith that cometh by hearing excepteth none of the wayes all the Scriptures are canonick preachings of divine veritie and are continually read So holy ministeriall preachings which illustrat the Scriptures may as lawfully be expressed with reading as without it chiefly when newly conceived ministeriall preachings can not bee had 2. Reading of homilies is sometimes forbidden not as unlawfull in it self but because it maketh idle ministers neglect their studies and hindereth them to interpret many Scripturs when they dwell upon a few homilies for they are called to interpret all the Scriptures so far as they can 3. The frequent repetition of the same homilies is not so needfull as of the same prayers for many weak ones can not at all learn to pray except they hear the same words often repeated Prayer is required in some measure of all Christians but though every Christian should admonish one another yet it is not requisite that every Christian should make preachings which is the particular calling of the ministrie but prayer belongeth to the generall calling of all Christians 4. If men forget any words of homilies they may speak other words of the same sense for them without prejudice to the weak hearer who need not the words in their memorie if they know the sense but if they forget words of set forms of prayer though ministers speake other words of the same sense for them yet it perturbeth the memorie of the weak ones who can not learn to pray except they hear the same words often repeated and not diversitie of words of the same sense 5. Then it is better to read set forms for oftentimes the best memories forget words unawars But they who esteeme it Christian perfection to change evermore their conceptions they want that excellencie of perfection which Christ and his dearest Saints had in the submission of themselves to the practise approven by Gods word in praying heartily using the words which are read and used by the Saints of former ages when in their consciences they know that these words expresse their wants Quest If a read prayer be lawfull then you may cary your prayers in your pocket or buy them in a book-binders shop c. Ans If conceived prayers be lawfull men may have them for a lesse price for they may conceive at their pleasure if the essence of prayer consisted in words heard or seene But the words heard or seen are only images and expressions of prayer as painted men and beasts are but the images of men beasts though they be so named so the naked images and vocall expressions of prayer are called prayers but if faith and fervent desires concur with the outward images and expressions that prayer is a true prayer and the inward desires alone are
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
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