Certain cases of conscience resolved concerning the lawfulness of joyning with forms of prayer in publick worship. Part I ...
         Scott, John, 1639-1695.
      
       
         
           1683
        
      
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             Certain cases of conscience resolved concerning the lawfulness of joyning with forms of prayer in publick worship. Part I ...
             Scott, John, 1639-1695.
          
           56 p.
           
             Printed by Henry Hills, Jun. for Fincham Gardiner ...,
             London :
             1683.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Prayer -- Early works to 1800.
           Public worship -- Early works to 1800.
           Conscience -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           CERTAIN
           Cases
           of
           Conscience
           RESOLVED
           ,
           Concerning
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           Joyning
           WITH
           Forms
           of
           Prayer
           IN
           Publick
           Worship
           .
           PART
           I.
           VIZ.
           
           
             
               I.
               Whether
               the
               using
               of
               Forms
               of
               Prayer
               ,
               doth
               not
               stint
               and
               limit
               the
               Spirit
               .
            
             
               II.
               Whether
               the
               using
               Publick
               Forms
               of
               Prayer
               be
               not
               a
               sinful
               omission
               of
               the
               Ministerial
               Gift
               of
               Prayer
               .
            
             
               III.
               Whether
               Praying
               by
               a
               Publick
               Form
               doth
               not
               deaden
               the
               Devotion
               of
               Prayer
               .
            
          
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           by
           
             Henry
             Hills
          
           ,
           Jun.
           for
           
             Fincham
             Gardiner
          
           at
           the
           
             White
             Horse
          
           in
           Ludgate-street
           ,
           1683.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           Books
           Printed
           by
           
             FINCHAM
             GARDINER
          
           .
        
         
           A
           Continuation
           and
           Vindication
           of
           the
           Defence
           of
           Dr.
           Stillingfleets
           Unreasonableness
           of
           Separation
           ,
           in
           Answer
           to
           Mr.
           Baxter
           ,
           and
           Mr.
           Lob
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           A
           Perswasion
           to
           Communion
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           A
           Resolution
           of
           some
           Cases
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           which
           Respect
           Church-Communion
           .
        
         
           The
           Case
           of
           indifferent
           things
           ,
           used
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           Proposed
           and
           Stated
           by
           considering
           these
           Questions
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           A
           Discourse
           about
           Edification
           .
        
         
           Considerations
           of
           present
           use
           ,
           considering
           the
           Danger
           Resulting
           from
           the
           Change
           of
           our
           Church-Government
           .
        
         
           The
           Resolution
           of
           this
           Case
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           
             Whether
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           '
           
             s
             Symbolizing
             so
             far
             as
             it
             doth
             with
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Rome
           ,
           
             makes
             it
             Unlawful
             to
             hold
             Communion
             with
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           ?
        
         
           A
           Letter
           to
           Anonymus
           ,
           in
           Answer
           to
           his
           Three
           Letters
           to
           Dr.
           Sherlock
           about
           Church-Communion
           .
        
         
         
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           RESOLUTION
           OF
           THE
           
             Cases
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           Which
           concern
           the
           Use
           of
           FORMS
           of
           PRAYER
           .
        
         
           ONE
           of
           the
           main
           Points
           which
           our
           dissenting
           Brethren
           insist
           on
           to
           justifie
           their
           Separation
           from
           our
           Church
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           our
           Publick
           Worship
           is
           perform'd
           in
           a
           Form
           of
           Words
           of
           Man's
           Invention
           ;
           which
           ,
           they
           conceive
           ,
           is
           unlawful
           ;
           for
           hereby
           ,
           say
           some
           of
           them
           ,
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           who
           inspires
           our
           Prayer
           ,
           is
           stinted
           and
           limited
           ,
           and
           hereby
           the
           Gift
           of
           Prayer
           ,
           say
           others
           ,
           which
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           communicates
           to
           Ministers
           ,
           to
           inable
           them
           to
           express
           the
           Devotions
           of
           their
           Congregations
           to
           God
           ,
           is
           rendred
           useless
           ;
           and
           not
           only
           so
           ,
           but
           even
           the
           Devotions
           of
           the
           Congregation
           too
           are
           mightily
           deaden'd
           ,
           by
           being
           continually
           express'd
           in
           the
           same
           form
           of
           words
           :
           besides
           ,
           that
           the
           wants
           of
           Christians
           being
           various
           ,
           casual
           ,
           and
           emergent
           ,
           cannot
           be
           so
           fully
           represented
           
           in
           a
           fixt
           Form
           ,
           as
           in
           conceiv'd
           Prayers
           ,
           which
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           their
           variation
           in
           Expressions
           ,
           may
           be
           the
           better
           extended
           to
           the
           continual
           variations
           of
           Mens
           cases
           and
           circumstances
           :
           besides
           all
           which
           ,
           say
           they
           ,
           we
           have
           no
           warrant
           for
           the
           use
           of
           Forms
           ,
           either
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           pure
           Antiquity
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           had
           ,
           yet
           an
           universal
           imposition
           of
           them
           ,
           can
           by
           no
           means
           be
           lawfully
           compli'd
           with
           :
           this
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           best
           recollection
           I
           can
           make
           ,
           is
           the
           sum
           of
           what
           our
           Brethren
           urge
           against
           the
           lawfulness
           of
           joyning
           with
           us
           in
           a
           stated
           Liturgy
           ,
           or
           Form
           of
           Publick
           Worship
           :
           and
           therefore
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           satisfying
           their
           Consciences
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           I
           shall
           reduce
           their
           whole
           Plea
           to
           these
           following
           Cases
           ,
           and
           indeavour
           a
           plain
           and
           clear
           resolution
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           
             1.
             
             
               Whether
               Praying
               in
               a
               Form
               of
               Words
               ,
               doth
               not
               stint
               or
               limit
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Prayer
               ?
            
          
           
             2.
             
             
               Whether
               the
               Use
               of
               Publick
               Forms
               of
               Prayer
               ,
               be
               not
               a
               sinful
               neglect
               of
               the
               Ministerial
               Gift
               of
               Prayer
               ?
            
          
           
             3.
             
             
               Whether
               the
               constant
               Use
               of
               the
               same
               Form
               of
               Prayer
               ,
               doth
               not
               very
               much
               deaden
               the
               Devotion
               of
               Prayer
               ?
            
          
           
             4.
             
             
               Whether
               the
               common
               wants
               of
               Christian
               Congregations
               may
               not
               be
               better
               represented
               in
               conceiv'd
               Prayer
               ,
               than
               in
               a
               Form
               of
               Prayer
               ?
            
          
           
             5.
             
             
               Whether
               there
               be
               any
               warrant
               for
               Forms
               of
               Prayer
               ,
               either
               in
               Scripture
               ,
               or
               pure
               Antiquity
               ?
            
          
           
             6.
             
             
               Whether
               ,
               supposing
               Forms
               to
               be
               lawful
               ,
               the
               imposition
               of
               them
               can
               be
               lawfully
               compli'd
               with
               ?
            
          
        
         
           
           
             Case
             I.
             Whether
             Praying
             in
             a
             Form
             of
             Words
             ,
             doth
             not
             stint
             and
             limit
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Prayer
             ?
          
           
             In
             order
             to
             the
             resolution
             of
             this
             Case
             ,
             it
             will
             be
             necessary
             to
             explain
             first
             ,
             what
             it
             is
             that
             the
             Scripture
             attributes
             to
             the
             Spirit
             in
             Prayer
             ;
             and
             secondly
             ,
             what
             is
             meant
             by
             stinting
             or
             limiting
             the
             Spirit
             in
             Prayer
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             What
             is
             it
             that
             the
             Scripture
             attributes
             to
             the
             Spirit
             in
             Prayer
             ?
             I
             answer
             ,
             there
             are
             some
             things
             attributed
             to
             him
             which
             were
             extraordinary
             ,
             and
             temporary
             ;
             and
             others
             that
             are
             ordinary
             ,
             fixt
             ,
             and
             standing
             :
             The
             through
             state
             and
             distinguishing
             of
             which
             will
             very
             much
             contribute
             to
             the
             resolution
             of
             this
             present
             Case
             ,
             and
             therefore
             I
             shall
             insist
             more
             largely
             upon
             it
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             I
             say
             there
             are
             some
             things
             attributed
             to
             the
             Holy
             Spirit
             in
             this
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             which
             were
             extraordinary
             and
             temporary
             ;
             and
             that
             was
             the
             immediate
             Inspiration
             of
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             together
             with
             an
             ability
             to
             express
             and
             utter
             it
             in
             known
             or
             unknown
             Languages
             :
             thus
             as
             for
             the
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             read
             in
             the
             Old
             Testament
             of
             Prayers
             and
             Praises
             ,
             which
             ,
             upon
             special
             occasions
             ,
             were
             immediately
             indited
             by
             Divine
             Inspiration
             :
             for
             so
             when
             Hannah
             presented
             her
             Son
             to
             the
             Lord
             in
             Shiloh
             ,
             the
             Text
             only
             saith
             ,
             that
             she
             praid
             ,
             and
             said
             ;
             but
             the
             Targum
             paraphrases
             it
             ,
             that
             she
             praid
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Prophesie
             ,
             and
             accordingly
             praying
             and
             praising
             by
             immediate
             inspiration
             ,
             is
             frequently
             call'd
             prophesying
             :
             So
             1
             Sam.
             10.
             5.
             
             
               The
               Spirit
               of
               the
               Lord
               shall
               come
               upon
               thee
               ,
               and
               thou
               shall
               prophesie
            
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             as
             Expositors
             generally
             interpret
             it
             ,
             thou
             shalt
             utter
             Spiritual
             Psalms
             and
             Hymns
             by
             immediate
             inspiration
             
             on
             the
             place
             ;
             and
             to
             the
             same
             purpose
             is
             the
             word
             used
             Numb
             .
             11.
             25.
             1
             
             Chron.
             25.
             1.
             and
             accordingly
             in
             the
             New
             Testament
             it
             is
             said
             of
             
               Zacharias
               ,
               that
               he
               was
               filled
               with
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               ,
               and
               prophesied
               ,
               saying
               ,
               blessed
               be
               the
               Lord
               God
               of
            
             Israel
             ,
             &c.
             
             The
             matter
             of
             all
             which
             Prayers
             and
             Praises
             ,
             together
             with
             those
             in
             the
             Book
             of
             Psalms
             ,
             and
             sundry
             others
             recorded
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             was
             immediately
             dictated
             to
             those
             inspir'd
             persons
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             and
             deliver'd
             by
             them
             without
             any
             recourse
             to
             their
             own
             invention
             or
             consideration
             ,
             though
             as
             to
             the
             words
             of
             them
             ,
             it
             may
             be
             justly
             question'd
             ,
             whether
             they
             were
             not
             left
             to
             their
             own
             composure
             ,
             as
             it
             seems
             very
             probable
             ,
             the
             words
             of
             all
             other
             inspirations
             were
             ;
             for
             considering
             how
             the
             inspired
             persons
             differ'd
             in
             their
             stile
             ,
             according
             as
             they
             differ'd
             in
             their
             education
             ,
             in
             their
             natural
             parts
             ,
             and
             intellectual
             improvements
             ,
             it
             is
             very
             likely
             they
             themselves
             composed
             and
             worded
             their
             own
             inspirations
             ,
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             taking
             care
             only
             so
             to
             oversee
             and
             direct
             them
             ,
             that
             their
             words
             might
             not
             misrepresent
             their
             matter
             ;
             and
             if
             so
             ,
             how
             much
             less
             reason
             have
             we
             to
             suppose
             ,
             that
             the
             Spirit
             inspires
             the
             words
             of
             our
             Prayers
             :
             but
             this
             I
             shall
             not
             insist
             on
             .
          
           
             However
             ,
             after
             that
             great
             descent
             of
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             at
             Pentecost
             ,
             wherein
             the
             Gift
             of
             Tongues
             was
             communicated
             to
             enable
             the
             first
             Planters
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             to
             propagate
             it
             through
             the
             World
             ,
             it
             's
             certain
             that
             not
             only
             the
             Matter
             of
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             but
             even
             the
             very
             Language
             too
             in
             which
             they
             express
             them
             ,
             was
             immediately
             inspired
             ,
             insomuch
             that
             they
             were
             not
             only
             inabled
             to
             Pray
             upon
             the
             place
             in
             apt
             and
             fluent
             Expressions
             ,
             but
             also
             to
             Pray
             in
             Languages
             ,
             which
             they
             never
             understood
             before
             ,
             and
             which
             even
             then
             they
             understood
             but
             very
             imperfectly
             ,
             and
             also
             to
             interpret
             
             those
             Prayers
             into
             the
             vulgar
             Language
             ,
             which
             themselves
             or
             others
             had
             utter'd
             in
             unknown
             Tongues
             ;
             and
             this
             ,
             among
             others
             ,
             the
             Apostle
             calls
             a
             Spiritual
             Gift
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             12.
             1.
             which
             ,
             as
             I
             remember
             ,
             is
             the
             only
             place
             where
             the
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             is
             mention'd
             in
             Scripture
             :
             and
             in
             1
             Cor.
             14.
             14.
             it
             is
             also
             call'd
             a
             Spirit
             ,
             where
             he
             gives
             us
             an
             account
             at
             large
             of
             this
             miraculous
             way
             of
             praying
             .
          
           
             Now
             that
             this
             miraculous
             Gift
             of
             praying
             in
             ,
             and
             interpreting
             Prayers
             out
             of
             unknown
             Tongues
             was
             extraordinary
             ,
             and
             temporary
             ,
             and
             peculiar
             to
             the
             Primitive
             Ages
             of
             Christianity
             ,
             is
             evident
             ,
             because
             the
             design
             of
             it
             was
             not
             only
             to
             inable
             the
             first
             Planters
             of
             the
             Gospel
             to
             perform
             their
             Ministerial
             Office
             in
             the
             vulgar
             Languages
             of
             the
             several
             Nations
             they
             were
             sent
             to
             ,
             but
             also
             to
             be
             a
             sign
             from
             God
             ,
             as
             all
             other
             Miracles
             were
             ,
             for
             the
             confirmation
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ;
             for
             so
             the
             Apostle
             tells
             us
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             14.
             22.
             
             
               That
               Tongues
               were
               for
               a
               sign
               ,
               not
               to
               them
               that
               believe
               ,
               but
               to
               them
               that
               believe
               not
               :
            
             and
             therefore
             since
             it
             's
             granted
             of
             all
             hands
             ,
             that
             the
             Gift
             of
             Miracles
             was
             extraordinary
             ,
             and
             intended
             only
             for
             a
             demonstration
             of
             the
             Gospel
             to
             the
             Infidel
             World
             ,
             and
             after
             that
             to
             cease
             ,
             there
             can
             be
             no
             doubt
             but
             this
             miraculous
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             was
             so
             too
             .
          
           
             But
             that
             the
             Spirits
             inditing
             the
             Matter
             ,
             and
             ,
             if
             you
             will
             ,
             the
             words
             of
             those
             inspired
             Prayers
             ,
             was
             also
             extraordinary
             ,
             will
             require
             a
             larger
             proof
             ;
             because
             it
             is
             look'd
             upon
             by
             many
             of
             our
             dissenting
             Brethren
             as
             an
             ordinary
             and
             standing
             Gift
             ,
             which
             the
             Spirit
             doth
             and
             will
             communicate
             to
             all
             successive
             Ages
             of
             the
             World.
             Against
             this
             Opinion
             of
             theirs
             therefore
             I
             shall
             briefly
             offer
             these
             following
             Reasons
             to
             their
             consideration
             :
          
           
           
             1.
             
             That
             there
             is
             no
             promise
             of
             any
             such
             Gift
             ,
             and
             therefore
             no
             reason
             to
             expect
             the
             continuance
             of
             it
             .
             For
             whatsoever
             standing
             and
             ordinary
             benefits
             we
             receive
             from
             God
             ,
             we
             receive
             them
             by
             vertue
             of
             the
             New
             Covenant
             ,
             in
             which
             he
             hath
             promised
             to
             us
             all
             those
             good
             things
             which
             we
             can
             reasonably
             expect
             at
             his
             hands
             ;
             and
             the
             promise
             of
             God
             being
             the
             only
             foundation
             of
             our
             hope
             ,
             it
             is
             presumption
             to
             promise
             our selves
             what
             he
             hath
             not
             promised
             us
             :
             but
             now
             in
             all
             the
             New
             Covenant
             we
             have
             not
             the
             least
             intimation
             of
             any
             such
             promise
             ,
             viz.
             That
             the
             Spirit
             will
             immediately
             indite
             to
             us
             the
             Matter
             and
             Expressions
             of
             our
             Prayers
             ;
             For
             as
             for
             that
             of
             Zachary
             12.
             10.
             which
             is
             the
             only
             promise
             that
             is
             pretended
             in
             the
             case
             ,
             it
             's
             evident
             ,
             at
             first
             sight
             ,
             that
             it
             's
             nothing
             to
             the
             purpose
             ;
             
               I
               will
               pour
               out
               upon
               the
               Inhabitants
               of
            
             Jerusalem
             
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Grace
               and
               Supplications
               ,
               and
               they
               shall
               look
               upon
               me
               whom
               they
               have
               pierc'd
               ,
               and
               they
               shall
               mourn
               .
            
             What
             is
             all
             this
             to
             the
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             the
             Matter
             and
             Expressions
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ,
             when
             it
             's
             plain
             ,
             that
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Supplication
             here
             is
             the
             same
             with
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Grace
             ,
             or
             of
             inward
             Piety
             and
             Devotion
             ?
             even
             as
             the
             following
             words
             imply
             ,
             
               and
               they
               shall
               look
               upon
               me
               whom
               they
               have
               pierced
               ,
               and
               mourn
               :
            
             that
             is
             ,
             for
             their
             horrid
             sin
             of
             crucifying
             me
             .
             But
             that
             there
             is
             no
             such
             promise
             in
             the
             New
             Covenant
             is
             evident
             ,
             from
             what
             is
             acknowledged
             of
             all
             hands
             ,
             viz.
             That
             there
             are
             many
             good
             Christians
             who
             could
             never
             pretend
             to
             any
             such
             inspiration
             ,
             who
             are
             some
             of
             them
             fain
             to
             be
             beholding
             to
             their
             own
             recollection
             and
             invention
             for
             the
             Matter
             and
             Words
             of
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             and
             others
             ,
             for
             want
             of
             a
             sufficient
             quickness
             of
             invention
             ,
             to
             be
             beholding
             to
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             of
             other
             mens
             composure
             ;
             neither
             of
             which
             they
             need
             ,
             were
             they
             immediately
             inspir'd
             :
             And
             I
             am
             very
             confident
             
             't
             would
             be
             look'd
             upon
             by
             all
             sober
             Diffenters
             as
             a
             very
             rash
             and
             unjust
             censure
             to
             affirm
             ,
             that
             a
             man
             cannot
             be
             a
             good
             Christian
             ,
             who
             doth
             not
             pray
             by
             immediate
             inspiration
             ,
             but
             is
             always
             fain
             to
             depend
             either
             on
             his
             own
             invention
             ,
             or
             a
             Form
             of
             Prayer
             for
             the
             Matter
             and
             Expressions
             of
             his
             Devotions
             :
             and
             if
             so
             ,
             how
             can
             this
             consist
             with
             a
             standing
             promise
             of
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             Prayer
             in
             the
             New
             Covenant
             ?
             unless
             we
             will
             suppose
             that
             there
             are
             Blessings
             promised
             in
             the
             New
             Covenant
             ,
             to
             which
             good
             Christians
             may
             have
             no
             right
             or
             title
             ,
             and
             of
             which
             they
             may
             never
             actually
             partake
             ,
             which
             is
             utterly
             to
             destroy
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             extends
             to
             all
             who
             perform
             the
             conditions
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             to
             cut
             off
             all
             our
             dependance
             upon
             it
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             That
             as
             there
             is
             no
             promise
             ,
             so
             there
             is
             no
             need
             of
             any
             such
             immediate
             inspiration
             .
             'T
             is
             true
             ,
             Christ
             hath
             promised
             by
             his
             Spirit
             ,
             to
             be
             with
             us
             to
             the
             end
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             assur'd
             us
             ,
             that
             he
             will
             give
             his
             Spirit
             unto
             every
             one
             that
             asks
             ,
             and
             to
             what
             end
             hath
             he
             promised
             this
             ,
             but
             only
             to
             supply
             our
             Necessities
             ,
             and
             inable
             us
             to
             perform
             those
             Duties
             ,
             which
             ,
             through
             our
             own
             impotency
             ,
             we
             cannot
             perform
             without
             him
             ?
             for
             so
             he
             argues
             from
             the
             readiness
             of
             Parents
             ,
             to
             supply
             their
             Children
             with
             what
             is
             necessary
             to
             their
             bodily
             life
             and
             subsistence
             ,
             to
             the
             readiness
             of
             God
             to
             bestow
             his
             Spirit
             (
             that
             is
             to
             all
             the
             purposes
             that
             are
             necessary
             to
             their
             Spiritual
             Life
             ,
             as
             the
             parallel
             plainly
             implies
             )
             upon
             them
             that
             ask
             him
             .
             So
             that
             all
             we
             can
             expect
             by
             vertue
             of
             these
             promises
             is
             only
             this
             ,
             That
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             will
             be
             ready
             to
             aid
             and
             assist
             us
             in
             all
             those
             necessary
             cases
             ,
             wherein
             our
             Duty
             and
             Spiritual
             Life
             is
             concern'd
             ;
             and
             therefore
             if
             there
             be
             no
             necessity
             of
             an
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             either
             Matter
             or
             Words
             to
             inable
             us
             to
             Pray
             ,
             it
             is
             an
             unwarrantable
             presumption
             
             to
             expect
             it
             by
             vertue
             of
             these
             or
             such
             like
             promises
             .
          
           
             And
             that
             there
             is
             no
             necessity
             ,
             I
             conceive
             ,
             is
             very
             apparent
             ;
             for
             ,
          
           
             First
             ,
             As
             for
             the
             Matter
             of
             our
             Prayers
             ,
             the
             Holy
             Spirit
             hath
             already
             sufficiently
             reveal'd
             it
             to
             us
             in
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             as
             plainly
             instructed
             us
             what
             we
             are
             to
             pray
             for
             ,
             as
             he
             can
             be
             suppos'd
             to
             do
             by
             any
             immediate
             inspiration
             :
             so
             that
             with
             a
             very
             little
             consideration
             ,
             we
             may
             thence
             easily
             recollect
             what
             it
             is
             that
             we
             need
             ,
             and
             what
             we
             are
             warranted
             and
             commanded
             to
             pray
             for
             ;
             and
             for
             a
             summary
             of
             the
             whole
             ,
             we
             need
             go
             no
             further
             than
             our
             Churches
             Catechism
             ,
             which
             in
             answer
             to
             that
             Question
             ,
             after
             the
             Lord's
             Prayer
             ,
             
               What
               desirest
               thou
               of
               God
               in
               this
               Prayer
               ?
            
             sums
             up
             the
             whole
             matter
             of
             our
             Prayer
             in
             a
             few
             ,
             plain
             ,
             and
             easie
             words
             .
             And
             to
             suppose
             ,
             after
             such
             a
             clear
             revelation
             of
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             a
             necessity
             of
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             it
             ,
             is
             in
             effect
             to
             suppose
             ,
             that
             we
             have
             neither
             reason
             enough
             to
             understand
             the
             sense
             of
             plain
             words
             ,
             nor
             memory
             enough
             to
             retain
             and
             recollect
             it
             .
             But
             against
             this
             ,
             that
             passage
             of
             St.
             Paul
             is
             objected
             by
             our
             Brethren
             ,
             Rom.
             8.
             26.
             
             
               We
               know
               not
               what
               we
               should
               pray
               for
               as
               we
               ought
               ,
               but
               the
               Spirit
               it self
               maketh
               intercession
               for
               us
               with
               groanings
               ,
               which
               cannot
               be
               utter'd
               .
            
             From
             which
             words
             ,
             
               We
               know
               not
               what
               to
               pray
               for
               as
               we
               ought
               ,
            
             they
             infer
             ,
             that
             how
             plainly
             soever
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             is
             reveal'd
             to
             us
             ,
             we
             cannot
             in
             all
             cases
             know
             what
             it
             is
             without
             an
             immediate
             inspiration
             :
             which
             must
             either
             suppose
             ,
             that
             all
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             is
             not
             plainly
             reveal'd
             to
             us
             ,
             or
             that
             though
             it
             be
             ,
             we
             cannot
             understand
             it
             ;
             whereas
             the
             Apostles
             words
             imply
             neither
             the
             one
             nor
             t'other
             ,
             for
             it
             's
             plain
             those
             words
             ,
             
               we
               know
               not
               what
               to
               pray
               for
               ,
            
             are
             not
             to
             be
             understood
             simply
             ,
             but
             with
             reference
             to
             ,
             
               as
               we
               ought
            
             ;
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             
               for
               what
               to
               pray
               for
               as
               we
               ought
               ,
               we
               know
               not
            
             ;
             which
             plainly
             refers
             to
             the
             manner
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             the
             matter
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ,
             how
             to
             pray
             for
             any
             thing
             with
             that
             fervency
             of
             desire
             ,
             that
             dependance
             upon
             ,
             and
             resignation
             to
             God
             ,
             as
             we
             ought
             ,
             of
             our selves
             ,
             we
             know
             not
             without
             the
             assistance
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ;
             if
             therefore
             the
             Spirit
             hath
             already
             sufficiently
             reveal'd
             to
             us
             ,
             what
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             is
             ,
             (
             as
             he
             must
             be
             suppos'd
             to
             do
             ,
             if
             the
             Scriptures
             be
             sufficient
             )
             I
             see
             no
             necessity
             why
             he
             should
             reveal
             it
             again
             by
             immediate
             inspiration
             ;
             and
             if
             there
             be
             no
             necessity
             of
             it
             ,
             I
             know
             no
             warrant
             we
             have
             to
             expect
             it
             :
             But
             then
             ,
          
           
             2.
             
             As
             for
             the
             Words
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             by
             which
             we
             are
             to
             express
             the
             Matter
             of
             it
             ,
             what
             necessity
             can
             there
             be
             that
             these
             should
             be
             immediately
             dictated
             to
             us
             ,
             when
             as
             if
             we
             have
             not
             quickness
             enough
             of
             fancy
             and
             invention
             to
             express
             our
             wants
             and
             desires
             in
             our
             own
             words
             ,
             we
             may
             readily
             supply
             that
             defect
             by
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             of
             other
             Mens
             composure
             ,
             which
             with
             very
             short
             additions
             and
             variations
             of
             our
             own
             ,
             we
             may
             easily
             adapt
             to
             all
             our
             particular
             cases
             and
             circumstances
             ?
             and
             to
             imagin
             that
             with
             such
             helps
             and
             assistances
             we
             cannot
             word
             our
             desires
             to
             God
             without
             an
             immediate
             inspiration
             ,
             is
             to
             suppose
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             meer
             whispering
             Pipes
             ,
             that
             can
             breath
             out
             nothing
             but
             what
             is
             breath'd
             into
             us
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             That
             as
             there
             is
             neither
             promise
             ,
             nor
             need
             of
             any
             such
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             so
             there
             is
             no
             certain
             sign
             or
             testimony
             of
             it
             remaining
             among
             us
             :
             whenever
             God
             inspir'd
             men
             with
             Divine
             matter
             and
             words
             ,
             his
             way
             was
             always
             to
             attest
             the
             divinity
             of
             their
             inspiration
             with
             some
             certain
             sign
             by
             which
             themselves
             ,
             and
             others
             ,
             might
             be
             well
             assur'd
             of
             it
             ;
             and
             though
             at
             this
             distance
             from
             the
             inspired
             Ages
             we
             cannot
             certainly
             determin
             by
             what
             token
             it
             was
             that
             
             the
             Prophets
             knew
             the
             divinity
             of
             their
             own
             inspirations
             while
             they
             were
             seiz'd
             with
             them
             ;
             yet
             this
             we
             know
             ,
             that
             after
             they
             were
             deliver'd
             of
             them
             ,
             God
             always
             took
             care
             to
             attest
             them
             by
             some
             miraculous
             operation
             :
             for
             so
             Miracles
             are
             styled
             by
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             the
             evidence
             and
             demonstration
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             constant
             signs
             and
             tokens
             of
             Divine
             inspiration
             ;
             and
             indeed
             without
             such
             signs
             to
             distinguish
             it
             from
             false
             pretences
             ,
             we
             were
             better
             be
             without
             inspiration
             ,
             than
             with
             it
             ,
             because
             we
             shall
             be
             left
             under
             an
             unavoidable
             necessity
             ,
             either
             of
             admitting
             all
             inspirations
             which
             pretend
             to
             be
             divine
             ,
             or
             of
             rejecting
             all
             that
             are
             truly
             so
             :
             as
             to
             instance
             in
             this
             case
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             know
             't
             is
             possible
             for
             men
             to
             have
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             it
             dictated
             to
             them
             by
             a
             natural
             ,
             or
             Diabolical
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             a
             Divine
             Enthusiasm
             ,
             and
             therefore
             it
             is
             highly
             requisit
             if
             such
             Divine
             Enthusiasm
             ,
             or
             Inspiration
             ,
             be
             continu'd
             to
             us
             ,
             that
             the
             proper
             signs
             and
             testimonies
             of
             it
             should
             be
             continu'd
             too
             ,
             that
             so
             we
             may
             be
             able
             to
             distinguish
             that
             which
             is
             divine
             ,
             from
             that
             which
             is
             natural
             or
             diabolical
             ;
             otherwise
             we
             must
             either
             conclude
             them
             all
             to
             be
             natural
             ,
             or
             diabolical
             ,
             or
             believe
             them
             all
             to
             be
             divine
             ,
             and
             entertain
             them
             accordingly
             .
          
           
             If
             you
             say
             there
             is
             no
             need
             of
             either
             ,
             because
             the
             Scripture
             is
             sufficient
             to
             distinguish
             them
             ;
             I
             answer
             ,
             that
             though
             the
             Scripture
             may
             be
             sufficient
             to
             distinguish
             the
             matter
             of
             the
             inspiration
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             true
             or
             false
             ,
             yet
             it
             is
             not
             sufficient
             to
             distinguish
             the
             inspiration
             it self
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             divine
             ,
             or
             natural
             ,
             or
             diabolical
             :
             For
          
           
             First
             ,
             As
             for
             natural
             Enthusiasm
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             at
             all
             impossible
             for
             a
             man
             to
             pray
             agreeably
             to
             Scripture
             by
             natural
             inspiration
             ,
             by
             which
             I
             mean
             a
             natural
             or
             accidental
             fervency
             of
             temper
             ,
             arising
             either
             from
             a
             
             constant
             heat
             of
             constitution
             ,
             or
             a
             casual
             agitation
             of
             the
             spirits
             ,
             occasion'd
             either
             by
             vapours
             of
             heated
             melancholy
             ,
             or
             an
             intermixture
             of
             sharp
             and
             feaverish
             humours
             with
             the
             blood
             ;
             which
             as
             all
             men
             know
             ,
             who
             understand
             any
             thing
             of
             the
             nature
             and
             composition
             of
             humane
             bodies
             ,
             naturally
             heightens
             and
             impregnates
             the
             fancy
             ,
             and
             causes
             the
             images
             of
             things
             to
             come
             faster
             into
             it
             ,
             and
             appear
             more
             distinct
             in
             it
             ,
             and
             consequently
             produces
             a
             very
             ready
             invention
             of
             matter
             and
             extraordinary
             fluency
             of
             words
             :
             so
             that
             if
             under
             a
             fit
             of
             this
             natural
             fervency
             ,
             a
             man's
             fancy
             happens
             to
             run
             upon
             God
             and
             Religion
             ,
             he
             cannot
             fail
             to
             pray
             with
             great
             readiness
             and
             fluency
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             with
             that
             extraordinary
             passion
             and
             enlargement
             ,
             as
             shall
             cause
             him
             assuredly
             to
             believe
             himself
             immediately
             inspired
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             :
             of
             the
             truth
             of
             which
             ,
             instances
             enough
             might
             be
             given
             not
             only
             among
             Christians
             ,
             but
             also
             among
             the
             Devoto's
             of
             Mahomet
             ,
             and
             the
             Poets
             and
             Orators
             of
             the
             Heathens
             ,
             whose
             fancies
             have
             been
             very
             often
             so
             strangely
             exalted
             by
             the
             fervour
             of
             their
             temper
             ,
             or
             disease
             ,
             that
             not
             only
             they
             themselves
             ,
             but
             they
             that
             heard
             them
             ,
             believed
             that
             they
             were
             inspired
             by
             God.
             Supposing
             then
             ,
             that
             under
             a
             fit
             of
             this
             natural
             Enthusiasm
             a
             man
             should
             pray
             agreeably
             to
             Scripture
             ,
             how
             shall
             he
             be
             able
             to
             know
             by
             Scripture
             whether
             the
             present
             inspiration
             he
             is
             under
             ,
             be
             natural
             ,
             or
             divine
             ?
             and
             how
             will
             it
             be
             possible
             for
             him
             to
             avoid
             ,
             many
             times
             ,
             attributing
             the
             natural
             effects
             of
             his
             temper
             ,
             or
             disease
             ,
             to
             the
             immediate
             operation
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ?
          
           
             But
             you
             will
             say
             ,
             we
             all
             agree
             that
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             inspires
             good
             men
             with
             holy
             and
             fervent
             affections
             in
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             and
             yet
             it
             cannot
             be
             deni'd
             that
             this
             fervency
             of
             affection
             doth
             sometimes
             also
             proceed
             from
             the
             present
             temper
             of
             our
             bodies
             ,
             notwithstanding
             
             which
             ,
             we
             have
             no
             other
             sign
             or
             testimony
             besides
             that
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             whereby
             to
             distinguish
             when
             't
             is
             divine
             ,
             and
             when
             natural
             ;
             doth
             not
             therefore
             the
             want
             of
             such
             sign
             as
             effectually
             conclude
             against
             the
             Spirits
             inspiring
             the
             fervour
             of
             our
             Prayers
             ,
             as
             against
             his
             inspiring
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             them
             ?
             I
             answer
             ,
             no
             ;
             For
             ,
             as
             for
             the
             former
             ,
             we
             have
             a
             sure
             word
             of
             promise
             ,
             which
             we
             have
             not
             for
             the
             latter
             ;
             and
             therefore
             if
             we
             can
             claim
             the
             promise
             ,
             we
             have
             just
             reason
             to
             conclude
             when
             we
             feel
             our
             affections
             actually
             excited
             ,
             that
             how
             much
             soever
             other
             causes
             might
             contribute
             to
             it
             ,
             the
             Holy
             Spirit
             was
             the
             principal
             cause
             ;
             but
             where
             we
             have
             no
             promise
             ,
             we
             have
             no
             ground
             for
             such
             conclusion
             :
             besides
             which
             ,
             we
             have
             no
             such
             need
             of
             signs
             to
             enable
             us
             to
             distinguish
             in
             the
             one
             case
             ,
             as
             in
             the
             other
             ;
             For
             as
             for
             the
             inspiration
             of
             affection
             ,
             we
             may
             easily
             distinguish
             whether
             it
             be
             natural
             or
             divine
             ,
             by
             our
             own
             sense
             ;
             if
             our
             present
             fervour
             be
             accompanied
             with
             a
             fixt
             and
             constant
             devotion
             of
             soul
             ,
             we
             may
             certainly
             conclude
             ,
             that
             the
             same
             Spirit
             which
             inspired
             the
             one
             ,
             inspired
             the
             other
             ;
             and
             whether
             it
             be
             so
             accompanied
             or
             no
             ,
             that
             natural
             sense
             and
             feeling
             we
             have
             of
             our
             own
             motions
             and
             affections
             ,
             will
             quickly
             inform
             us
             ,
             and
             we
             have
             no
             more
             need
             of
             an
             outward
             sign
             to
             satisfie
             us
             in
             this
             matter
             ,
             than
             we
             have
             to
             know
             whether
             we
             are
             hungry
             or
             thirsty
             :
             but
             if
             the
             present
             fervour
             of
             our
             affections
             in
             Prayer
             be
             only
             a
             sudden
             fit
             and
             pang
             of
             devotion
             ,
             that
             finds
             and
             leaves
             us
             habitually
             indevout
             ,
             we
             have
             just
             reason
             to
             conclude
             ,
             that
             't
             is
             intirely
             owing
             to
             our
             present
             bodily
             temper
             :
             whether
             therefore
             our
             affections
             in
             Prayer
             are
             inspired
             by
             God
             ,
             our
             own
             sense
             will
             inform
             us
             ,
             if
             we
             impartially
             consult
             it
             ;
             but
             whether
             our
             matter
             and
             words
             are
             so
             ,
             no
             sense
             we
             have
             can
             resolve
             us
             :
             we
             may
             feel
             the
             matter
             of
             our
             Prayer
             pour
             in
             
             upon
             us
             with
             extraordinary
             readiness
             ,
             and
             be
             inabled
             to
             pour
             it
             out
             again
             with
             extraordinary
             fluency
             ,
             and
             yet
             all
             this
             may
             proceed
             from
             our
             own
             fancy
             and
             invention
             ,
             quickned
             and
             enlarg'd
             by
             meerly
             natural
             Enthusiasm
             ;
             and
             therefore
             ,
             unless
             we
             had
             some
             other
             sign
             ,
             besides
             that
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             't
             will
             be
             impossible
             for
             us
             to
             distinguish
             between
             a
             divine
             and
             natural
             inspiration
             of
             matter
             and
             words
             ,
             because
             that
             which
             is
             natural
             ,
             may
             be
             as
             agreeable
             to
             Scripture
             ,
             as
             that
             which
             is
             suppos'd
             to
             be
             divine
             ;
             and
             God
             hath
             given
             us
             no
             inward
             sense
             to
             distinguish
             between
             one
             and
             t'other
             :
             and
             can
             it
             be
             imagin'd
             that
             had
             he
             meant
             to
             continue
             this
             Gift
             of
             inspiration
             to
             us
             ,
             he
             would
             have
             thus
             left
             us
             in
             the
             dark
             concerning
             it
             ,
             without
             any
             certain
             sign
             whereby
             we
             might
             distinguish
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             from
             his
             Spirit
             ,
             or
             from
             an
             ill-affected
             Spleen
             ,
             or
             a
             Feaver
             ?
          
           
             But
             then
             ,
             secondly
             ,
             as
             for
             Diabolical
             Inspirations
             of
             Matter
             and
             Words
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             have
             sundry
             very
             probable
             Instances
             ,
             such
             as
             Major
             Weir
             ,
             who
             is
             said
             to
             have
             received
             his
             Inspirations
             through
             a
             Staff
             ,
             
               Hacket
               ,
               David
               George
            
             ,
             and
             that
             Monster
             of
             wickedness
             ,
             
               John
               Basilides
            
             Duke
             of
             Russia
             ,
             who
             were
             all
             of
             them
             possess'd
             with
             such
             a
             wonderful
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             did
             not
             only
             charm
             and
             ravish
             those
             that
             heard
             them
             ,
             but
             seem'd
             ,
             in
             the
             opinion
             of
             the
             most
             wise
             and
             impartial
             ,
             to
             exceed
             the
             power
             of
             nature
             ;
             which
             renders
             it
             very
             probable
             that
             the
             matter
             of
             their
             Prayers
             was
             for
             the
             most
             part
             agreeable
             to
             Scripture
             ,
             otherwise
             't
             is
             hardly
             conceivable
             how
             they
             could
             have
             procured
             to
             themselves
             so
             many
             admirers
             ,
             and
             abused
             so
             many
             honest
             minds
             into
             a
             belief
             that
             they
             were
             immediately
             inspired
             by
             God.
             And
             since
             by
             inspiring
             his
             Votaries
             with
             such
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             as
             is
             agreeable
             to
             Scripture
             ,
             the
             Devil
             may
             sometimes
             serve
             his
             own
             ends
             ,
             since
             he
             may
             thereby
             puff
             up
             giddy
             minds
             with
             pride
             ,
             and
             self-conceit
             ,
             and
             more
             effectually
             recommend
             Seducers
             and
             false
             
             Teachers
             to
             the
             World
             ;
             't
             is
             very
             reasonable
             ,
             to
             suppose
             that
             this
             subtle
             Agent
             who
             so
             throughly
             understands
             his
             own
             game
             ,
             will
             in
             some
             cases
             be
             forward
             enough
             to
             do
             it
             ;
             and
             if
             in
             any
             case
             we
             may
             reasonably
             suppose
             ,
             that
             the
             Devil
             may
             inspire
             men
             with
             such
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             as
             is
             agreeable
             to
             Scripture
             ,
             then
             we
             can
             never
             certainly
             distinguish
             by
             Scripture
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             or
             the
             Devil
             ,
             that
             inspires
             us
             .
             And
             can
             we
             ,
             without
             blaspheming
             the
             goodness
             of
             God
             ,
             imagin
             ,
             that
             if
             he
             had
             continu'd
             this
             Gift
             of
             immediate
             inspiration
             to
             us
             ,
             he
             would
             have
             neglected
             to
             continue
             such
             signs
             and
             testimonies
             of
             it
             as
             are
             necessary
             to
             distinguish
             it
             from
             the
             inspirations
             of
             the
             Devil
             ?
             doubtless
             't
             is
             much
             better
             for
             us
             that
             this
             Gift
             should
             be
             totally
             withdrawn
             ,
             and
             that
             as
             to
             the
             matter
             and
             expressions
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             should
             be
             left
             to
             the
             guidance
             of
             Scripture
             and
             Reason
             ,
             than
             that
             by
             the
             continuance
             of
             it
             without
             some
             certain
             sign
             to
             know
             and
             distinguish
             it
             ,
             we
             should
             be
             left
             under
             a
             fatal
             necessity
             ,
             either
             of
             rejecting
             Divine
             Inspirations
             ,
             or
             of
             admitting
             Diabolical
             for
             Divine
             .
             And
             therefore
             since
             we
             have
             no
             such
             sign
             continu'd
             among
             us
             ,
             we
             have
             all
             the
             reason
             in
             the
             world
             to
             conclude
             ,
             that
             this
             Gift
             is
             discontinu'd
             ,
             and
             ceas'd
             :
             especially
             considering
             that
             we
             have
             not
             only
             no
             certain
             sign
             of
             any
             such
             inspiration
             in
             the
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             of
             those
             which
             most
             pretend
             to
             it
             ,
             but
             many
             very
             certain
             ones
             of
             the
             contrary
             ;
             I
             will
             instance
             in
             sour
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             The
             great
             impertinence
             ,
             and
             nonsense
             ,
             and
             rudeness
             ,
             to
             say
             no
             worse
             ,
             that
             are
             sometimes
             mingled
             with
             these
             Extempore
             Prayers
             .
             I
             will
             not
             give
             Instances
             of
             this
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             so
             notorious
             ,
             that
             our
             Brethren
             themselves
             cannot
             but
             in
             part
             acknowledge
             it
             :
             now
             to
             attribute
             these
             faults
             of
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             ,
             to
             immediate
             inspiration
             ,
             would
             be
             to
             blaspheme
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             and
             
             father
             our
             own
             follies
             upon
             him
             ,
             and
             yet
             sure
             had
             he
             thought
             meet
             to
             have
             continu'd
             to
             the
             Church
             this
             Gift
             of
             inspiration
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             it
             would
             have
             been
             in
             order
             to
             the
             securing
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             from
             those
             rudenesses
             and
             indecencies
             to
             which
             extemporary
             Prayers
             of
             mens
             own
             conceiving
             are
             liable
             ;
             and
             if
             so
             ,
             to
             be
             sure
             in
             publick
             Prayer
             at
             least
             ,
             he
             would
             have
             constantly
             taken
             care
             to
             inspire
             such
             matter
             as
             is
             fit
             to
             be
             offer'd
             up
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             such
             expressions
             as
             are
             fit
             for
             such
             matter
             ;
             that
             so
             the
             Publick
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             most
             serious
             and
             solemn
             thing
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             might
             not
             be
             render'd
             ridiculous
             by
             the
             folly
             and
             inadvertency
             of
             men
             .
             Whereas
             on
             the
             contrary
             ,
             we
             see
             those
             publick
             Prayers
             which
             arrogate
             to
             themselves
             the
             honor
             of
             being
             inspired
             ,
             are
             generally
             more
             liable
             to
             these
             indecencies
             ,
             than
             Forms
             of
             humane
             composure
             ,
             and
             that
             those
             Prayers
             which
             consist
             of
             premeditated
             matter
             and
             words
             ,
             are
             commonly
             much
             better
             sense
             ,
             and
             far
             more
             decent
             and
             pertinent
             ,
             than
             our
             extemporary
             effusions
             ;
             which
             how
             it
             should
             come
             to
             pass
             I
             know
             not
             ,
             supposing
             the
             continuance
             of
             inspiration
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             unless
             we
             will
             suppose
             ,
             that
             Humane
             Composures
             may
             exceed
             Divine
             Inspirations
             ,
             and
             that
             Men
             may
             ordinarily
             premeditate
             better
             Prayers
             ,
             than
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             inspires
             .
             And
             methinks
             it
             seems
             very
             strange
             ,
             that
             the
             Spirit
             should
             continue
             this
             Gift
             of
             inspiration
             to
             secure
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             from
             nonsense
             and
             impertinence
             ,
             and
             yet
             that
             after
             all
             ,
             it
             should
             remain
             more
             liable
             to
             th●se
             indecencies
             ,
             than
             if
             our
             publick
             Prayers
             were
             offered
             up
             in
             premeditated
             Forms
             ,
             composed
             out
             of
             our
             own
             or
             other
             mens
             inventions
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Another
             sign
             that
             our
             composed
             Prayers
             are
             not
             immediately
             inspired
             is
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             so
             generally
             tinctur'd
             with
             the
             particular
             opinions
             of
             those
             that
             offer
             them
             .
             You
             may
             observe
             that
             in
             all
             publick
             Controversies
             
             of
             Religion
             ,
             mens
             Opinions
             are
             generally
             to
             be
             known
             by
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             especially
             if
             they
             zealously
             espouse
             either
             side
             of
             the
             Question
             :
             for
             then
             the
             debate
             runs
             so
             much
             in
             their
             heads
             ,
             and
             they
             look
             upon
             God
             and
             Religion
             so
             very
             highly
             concern'd
             in
             it
             ,
             that
             they
             can
             hardly
             frame
             a
             Petition
             ,
             Confession
             ,
             or
             Thanksgiving
             ,
             without
             giving
             some
             intimation
             of
             their
             particular
             Perswasion
             ;
             and
             many
             times
             one
             of
             the
             Petitions
             is
             ,
             
               That
               God
               would
               hinder
               the
               propagation
               of
               the
               contrary
               Perswasion
               ,
               and
               convince
               their
               Adversaries
               of
               the
               Error
               and
               Falshood
               of
               it
               .
            
             Thus
             for
             instance
             ,
             when
             the
             Contest
             ran
             high
             between
             the
             Presbyterians
             and
             Independents
             ,
             the
             Arminians
             and
             Calvinists
             ,
             how
             easie
             was
             it
             to
             distinguish
             them
             by
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             from
             one
             another
             ?
             Whether
             this
             be
             not
             so
             ,
             I
             appeal
             to
             our
             Brethren
             themselves
             ,
             and
             to
             all
             the
             World
             ?
             And
             if
             so
             ,
             what
             plainer
             evidence
             can
             be
             given
             ,
             that
             their
             Prayers
             were
             not
             inspired
             ,
             but
             of
             their
             own
             invention
             ,
             and
             composure
             ?
             For
             either
             we
             must
             suppose
             this
             Gift
             of
             Inspiration
             to
             be
             confin'd
             to
             one
             Party
             ,
             which
             would
             be
             to
             stint
             the
             Spirit
             with
             a
             witness
             ,
             and
             everlastingly
             to
             puzzle
             our selves
             where
             to
             find
             it
             ,
             among
             so
             many
             contending
             Parties
             that
             pretend
             to
             it
             ;
             or
             else
             we
             must
             affirm
             a
             horrid
             Blasphemy
             ,
             viz.
             That
             the
             Spirit
             inspires
             Contradictions
             ,
             and
             indites
             contrary
             Prayers
             to
             men
             of
             opposite
             Parties
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             Another
             plain
             sign
             that
             our
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             are
             not
             immediately
             inspired
             is
             ,
             That
             that
             which
             gives
             them
             the
             reputation
             of
             being
             so
             ,
             is
             not
             so
             much
             the
             matter
             ,
             as
             the
             way
             and
             manner
             of
             expressing
             them
             .
             For
             as
             for
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             I
             suppose
             our
             Brethren
             will
             not
             deny
             ,
             but
             our
             Forms
             may
             equal
             at
             least
             ,
             if
             not
             exceed
             their
             conceiv'd
             and
             extemporary
             Prayers
             ,
             and
             that
             't
             is
             possible
             for
             men
             ,
             upon
             mature
             thoughts
             and
             deliberations
             ,
             to
             compose
             and
             pen
             a
             Prayer
             ,
             that
             
             shall
             be
             as
             full
             and
             comprehensive
             of
             the
             common
             cases
             ,
             and
             necessities
             of
             Christians
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             had
             conceived
             ,
             and
             indited
             it
             upon
             the
             place
             .
             And
             if
             all
             the
             matter
             that
             is
             in
             a
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             ,
             may
             be
             easily
             contain'd
             and
             express'd
             in
             a
             Form
             ,
             then
             all
             the
             difference
             between
             one
             and
             t'other
             must
             lie
             in
             the
             way
             ,
             and
             manner
             of
             expressing
             it
             ,
             and
             consequently
             it
             must
             be
             only
             upon
             this
             account
             ,
             that
             the
             one
             must
             pretend
             to
             inspiration
             more
             than
             t'other
             .
             Now
             there
             are
             only
             two
             differences
             between
             Forms
             ,
             and
             conceived
             Prayers
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             way
             ,
             and
             manner
             of
             expressing
             the
             matter
             in
             them
             ;
             neither
             of
             which
             are
             so
             considerable
             ,
             as
             to
             give
             the
             one
             a
             fairer
             pretence
             to
             inspiration
             than
             the
             other
             :
             The
             first
             is
             ,
             that
             whereas
             the
             matter
             of
             a
             Form
             of
             Prayer
             is
             express'd
             in
             set
             ,
             and
             premeditated
             words
             ,
             the
             same
             matter
             in
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             is
             express'd
             in
             extemporary
             words
             ;
             and
             is
             it
             not
             strange
             ,
             that
             upon
             such
             a
             slight
             ,
             and
             inconsiderable
             difference
             ,
             the
             one
             should
             be
             thought
             to
             be
             more
             inspired
             than
             the
             other
             ?
             as
             if
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             continu'd
             the
             Gift
             of
             Inspiration
             to
             no
             other
             purpose
             ,
             but
             to
             inable
             men
             to
             ask
             those
             Blessings
             in
             extemporary
             words
             ,
             which
             they
             might
             as
             well
             have
             askt
             in
             premeditated
             ones
             .
             The
             second
             is
             ,
             that
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             do
             generally
             more
             inlarge
             and
             amplifie
             on
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             than
             Forms
             ,
             in
             which
             we
             being
             always
             tied
             to
             such
             a
             set
             of
             words
             ,
             have
             not
             that
             liberty
             to
             expatiate
             on
             our
             several
             cases
             ,
             and
             necessities
             ;
             but
             this
             is
             so
             far
             from
             adding
             to
             the
             value
             of
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             ,
             that
             it
             rather
             lessens
             ,
             and
             depreciates
             them
             ;
             for
             if
             you
             observe
             these
             admired
             enlargements
             ,
             and
             amplifications
             ,
             are
             generally
             nothing
             else
             but
             only
             the
             same
             matter
             express'd
             again
             in
             different
             words
             ,
             which
             makes
             our
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             run
             out
             many
             times
             to
             that
             inordinate
             length
             ,
             the
             same
             matter
             being
             repeated
             in
             them
             over
             and
             over
             in
             
             varied
             phrases
             and
             expressions
             :
             how
             then
             can
             we
             entertain
             such
             mean
             conceits
             of
             the
             wisdom
             of
             the
             holy
             Spirit
             ,
             as
             to
             imagin
             he
             would
             continue
             to
             us
             the
             Gift
             of
             immediate
             inspiration
             ,
             meerly
             to
             inable
             us
             to
             repeat
             the
             same
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             to
             God
             ten
             or
             twenty
             times
             over
             ,
             in
             different
             phrases
             and
             expressions
             ?
             especially
             considering
             that
             by
             so
             doing
             he
             would
             cross
             the
             orders
             of
             our
             Saviour
             ,
             who
             expresly
             forbids
             us
             in
             our
             Prayers
             to
             use
             vain
             repetitions
             ,
             (
             or
             as
             
               Munster's
               Hebrew
            
             reads
             it
             ,
             to
             multiply
             words
             above
             what
             is
             fit
             and
             seasonable
             )
             thinking
             we
             shall
             be
             heard
             for
             our
             much
             speaking
             ,
             to
             which
             he
             subjoins
             this
             reason
             ,
             
               For
               your
               Father
               knows
               what
               things
               you
               have
               need
               of
               before
               you
               ask
               him
               ,
            
             Matth.
             6.
             7
             ,
             8.
             
             As
             if
             he
             should
             have
             said
             ,
             you
             need
             not
             lengthen
             out
             your
             Prayers
             with
             so
             many
             copious
             enlargements
             ,
             and
             varied
             repetitions
             of
             the
             same
             matter
             ,
             as
             if
             you
             meant
             thereby
             more
             fully
             to
             instruct
             your
             Father
             in
             your
             wants
             and
             desires
             ,
             for
             before
             ever
             you
             ask
             ,
             he
             knows
             your
             needs
             ,
             and
             therefore
             a
             few
             words
             will
             suffice
             to
             express
             your
             desires
             to
             him
             .
             And
             when
             our
             Saviour
             hath
             requir'd
             that
             our
             Prayers
             should
             be
             short
             ,
             and
             pithy
             ,
             and
             stript
             of
             all
             needless
             multiplicity
             of
             words
             ,
             what
             reason
             have
             we
             to
             think
             that
             the
             Holy
             Spirit
             ,
             who
             is
             his
             Vice-gerent
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             would
             continue
             the
             Gift
             of
             Inspiration
             meerly
             to
             amplifie
             ,
             and
             enlarge
             them
             ?
             These
             enlargements
             of
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             therefore
             ,
             are
             so
             far
             from
             being
             signs
             of
             their
             immediate
             inspiration
             ,
             that
             supposing
             the
             Spirit
             to
             be
             of
             the
             same
             mind
             with
             our
             Saviour
             ,
             they
             are
             generally
             signs
             of
             the
             contrary
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             Another
             plain
             sign
             that
             our
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             are
             not
             immediately
             inspired
             is
             ,
             That
             that
             extraordinary
             manner
             ,
             and
             way
             of
             expressing
             them
             ,
             for
             which
             they
             are
             thought
             to
             be
             inspired
             ,
             doth
             apparently
             proceed
             from
             natural
             causes
             :
             for
             ,
             as
             I
             shew'd
             before
             ,
             the
             reason
             
             why
             our
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             are
             thought
             by
             us
             and
             others
             to
             be
             inspired
             is
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             many
             times
             inabled
             in
             them
             to
             enlarge
             extempore
             ,
             with
             so
             much
             readiness
             ,
             and
             fluency
             :
             which
             may
             be
             easily
             resolv'd
             into
             meer
             natural
             Enthusiasm
             ,
             or
             present
             fervour
             of
             temper
             .
             And
             that
             from
             hence
             this
             fluency
             and
             enlargement
             in
             Prayer
             doth
             ordinarily
             proceed
             ,
             seems
             very
             evident
             by
             two
             undeniable
             signs
             ;
             first
             ,
             that
             according
             to
             our
             Brethrens
             own
             confession
             ,
             it
             comes
             upon
             them
             much
             oftener
             in
             their
             publick
             ,
             than
             in
             their
             private
             Devotions
             .
             For
             this
             is
             an
             ordinary
             case
             in
             their
             Divinity
             ;
             how
             comes
             it
             to
             pass
             that
             good
             men
             often
             find
             themselves
             so
             enlarg'd
             in
             their
             publick
             ,
             and
             so
             streighten'd
             in
             their
             private
             Prayers
             ?
             And
             indeed
             ,
             supposing
             the
             Spirit
             did
             ordinarily
             inspire
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             their
             Prayer
             ,
             I
             see
             not
             how
             it
             could
             be
             well
             resolv'd
             ,
             unless
             we
             suppose
             the
             Spirit
             to
             be
             more
             concern'd
             to
             inspire
             us
             with
             fluency
             of
             matter
             and
             words
             ,
             when
             we
             are
             to
             speak
             before
             men
             ,
             than
             when
             we
             are
             only
             to
             speak
             before
             God.
             The
             true
             resolution
             therefore
             of
             the
             case
             is
             this
             ,
             that
             in
             our
             private
             Prayers
             we
             want
             the
             sighs
             ,
             and
             groans
             ,
             and
             passionate
             gestures
             of
             a
             devout
             Congregation
             ,
             to
             chafe
             and
             excite
             our
             affections
             ,
             and
             the
             reverence
             of
             a
             numerous
             Auditory
             ,
             to
             oblige
             us
             to
             teaz
             and
             wrack
             our
             inventions
             ;
             for
             want
             of
             which
             our
             spirits
             are
             not
             ordinarily
             so
             vehemently
             agitated
             and
             heated
             as
             when
             we
             Pray
             in
             publick
             ;
             where
             being
             more
             than
             ordinarily
             warm'd
             ,
             partly
             with
             our
             own
             efforts
             and
             struglings
             ,
             to
             invent
             ,
             and
             partly
             with
             the
             warmths
             and
             pious
             fervours
             of
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             we
             are
             many
             times
             transported
             by
             this
             natural
             Enthusiasm
             ,
             into
             raptures
             of
             passion
             and
             inlargement
             ;
             this
             I
             say
             is
             the
             only
             reason
             that
             can
             be
             assign'd
             of
             it
             ,
             unless
             we
             will
             suppose
             that
             which
             is
             very
             unsupposeable
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             viz.
             That
             he
             is
             more
             solicitous
             to
             indite
             our
             
             Prayers
             when
             we
             are
             in
             the
             presence
             of
             men
             ,
             than
             when
             we
             are
             only
             in
             the
             presence
             of
             God.
             Secondly
             ,
             Another
             sign
             that
             this
             admired
             fluency
             and
             enlargement
             in
             Prayer
             proceeds
             from
             meer
             natural
             Enthusiasm
             is
             this
             ,
             that
             generally
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             the
             Prayer
             they
             find
             themselves
             streighten'd
             and
             confin'd
             ,
             both
             as
             to
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             it
             ,
             till
             they
             have
             Pray'd
             on
             for
             a
             while
             ,
             and
             then
             they
             grow
             more
             ready
             and
             fluent
             ;
             which
             how
             it
             should
             come
             to
             pass
             ,
             I
             know
             not
             ,
             supposing
             the
             Prayer
             were
             inspired
             ,
             unless
             perhaps
             the
             Spirit
             comes
             in
             only
             in
             the
             middle
             ,
             or
             towards
             the
             latter
             end
             of
             their
             Prayer
             ,
             but
             leaves
             them
             to
             their
             own
             invention
             in
             the
             beginning
             ,
             and
             what
             reason
             there
             should
             be
             for
             such
             an
             imagination
             ,
             I
             confess
             I
             am
             not
             able
             to
             guess
             .
             The
             true
             account
             therefore
             of
             the
             matter
             is
             this
             ,
             that
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             the
             Prayer
             their
             Spirits
             are
             usually
             dull
             ,
             and
             sluggish
             ,
             and
             do
             not
             flow
             and
             reflow
             so
             briskly
             to
             their
             heads
             and
             hearts
             as
             afterwards
             ,
             when
             they
             have
             been
             throughly
             chaft
             and
             heated
             with
             the
             labour
             and
             exercise
             of
             invention
             ;
             by
             which
             being
             excited
             and
             awaken'd
             ,
             they
             naturally
             raise
             the
             drooping
             fancy
             ,
             and
             render
             the
             invention
             more
             copious
             ,
             fluent
             ,
             and
             easie
             .
             So
             that
             meerly
             by
             the
             Laws
             of
             Matter
             and
             Motion
             ,
             as
             plain
             an
             account
             may
             be
             given
             of
             this
             extemporary
             fluency
             and
             enlargement
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             of
             any
             other
             natural
             effect
             whatsoever
             ;
             and
             therefore
             for
             our
             Brethren
             to
             attribute
             to
             the
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             which
             hath
             such
             apparent
             signs
             of
             its
             derivation
             from
             natural
             causes
             ,
             is
             ,
             I
             conceive
             ,
             very
             unwarrantable
             .
             By
             all
             which
             ,
             I
             think
             ,
             it
             's
             very
             evident
             ,
             not
             only
             that
             we
             have
             no
             sign
             of
             the
             continuance
             of
             this
             Gift
             of
             Inspiration
             of
             Prayer
             remaining
             among
             us
             ,
             but
             that
             we
             have
             manifest
             signs
             of
             the
             contrary
             .
          
           
           
             4.
             
             And
             lastly
             ,
             That
             to
             suppose
             the
             continuance
             of
             this
             Gift
             of
             Inspiration
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             is
             to
             suppose
             more
             than
             our
             Brethren
             themselves
             will
             allow
             of
             ,
             viz.
             That
             their
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             are
             infallible
             ,
             and
             of
             equal
             authority
             with
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
             For
             if
             our
             Prayers
             are
             dictated
             to
             us
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             they
             must
             be
             as
             infallible
             as
             he
             ,
             whose
             infinite
             knowledge
             cannot
             suffer
             him
             to
             be
             deceiv'd
             ,
             and
             whose
             infinite
             veracity
             will
             not
             admit
             him
             to
             deceive
             :
             and
             if
             so
             ,
             then
             whatsoever
             he
             dictates
             ,
             or
             inspires
             ,
             must
             be
             remov'd
             from
             all
             possibility
             of
             error
             ,
             or
             mistake
             ;
             and
             consequently
             our
             Prayers
             must
             be
             so
             too
             ,
             supposing
             he
             inspires
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             them
             .
             And
             as
             they
             must
             be
             infallible
             in
             themselves
             ,
             so
             they
             must
             be
             of
             equal
             authority
             with
             Scripture
             :
             for
             that
             which
             gives
             the
             Scriptures
             the
             authority
             of
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             ,
             their
             being
             inspired
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             therefore
             whatsoever
             matter
             or
             words
             are
             so
             inspired
             ,
             are
             as
             much
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             any
             matter
             or
             words
             in
             Scripture
             :
             
               All
               Scripture
               is
               given
            
             ,
             saith
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             
               by
               the
               Inspiration
               of
               God.
            
             And
             therefore
             whatsoever
             is
             given
             by
             his
             Inspiration
             ,
             must
             necessarily
             be
             his
             Word
             :
             for
             what
             those
             Holy
             Men
             of
             God
             spake
             ,
             who
             deliver'd
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             they
             spake
             as
             they
             were
             moved
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             1
             Pet.
             1.
             21.
             and
             therefore
             what
             they
             deliver'd
             was
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             because
             their
             Mouths
             were
             the
             Oracles
             through
             which
             God
             spake
             ;
             if
             therefore
             when
             we
             Pray
             ,
             we
             are
             mov'd
             ,
             as
             they
             were
             ,
             by
             the
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             God
             ,
             what
             we
             pray
             ,
             must
             be
             as
             much
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             what
             they
             spake
             .
             So
             that
             either
             our
             Brethren
             must
             affirm
             ,
             that
             their
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             are
             of
             equal
             authority
             with
             Scripture
             ,
             (
             which
             I
             am
             sure
             no
             sober
             Dissenter
             will
             presume
             )
             or
             deny
             that
             they
             are
             immediately
             inspired
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             .
          
           
           
             And
             thus
             I
             have
             shewn
             what
             those
             extraordinary
             Operations
             are
             ,
             which
             the
             Scripture
             attributes
             to
             the
             Spirit
             in
             Prayer
             .
             I
             proceed
             in
             the
             next
             place
             ,
             to
             enquire
             what
             the
             ordinary
             and
             standing
             Operations
             are
             ,
             which
             the
             Scripture
             attributes
             to
             him
             ,
             and
             which
             he
             hath
             promised
             to
             continue
             to
             the
             end
             of
             the
             World.
             Of
             which
             I
             shall
             give
             but
             a
             very
             brief
             account
             ,
             because
             herein
             we
             are
             all
             agreed
             .
          
           
             In
             short
             therefore
             ,
             the
             ordinary
             Operations
             of
             the
             Spirit
             consist
             in
             exciting
             in
             us
             the
             graces
             and
             proper
             affections
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             such
             as
             shame
             and
             sorrow
             in
             the
             confession
             of
             our
             sins
             ,
             a
             sense
             of
             our
             need
             of
             mercy
             ,
             and
             a
             hope
             of
             obtaining
             it
             in
             our
             supplications
             for
             pardon
             ,
             resignation
             to
             God's
             will
             ,
             and
             dependance
             on
             his
             goodness
             in
             our
             Prayers
             for
             temporal
             mercies
             ,
             and
             deliverances
             ,
             hunger
             and
             thirst
             after
             righteousness
             in
             our
             Petitions
             for
             his
             grace
             and
             assistance
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             gratitude
             ,
             and
             love
             ,
             and
             admiration
             of
             God
             in
             our
             Praises
             and
             Thanksgivings
             for
             Mercy
             .
             For
             in
             these
             divine
             and
             gracious
             Affections
             ,
             the
             life
             and
             soul
             of
             Prayer
             consists
             :
             as
             for
             the
             Words
             and
             Expressions
             of
             it
             ,
             about
             which
             our
             Brethren
             disagree
             with
             us
             ,
             they
             are
             of
             no
             other
             account
             with
             God
             ,
             than
             as
             they
             signifie
             to
             him
             the
             graces
             and
             affections
             of
             our
             Prayers
             ,
             without
             which
             he
             regards
             them
             no
             more
             ,
             than
             he
             doth
             the
             whistling
             of
             the
             wind
             ;
             and
             therefore
             since
             these
             affections
             are
             the
             main
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             words
             are
             nothing
             in
             his
             account
             in
             comparison
             with
             them
             ;
             can
             any
             man
             be
             so
             vain
             as
             to
             imagin
             ,
             that
             those
             affections
             will
             be
             ever
             a
             whit
             the
             less
             acceptable
             to
             him
             ,
             because
             they
             are
             presented
             in
             a
             form
             of
             words
             ,
             and
             not
             in
             extemporary
             Effusions
             ?
             Sure
             that
             Father
             would
             be
             very
             capricious
             ,
             that
             should
             deny
             Bread
             to
             his
             hungry
             Child
             ,
             meerly
             because
             he
             askt
             it
             to
             day
             in
             the
             same
             words
             that
             he
             did
             yesterday
             ;
             and
             to
             imagin
             that
             God
             
             will
             dislike
             or
             reject
             the
             good
             affections
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ,
             meerly
             because
             they
             are
             every
             day
             express'd
             in
             the
             same
             form
             ,
             is
             to
             suppose
             him
             a
             very
             captious
             Being
             ,
             and
             one
             that
             is
             more
             taken
             with
             our
             words
             ,
             than
             with
             our
             affections
             :
             the
             contrary
             of
             which
             he
             hath
             given
             sufficient
             proof
             of
             in
             this
             very
             particular
             ,
             in
             that
             whereas
             he
             hath
             withdrawn
             from
             us
             (
             as
             I
             have
             prov'd
             at
             large
             )
             the
             inspiration
             of
             the
             words
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             left
             them
             to
             the
             composure
             of
             our
             own
             or
             other
             mens
             invention
             ;
             he
             still
             continues
             to
             inspire
             us
             with
             the
             affections
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             to
             excite
             them
             to
             a
             due
             activity
             .
             For
             to
             this
             ,
             among
             other
             purposes
             ,
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             he
             hath
             promised
             to
             continue
             his
             Holy
             Spirit
             to
             us
             ,
             to
             inable
             us
             to
             address
             our selves
             to
             him
             with
             devout
             and
             holy
             affections
             :
             thus
             Gal.
             4.
             6.
             
             
               Because
               ye
               are
               sons
               ,
               God
               hath
               sent
               forth
               the
               Spirit
               of
               his
               Son
               into
               your
               hearts
               ,
               crying
               Abba
               father
               :
            
             that
             is
             ,
             by
             kindling
             devout
             and
             filial
             affections
             in
             your
             souls
             ,
             inabling
             you
             to
             cry
             to
             God
             with
             all
             earnestness
             and
             assurance
             ,
             as
             to
             a
             kind
             and
             merciful
             Father
             :
             and
             hence
             also
             we
             are
             said
             to
             Pray
             in
             or
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             Jude
             20.
             it
             being
             by
             him
             that
             those
             good
             affections
             are
             rais'd
             in
             us
             that
             we
             offer
             up
             to
             God
             in
             our
             Prayers
             :
             and
             therefore
             we
             may
             well
             be
             said
             to
             Pray
             by
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             because
             't
             is
             by
             the
             Spirit
             that
             we
             are
             inspired
             with
             those
             holy
             affections
             which
             are
             the
             soul
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ;
             and
             accordingly
             the
             Spirit
             is
             said
             to
             
               make
               intercession
               for
               us
               with
               sighs
               and
               groans
               ,
               which
               are
               not
               to
               be
               uttered
               ,
               Rom.
            
             8.
             26.
             which
             words
             are
             far
             from
             asserting
             the
             inspiration
             of
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             our
             Prayer
             ,
             though
             they
             are
             urg'd
             by
             our
             Brethren
             for
             that
             purpose
             :
             for
             as
             for
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             here
             is
             not
             the
             least
             hint
             of
             the
             Spirit
             's
             inspiring
             it
             ,
             for
             as
             to
             that
             ,
             the
             Christians
             ,
             whom
             he
             speaks
             of
             ,
             were
             well
             instructed
             already
             by
             their
             Christian
             institution
             ;
             but
             all
             that
             is
             affirm'd
             ,
             is
             ,
             
             that
             the
             Spirit
             inabled
             them
             to
             offer
             up
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             to
             God
             in
             a
             most
             devout
             and
             affectionate
             manner
             ;
             with
             sighs
             and
             groans
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             with
             earnest
             and
             flagrant
             affections
             .
             And
             as
             for
             the
             words
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             the
             Text
             is
             so
             far
             from
             implying
             the
             inspiration
             of
             them
             ,
             that
             it
             plainly
             tells
             us
             ,
             that
             those
             sighs
             and
             groans
             which
             the
             Spirit
             inspired
             ,
             were
             such
             as
             were
             not
             to
             be
             utter'd
             or
             worded
             .
             And
             surely
             to
             inspire
             us
             with
             affections
             that
             are
             too
             big
             for
             words
             ,
             cannot
             imply
             the
             inspiration
             of
             words
             .
             So
             that
             the
             Spirit
             's
             interceeding
             for
             us
             with
             sighs
             and
             groans
             that
             are
             not
             to
             be
             utter'd
             ,
             can
             imply
             no
             more
             ,
             than
             his
             exciting
             in
             us
             the
             proper
             affections
             of
             Prayer
             ;
             and
             in
             this
             sense
             he
             is
             said
             in
             the
             next
             Verse
             ,
             
               to
               make
               intercession
               for
               the
               Saints
               according
               to
               the
               will
               of
               God
               ,
               viz.
            
             by
             inabling
             them
             to
             offer
             up
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             to
             God
             with
             such
             fervent
             and
             devout
             affections
             as
             are
             necessary
             to
             render
             it
             acceptable
             to
             him
             :
             which
             is
             properly
             to
             interceed
             for
             us
             ;
             for
             as
             Christ
             ,
             who
             is
             our
             Advocate
             in
             Heaven
             ,
             doth
             offer
             up
             our
             Prayers
             to
             the
             Father
             ,
             and
             inforce
             them
             with
             his
             own
             intercessions
             ;
             so
             his
             Spirit
             ,
             who
             is
             our
             Advocate
             upon
             Earth
             ,
             begets
             in
             us
             those
             affections
             which
             render
             our
             Prayers
             prevalent
             ,
             and
             wings
             them
             with
             fervour
             and
             ardency
             :
             the
             one
             pleads
             with
             God
             for
             us
             in
             our
             own
             hearts
             ,
             by
             kindling
             such
             desires
             there
             as
             render
             our
             Prayers
             acceptable
             to
             him
             ;
             and
             the
             other
             pleads
             with
             him
             for
             us
             in
             Heaven
             ,
             by
             presenting
             those
             desires
             ,
             and
             soliciting
             their
             supply
             and
             acceptance
             .
             And
             thus
             you
             see
             what
             that
             standing
             and
             ordinary
             Operation
             is
             which
             the
             Scripture
             attributes
             to
             the
             Spirit
             in
             Prayer
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             ,
             before
             I
             proceed
             to
             determin
             the
             present
             case
             ,
             I
             shall
             only
             farther
             inquire
             ,
             what
             it
             means
             by
             that
             Phrase
             of
             stinting
             and
             limiting
             the
             Spirit
             .
             In
             short
             therefore
             ,
             to
             stint
             or
             limit
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             is
             a
             modern
             
             Phrase
             ,
             of
             which
             there
             is
             not
             the
             least
             intimation
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             or
             Antiquity
             ;
             but
             't
             is
             a
             term
             of
             Art
             coin'd
             and
             invented
             by
             our
             Brethren
             ,
             and
             appli'd
             onlyto
             the
             present
             Controversie
             ,
             concerning
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             .
             Which
             ,
             by
             the
             way
             ,
             is
             a
             plain
             evidence
             ,
             that
             this
             argument
             against
             Forms
             ,
             viz.
             That
             they
             stint
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             is
             very
             new
             ,
             since
             though
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             were
             used
             not
             only
             in
             the
             Scripture
             Ages
             ,
             as
             I
             shall
             shew
             hereafter
             ,
             but
             also
             in
             all
             successive
             Ages
             of
             Christianity
             ;
             yet
             ,
             till
             very
             lately
             ,
             we
             never
             heard
             on
             syllable
             of
             stinting
             or
             limiting
             the
             Spirit
             by
             them
             .
          
           
             The
             meaning
             of
             which
             Phrase
             is
             this
             ;
             That
             by
             using
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             hinder
             the
             Spirit
             from
             affording
             us
             some
             assistance
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             which
             otherwise
             we
             might
             reasonably
             expect
             from
             him
             :
             for
             so
             our
             Brethren
             explain
             the
             Phrase
             ,
             viz.
             That
             by
             confining
             our selves
             to
             a
             Form
             of
             Words
             ,
             we
             restrain
             the
             Spirit
             from
             giving
             us
             that
             assistance
             ,
             which
             he
             ordinarily
             vouchsafes
             in
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             ,
             having
             fully
             stated
             the
             Case
             ,
             the
             resolution
             of
             it
             will
             be
             short
             and
             easie
             .
             It
             hath
             been
             shewn
             at
             large
             ,
             that
             there
             are
             two
             sorts
             of
             assistances
             in
             Prayer
             which
             the
             Scripture
             attributes
             to
             the
             Spirit
             ;
             the
             first
             extraordinary
             ,
             and
             temporary
             ;
             viz.
             the
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             the
             matter
             ,
             and
             words
             of
             Prayer
             :
             the
             second
             ordinary
             ,
             and
             abiding
             ;
             viz.
             exciting
             the
             devotion
             ,
             and
             proper
             affections
             of
             Prayer
             :
             If
             therefore
             the
             Spirit
             be
             stinted
             ,
             hinder'd
             ,
             or
             restrain'd
             ,
             by
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             either
             from
             inspiring
             the
             words
             and
             matter
             ,
             or
             from
             exciting
             the
             affections
             of
             Prayer
             ;
             as
             for
             the
             latter
             ,
             to
             which
             this
             Phrase
             of
             stinting
             is
             never
             appli'd
             by
             our
             Brethren
             ,
             I
             shall
             discourse
             of
             it
             at
             large
             in
             the
             third
             Case
             ,
             wherein
             I
             shall
             indeavour
             to
             prove
             ,
             that
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             are
             so
             far
             from
             restraining
             the
             devotion
             of
             it
             ,
             that
             they
             very
             much
             promote
             
             and
             improve
             it
             .
             And
             as
             for
             the
             former
             ,
             viz.
             the
             inspiration
             of
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             that
             I
             have
             prov'd
             was
             extraordinary
             ,
             and
             intended
             only
             as
             other
             miraculous
             Gifts
             were
             ,
             for
             the
             first
             propagation
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ;
             and
             therefore
             since
             as
             to
             this
             matter
             ,
             the
             Spirit
             hath
             stinted
             himself
             ,
             it
             's
             certain
             ,
             that
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             cannot
             stint
             him
             ;
             for
             how
             can
             that
             be
             stinted
             which
             is
             not
             ?
             and
             if
             now
             there
             be
             no
             such
             thing
             as
             immediate
             inspiration
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             how
             can
             it
             be
             limited
             by
             a
             Form
             of
             Prayer
             ?
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             if
             the
             Spirit
             of
             his
             own
             accord
             hath
             long
             since
             withdrawn
             this
             Gift
             of
             inspiration
             ,
             how
             can
             it
             be
             now
             said
             that
             he
             is
             restrain'd
             from
             communicating
             it
             by
             any
             cause
             without
             him
             ?
          
        
         
           
             Case
             II.
             Whether
             the
             Use
             of
             Publick
             Forms
             ,
             be
             not
             a
             sinful
             neglect
             of
             the
             Ministerial
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             ?
          
           
             In
             order
             to
             the
             resolution
             of
             which
             Case
             ,
             it
             would
             be
             necessary
             to
             give
             a
             brief
             state
             of
             it
             ,
             according
             as
             it
             is
             put
             ,
             and
             urg'd
             by
             our
             Brethren
             .
             By
             the
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             then
             ,
             they
             mean
             an
             ability
             to
             express
             our
             minds
             to
             God
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             to
             offer
             up
             our
             desires
             and
             affections
             to
             him
             in
             words
             ,
             befitting
             the
             matter
             of
             them
             :
             which
             ability
             ,
             say
             they
             ,
             is
             given
             by
             God
             to
             his
             Ministers
             ,
             as
             a
             means
             of
             publick
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             in
             order
             to
             their
             being
             the
             Mouths
             of
             their
             Congregations
             to
             God
             ,
             to
             represent
             to
             him
             the
             common
             Cases
             and
             Necessities
             of
             their
             People
             ;
             and
             therefore
             since
             God
             ,
             say
             they
             ,
             hath
             given
             us
             this
             Gift
             ,
             as
             a
             means
             of
             publick
             Devotion
             ,
             and
             in
             order
             to
             our
             offering
             up
             the
             Prayers
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             it
             may
             be
             justly
             question'd
             ,
             whether
             we
             may
             lawfully
             omit
             the
             use
             of
             it
             ,
             by
             using
             publick
             Forms
             of
             other
             mens
             composure
             .
          
           
           
             Now
             ,
             before
             I
             enter
             into
             a
             particular
             consideration
             of
             this
             Case
             ,
             I
             shall
             briefly
             premise
             these
             two
             things
             :
          
           
             1.
             
             That
             this
             Case
             concerns
             the
             Clergy
             only
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             Laity
             :
             For
             suppose
             that
             it
             be
             unlawful
             for
             Ministers
             to
             omit
             the
             use
             of
             their
             own
             abilities
             to
             express
             the
             Devotions
             of
             their
             Congregations
             ,
             what
             is
             that
             to
             the
             People
             ?
             are
             they
             accountable
             for
             their
             Ministers
             faults
             ?
             or
             will
             God
             reject
             their
             sincere
             Devotions
             ,
             because
             the
             Person
             that
             utters
             them
             is
             guilty
             of
             a
             sinful
             omission
             ?
             if
             so
             ,
             it
             will
             be
             of
             dangerous
             consequence
             to
             them
             to
             joyn
             in
             any
             publick
             Prayers
             at
             all
             ,
             whether
             they
             be
             Forms
             ,
             or
             Extemporary
             ;
             they
             being
             every
             whit
             as
             accountable
             for
             the
             nonsense
             ,
             impertinence
             ,
             and
             irreverence
             of
             their
             Ministers
             in
             the
             latter
             ,
             as
             for
             their
             omitting
             the
             use
             of
             their
             own
             abilities
             in
             the
             former
             :
             if
             therefore
             this
             omission
             be
             a
             sin
             ,
             it
             is
             the
             sin
             of
             the
             Minister
             ;
             as
             for
             the
             People
             ,
             they
             join'd
             with
             him
             indeed
             ,
             in
             offering
             up
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             which
             is
             contain'd
             in
             the
             Form
             he
             pronounces
             ;
             but
             they
             join
             not
             with
             him
             in
             the
             omission
             of
             the
             use
             of
             his
             ability
             ;
             that
             is
             his
             own
             proper
             act
             ,
             and
             deed
             ;
             and
             therefore
             if
             it
             be
             unlawful
             ,
             't
             is
             he
             ,
             and
             he
             only
             that
             is
             accountable
             for
             it
             :
             and
             if
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             in
             which
             they
             join
             with
             him
             be
             good
             ,
             and
             express'd
             in
             decent
             and
             suitable
             words
             ,
             they
             join
             with
             him
             in
             nothing
             but
             what
             is
             acceptable
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             't
             is
             not
             to
             be
             imagin'd
             that
             God
             will
             be
             angry
             with
             them
             ,
             because
             he
             neglected
             to
             express
             their
             desires
             in
             words
             of
             his
             own
             composure
             and
             invention
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             I
             shall
             also
             premise
             ,
             that
             this
             is
             not
             the
             case
             of
             the
             Clergy
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             who
             ,
             though
             they
             stand
             obliged
             to
             the
             constant
             use
             of
             a
             stated
             Liturgy
             ,
             yet
             are
             not
             hereby
             restrain'd
             from
             the
             exercise
             of
             their
             own
             abilities
             in
             publick
             Prayer
             :
             for
             after
             they
             have
             finish'd
             the
             Service
             appointed
             in
             the
             Liturgy
             ,
             they
             
             are
             permitted
             to
             use
             their
             own
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             in
             the
             Pulpit
             :
             in
             which
             they
             have
             the
             same
             liberty
             ,
             that
             the
             dissenting
             Ministers
             can
             claim
             or
             pretend
             to
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             to
             express
             in
             their
             own
             words
             all
             the
             matter
             of
             publick
             Prayer
             ,
             with
             all
             the
             sobriety
             ,
             affection
             ,
             and
             seriousness
             they
             are
             able
             ;
             and
             this
             permission
             being
             of
             long
             continuance
             ,
             and
             hitherto
             uncontroll'd
             by
             our
             Church
             Governors
             ,
             amounts
             to
             an
             allowance
             ;
             and
             indeed
             it
             seems
             expresly
             allow'd
             in
             our
             55th
             Canon
             ,
             which
             directs
             ,
             
               that
               before
               all
               Sermons
               ,
               Lectures
               ,
               and
               Homilies
               ,
               the
               Preachers
               and
               Ministers
               shall
               move
               the
               People
               to
               join
               with
               them
               in
               Prayer
               ,
               in
               this
               form
               ,
               or
               to
               this
               effect
               ,
               as
               briefly
               as
               conveniently
               they
               may
               .
            
             Now
             that
             
               to
               this
               effect
            
             ,
             as
             it
             stands
             opposed
             to
             
               this
               form
            
             ,
             is
             meant
             some
             Prayer
             of
             our
             own
             ,
             composed
             to
             this
             purpose
             ,
             seems
             evident
             from
             the
             general
             and
             uninterrupted
             practice
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             which
             in
             doubtful
             cases
             ,
             is
             the
             best
             explication
             of
             her
             meaning
             .
             Since
             therefore
             the
             use
             of
             our
             Liturgy
             doth
             not
             exclude
             the
             exercise
             of
             our
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             but
             leaves
             us
             free
             to
             exert
             it
             ,
             so
             far
             as
             it
             is
             fit
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             with
             
               convenient
               brevity
            
             ,
             I
             see
             not
             how
             this
             Case
             can
             concern
             our
             Clergy
             ;
             for
             if
             the
             evil
             of
             Forms
             consists
             in
             the
             Ministers
             omission
             of
             his
             own
             Gift
             ,
             as
             this
             Case
             supposes
             ,
             then
             where
             the
             use
             of
             Forms
             doth
             not
             oblige
             us
             to
             this
             omission
             ,
             but
             leaves
             us
             as
             free
             to
             exercise
             this
             Gift
             ,
             as
             those
             are
             who
             use
             no
             Forms
             at
             all
             ,
             the
             supposed
             evil
             is
             remov'd
             from
             it
             .
          
           
             Having
             premised
             these
             things
             ,
             I
             shall
             proceed
             to
             a
             particular
             resolution
             of
             the
             Case
             ;
             which
             I
             shall
             do
             in
             these
             following
             Propositions
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             That
             this
             Ministerial
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             ability
             to
             express
             in
             our
             own
             words
             ,
             the
             common
             Devotions
             of
             our
             Congregations
             to
             God
             ,
             is
             either
             natural
             ,
             or
             acquir'd
             .
             'T
             is
             true
             ,
             if
             we
             had
             any
             reason
             to
             believe
             ,
             that
             in
             their
             
             admission
             to
             holy
             Orders
             ,
             God
             did
             inspire
             his
             Ministers
             with
             this
             ability
             ,
             we
             might
             thence
             more
             plausibly
             infer
             ,
             that
             't
             was
             his
             will
             that
             we
             should
             ordinarily
             exercise
             it
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             was
             not
             lawful
             to
             neglect
             or
             omit
             it
             ,
             by
             using
             Forms
             of
             other
             mens
             composure
             ;
             it
             being
             unlikely
             that
             God
             should
             inspire
             them
             with
             an
             ability
             ,
             which
             he
             did
             not
             intend
             they
             should
             make
             use
             of
             :
             but
             of
             Gods
             inspiring
             us
             in
             our
             Ordination
             with
             this
             Gift
             ,
             or
             Ability
             ,
             we
             have
             not
             only
             no
             promise
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             only
             foundation
             upon
             which
             we
             can
             reasonably
             expect
             it
             ;
             but
             in
             fact
             ,
             we
             have
             no
             experience
             of
             any
             such
             matter
             among
             us
             :
             for
             not
             only
             we
             ,
             but
             the
             Dissenting
             Ministers
             must
             own
             ,
             if
             they
             will
             speak
             ingenuously
             ,
             that
             just
             before
             their
             Ordination
             ,
             they
             were
             as
             able
             to
             express
             the
             Devotions
             of
             a
             Congregation
             ,
             as
             they
             were
             just
             after
             ;
             which
             shews
             that
             they
             had
             no
             new
             ability
             to
             Pray
             ,
             inspired
             in
             their
             Ordination
             :
             and
             as
             yet
             ,
             I
             could
             never
             find
             any
             proof
             ,
             either
             from
             Scripture
             ,
             or
             Experience
             ,
             that
             this
             ability
             to
             Pray
             in
             words
             of
             our
             own
             composure
             ,
             had
             any
             thing
             more
             in
             it
             ,
             than
             a
             promptness
             of
             invention
             and
             speech
             ;
             which
             some
             men
             have
             by
             nature
             ,
             and
             which
             others
             have
             acquired
             by
             art
             and
             practice
             ;
             and
             if
             so
             ,
             this
             ability
             is
             no
             otherwise
             the
             Gift
             of
             God
             ,
             than
             our
             natural
             strength
             and
             vigour
             ,
             or
             our
             skill
             in
             Languages
             and
             History
             .
             And
             methinks
             it
             's
             very
             strange
             ,
             that
             after
             all
             this
             talk
             of
             the
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             which
             is
             supposed
             ordinarily
             at
             least
             to
             be
             conferr'd
             on
             rightly
             ordained
             Ministers
             ,
             our
             Brethren
             should
             not
             be
             able
             to
             produce
             one
             Promise
             ,
             wherein
             God
             hath
             ingag'd
             himself
             ,
             to
             confer
             it
             ;
             no
             nor
             one
             Text
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             implies
             such
             a
             Promise
             ;
             all
             that
             he
             hath
             promised
             his
             Ministers
             is
             ,
             to
             concur
             with
             their
             honest
             indeavours
             ,
             so
             far
             forth
             as
             it
             's
             necessary
             to
             inable
             them
             to
             discharge
             the
             Duties
             of
             their
             Office
             ,
             and
             to
             suppose
             that
             they
             
             cannot
             do
             this
             ,
             without
             praying
             Extempore
             ,
             or
             in
             their
             own
             words
             ,
             is
             to
             take
             the
             Matter
             in
             question
             ,
             for
             granted
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             That
             this
             natural
             or
             acquired
             Gift
             ,
             is
             no
             where
             appropriated
             by
             God
             to
             prayer
             ,
             but
             left
             common
             to
             other
             uses
             ,
             and
             purposes
             :
             For
             though
             in
             Ministers
             especially
             ,
             it
             is
             ordinarily
             called
             a
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             yet
             it
             is
             no
             where
             stiled
             so
             in
             Scripture
             :
             indeed
             the
             ability
             of
             praying
             in
             unknown
             languages
             ,
             is
             once
             called
             a
             Gift
             ,
             as
             I
             observed
             before
             ,
             but
             as
             for
             this
             ordinary
             ability
             ,
             whether
             natural
             ,
             or
             acquir'd
             ,
             of
             praying
             in
             our
             native
             language
             ,
             it
             is
             no
             where
             spoken
             of
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             under
             the
             name
             of
             a
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             nor
             is
             there
             the
             least
             mention
             of
             any
             such
             ability
             given
             by
             God
             to
             men
             ,
             purely
             to
             inable
             them
             to
             pray
             ;
             and
             unless
             our
             brethren
             can
             produce
             some
             Text
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             yet
             they
             never
             attempted
             ,
             wherein
             God
             hath
             appropriated
             this
             Gift
             to
             the
             purpose
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             they
             must
             give
             us
             leave
             to
             conclude
             ,
             that
             he
             hath
             left
             it
             common
             to
             all
             other
             honest
             uses
             ,
             and
             purposes
             that
             it
             can
             be
             apply'd
             to
             ;
             and
             that
             in
             short
             ,
             it
             is
             nothing
             but
             a
             freedom
             of
             Utterance
             ,
             and
             Elocution
             ,
             which
             in
             some
             is
             natural
             ,
             and
             in
             some
             acquired
             ,
             by
             which
             they
             are
             inabled
             readily
             to
             express
             their
             minds
             to
             God
             ,
             or
             men
             ;
             and
             therefore
             to
             how
             many
             honest
             purposes
             this
             common
             Gift
             of
             God
             is
             applicable
             ,
             to
             so
             many
             't
             is
             designed
             ,
             and
             intended
             ;
             and
             consequently
             ,
             may
             as
             well
             be
             call'd
             the
             Gift
             of
             Conversation
             in
             good
             company
             ,
             and
             the
             Gift
             of
             pleading
             at
             the
             Bar
             ,
             and
             the
             Gift
             of
             disputing
             in
             the
             Schools
             ,
             or
             the
             Gift
             of
             Oratory
             in
             the
             Forum
             ,
             as
             the
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             in
             Private
             ,
             or
             Publique
             worship
             ;
             it
             being
             all
             but
             one
             ,
             and
             the
             same
             Gift
             aplied
             to
             several
             uses
             ,
             and
             purposes
             ;
             accordingly
             we
             find
             that
             those
             who
             have
             this
             Gift
             ,
             have
             it
             not
             only
             while
             they
             are
             speaking
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             but
             when
             they
             are
             speaking
             
             upon
             other
             occasions
             ;
             and
             that
             ordinarily
             they
             can
             express
             themselves
             to
             Men
             with
             the
             same
             readiness
             ,
             and
             fluency
             in
             conversation
             ,
             as
             they
             express
             their
             minds
             to
             God
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             which
             is
             a
             plain
             argument
             that
             their
             Gift
             is
             not
             appropriat
             to
             Prayer
             ,
             but
             common
             to
             all
             the
             other
             uses
             ,
             and
             purposes
             of
             Elocution
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             That
             this
             Gift
             of
             utterance
             not
             being
             appropriated
             by
             God
             to
             Prayer
             ,
             may
             upon
             just
             reason
             ,
             be
             as
             lawfully
             omitted
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             in
             any
             other
             use
             or
             purpose
             't
             is
             designed
             for
             :
             I
             do
             confess
             had
             God
             any
             where
             appropriated
             it
             to
             the
             end
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             those
             who
             have
             it
             ,
             were
             obliged
             to
             use
             it
             to
             that
             end
             ,
             and
             to
             omit
             it
             ordinarily
             ,
             by
             confining
             themselves
             to
             forms
             of
             other
             mens
             inditing
             ,
             would
             be
             to
             neglect
             a
             means
             of
             Prayer
             of
             Gods
             special
             appointment
             and
             institution
             ;
             for
             had
             he
             any
             where
             intimated
             to
             us
             ,
             that
             he
             gave
             it
             us
             purely
             to
             inable
             us
             to
             pray
             without
             any
             respect
             to
             any
             other
             end
             ,
             we
             could
             not
             have
             omitted
             the
             use
             of
             it
             in
             Prayer
             without
             crossing
             his
             intention
             ,
             and
             frustrating
             him
             of
             the
             only
             end
             for
             which
             he
             intended
             it
             ,
             but
             since
             he
             hath
             given
             us
             no
             such
             intimation
             ,
             we
             may
             justly
             conclude
             that
             he
             intends
             it
             in
             common
             for
             all
             those
             honest
             ends
             to
             which
             it
             is
             applicable
             ,
             and
             if
             so
             't
             is
             no
             more
             unlawful
             to
             omit
             using
             it
             to
             one
             end
             than
             to
             another
             ,
             so
             that
             either
             it
             must
             be
             wholly
             unlawful
             to
             omit
             using
             our
             own
             Elocution
             to
             any
             purpose
             whatsoever
             whereunto
             it
             may
             be
             honestly
             applied
             ,
             or
             it
             must
             be
             lawful
             to
             omit
             it
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             consequently
             supposing
             I
             have
             this
             Gift
             of
             utterance
             ,
             either
             I
             may
             not
             use
             a
             form
             in
             petitioning
             my
             Prince
             ,
             or
             a
             Court
             of
             Justice
             ,
             or
             I
             may
             use
             a
             form
             in
             addressing
             my self
             to
             God
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             since
             my
             Gift
             is
             common
             to
             both
             th●se
             purposes
             ,
             and
             no
             more
             appropriated
             to
             the
             one
             than
             the
             other
             ,
             in
             short
             therefore
             as
             for
             those
             common
             Gifts
             of
             
             God
             which
             are
             applicable
             to
             sundry
             purposes
             ,
             and
             which
             he
             intends
             no
             more
             for
             one
             than
             for
             another
             ,
             it
             is
             left
             to
             our
             own
             liberty
             and
             discretion
             whether
             we
             will
             apply
             them
             to
             this
             or
             that
             particular
             purpose
             or
             no
             ,
             and
             no
             man
             is
             obliged
             to
             use
             his
             Gift
             to
             all
             those
             just
             and
             lawful
             purposes
             it
             is
             capable
             of
             ,
             and
             if
             he
             hath
             two
             Gifts
             which
             serve
             to
             the
             same
             purpose
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             doubt
             but
             he
             may
             lawfully
             omit
             the
             one
             ,
             and
             use
             the
             other
             as
             he
             sees
             occasion
             ;
             and
             so
             it
             is
             with
             this
             Gift
             of
             utterance
             ,
             which
             is
             naturally
             serviceable
             to
             sundry
             excellent
             purposes
             ,
             and
             among
             others
             to
             this
             of
             expressing
             our
             minds
             to
             God
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             but
             it
             being
             serviceable
             to
             this
             in
             common
             with
             others
             ,
             it
             is
             left
             to
             our
             liberty
             whether
             we
             will
             imploy
             it
             in
             this
             ,
             in
             that
             ,
             or
             in
             another
             purpose
             ,
             and
             we
             are
             neither
             obliged
             to
             imploy
             it
             in
             all
             ,
             nor
             in
             this
             more
             than
             in
             another
             ,
             but
             if
             we
             have
             another
             Gift
             that
             is
             serviceable
             to
             the
             purpose
             of
             Prayer
             as
             well
             as
             this
             of
             utterance
             ,
             it
             is
             left
             to
             our
             own
             pious
             discretion
             whether
             we
             will
             use
             this
             or
             the
             other
             ,
             so
             that
             unless
             our
             Brethren
             can
             prove
             that
             this
             Gift
             of
             utterance
             or
             Elocution
             is
             by
             special
             command
             of
             God
             made
             an
             appropriate
             means
             of
             Publick
             Prayer
             ,
             they
             will
             never
             be
             able
             to
             prove
             ,
             either
             that
             it
             is
             more
             unlawful
             to
             omit
             the
             use
             of
             it
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             than
             in
             any
             other
             Office
             of
             Elocution
             ,
             or
             that
             if
             we
             have
             any
             other
             means
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             we
             are
             determined
             to
             this
             more
             than
             to
             another
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             That
             to
             read
             our
             desires
             to
             God
             in
             other
             Mens
             Words
             ,
             is
             as
             much
             a
             means
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             to
             speak
             them
             in
             our
             own
             ,
             for
             to
             speak
             in
             our
             own
             Words
             ,
             is
             no
             otherwise
             a
             means
             of
             Publick
             Prayer
             ,
             than
             as
             it
             serves
             to
             express
             to
             God
             the
             Common
             cases
             and
             necessities
             of
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             and
             if
             these
             may
             be
             as
             well
             exprest
             by
             Reading
             them
             in
             other
             Mens
             Words
             ,
             as
             by
             speaking
             them
             in
             our
             own
             ,
             the
             end
             of
             Publick
             
             Prayer
             is
             as
             effectually
             serv'd
             by
             the
             one
             ,
             as
             by
             the
             other
             ,
             and
             sure
             no
             man
             will
             deny
             ,
             but
             that
             by
             a
             Form
             of
             Words
             composed
             by
             another
             ,
             he
             may
             express
             the
             common
             Devotions
             of
             a
             Congregation
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             by
             extempore
             or
             premeditated
             words
             of
             his
             own
             invention
             ;
             for
             this
             would
             be
             in
             effect
             to
             say
             ,
             that
             none
             but
             himself
             can
             compose
             a
             publick
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             none
             so
             well
             as
             he
             ;
             for
             if
             another
             Prayer
             may
             be
             as
             expressive
             of
             the
             Devotions
             of
             a
             Congregation
             as
             his
             own
             ,
             I
             can
             see
             no
             reason
             why
             the
             reading
             of
             that
             may
             not
             be
             as
             proper
             a
             means
             of
             publick
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             the
             speaking
             of
             this
             ;
             here
             then
             are
             two
             means
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             viz.
             reading
             other
             mens
             Forms
             ,
             and
             speaking
             our
             own
             Conceptions
             ,
             and
             therefore
             unless
             our
             Brethren
             can
             prove
             ,
             that
             God
             hath
             expresly
             chosen
             the
             one
             ,
             and
             rejected
             the
             other
             ,
             they
             must
             acknowledge
             both
             to
             be
             lawful
             ;
             and
             if
             we
             cannot
             lawfully
             omit
             the
             one
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             a
             means
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             neither
             can
             we
             lawfully
             omit
             the
             other
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             so
             too
             ;
             and
             therefore
             either
             we
             must
             be
             obliged
             to
             use
             them
             both
             ,
             which
             is
             impossible
             at
             the
             same
             time
             ,
             or
             we
             must
             be
             left
             at
             liberty
             to
             use
             either
             ,
             according
             to
             our
             own
             discretion
             .
             In
             sum
             therefore
             ,
             since
             we
             are
             not
             inspired
             with
             any
             peculiar
             Gift
             of
             Prayer
             in
             our
             Ordination
             ,
             and
             since
             our
             Gift
             of
             praying
             in
             our
             own
             words
             is
             not
             appropriated
             by
             God
             to
             this
             use
             ,
             but
             left
             in
             common
             to
             other
             purposes
             ,
             and
             since
             what
             is
             not
             appropriated
             by
             God
             ,
             may
             be
             lawfully
             omitted
             ,
             when
             there
             are
             other
             means
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             since
             in
             fact
             there
             is
             another
             means
             of
             Prayer
             besides
             this
             of
             praying
             in
             our
             own
             words
             ,
             viz.
             praying
             in
             the
             words
             of
             others
             ,
             which
             God
             hath
             lost
             as
             free
             to
             us
             as
             the
             former
             ,
             it
             plainly
             follows
             from
             the
             whole
             ,
             that
             to
             omit
             the
             use
             of
             our
             own
             Gift
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             stead
             of
             it
             to
             use
             that
             other
             Gift
             of
             praying
             in
             the
             words
             of
             others
             ,
             is
             not
             in
             it self
             any
             way
             sinful
             or
             unlawful
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             Case
             III.
             Whether
             the
             Use
             of
             Publick
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             doth
             not
             deaden
             the
             Devotion
             of
             Prayer
             ?
          
           
             For
             thus
             our
             Brethren
             argue
             ,
             that
             by
             the
             command
             of
             God
             we
             are
             obliged
             not
             only
             to
             pray
             ,
             but
             to
             pray
             with
             the
             utmost
             devotion
             we
             are
             able
             ,
             and
             accordingly
             to
             use
             such
             means
             of
             Prayer
             as
             are
             most
             apt
             to
             heighten
             and
             intend
             our
             devotion
             ,
             and
             thus
             far
             we
             agree
             with
             them
             ;
             if
             therefore
             Forms
             are
             in
             themselves
             ,
             and
             not
             through
             our
             fault
             and
             erronious
             prejudice
             ,
             less
             apt
             to
             quicken
             and
             raise
             devotion
             than
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             ,
             it
             will
             be
             granted
             of
             all
             hands
             ,
             that
             this
             is
             a
             good
             Argument
             against
             the
             use
             of
             them
             .
             This
             therefore
             is
             the
             case
             wherein
             we
             differ
             ,
             our
             Brethren
             say
             ,
             that
             Forms
             of
             Publick
             Worship
             ,
             (
             for
             't
             is
             that
             we
             are
             now
             discoursing
             of
             ,
             )
             are
             in
             themselves
             apt
             to
             dispirit
             and
             deaden
             the
             Devotions
             of
             those
             that
             use
             them
             ;
             we
             say
             the
             contrary
             ,
             viz.
             that
             publick
             Forms
             are
             in
             themselves
             more
             apt
             to
             improve
             and
             quicken
             the
             common
             Devotions
             ,
             than
             Extemporary
             Prayers
             of
             the
             Ministers
             own
             conceiving
             ;
             in
             order
             therefore
             to
             the
             clearing
             and
             full
             resolution
             of
             this
             Case
             ,
             we
             will
             briefly
             enquire
             into
             these
             three
             things
             :
          
           
             
               1.
               
               What
               these
               advantages
               to
               Publick
               Devotion
               are
               ,
               which
               conceived
               ,
               or
               extemporary
               Prayers
               pretend
               to
               ?
            
             
               2.
               
               Whether
               these
               Advantages
               are
               not
               for
               the
               most
               part
               fantastical
               and
               imaginary
               ,
               and
               whether
               so
               far
               as
               they
               are
               real
               they
               are
               not
               much
               more
               peculiar
               to
               Forms
               than
               to
               extempore
               Prayer
               ?
            
             
               3.
               
               Whether
               besides
               these
               common
               advantages
               publick
               Forms
               have
               not
               peculiar
               advantages
               ,
               which
               conceiv'd
               Prayers
               cannot
               pretend
               to
               ?
            
          
           
           
             1.
             
             We
             will
             enquire
             what
             those
             advantages
             to
             the
             publick
             Devotions
             are
             which
             conceiv'd
             or
             extemporary
             Prayers
             pretend
             to
             ;
             in
             short
             ,
             it
             is
             pretended
             in
             the
             behalf
             of
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             ,
             that
             they
             do
             much
             more
             fix
             the
             attention
             ,
             and
             raise
             the
             intention
             of
             the
             Peoples
             minds
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             than
             publick
             Forms
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             that
             they
             do
             more
             confine
             the
             rovings
             of
             mens
             thoughts
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             keep
             their
             minds
             more
             attentive
             to
             it
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             do
             much
             more
             warm
             and
             enliven
             their
             affections
             in
             it
             ;
             for
             ,
             say
             our
             Brethren
             ,
             the
             Devotions
             of
             the
             people
             are
             very
             much
             rais'd
             or
             deaden'd
             by
             the
             performance
             of
             the
             Minister
             ,
             according
             as
             he
             is
             more
             or
             less
             devout
             in
             it
             ;
             and
             as
             for
             the
             Minister
             ,
             he
             must
             needs
             be
             much
             more
             devout
             in
             a
             Prayer
             of
             his
             own
             conceiving
             ,
             than
             in
             the
             use
             of
             a
             publick
             Form
             ;
             because
             first
             ,
             say
             they
             ,
             't
             is
             impossible
             for
             him
             to
             keep
             his
             mind
             so
             attentive
             in
             reading
             a
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             in
             conceiving
             one
             in
             his
             own
             mind
             ,
             and
             speaking
             it
             from
             his
             own
             conceptions
             ;
             the
             care
             of
             performing
             which
             naturally
             bounds
             the
             wanderings
             of
             his
             thoughts
             ,
             and
             keeps
             them
             more
             fixt
             and
             attentive
             ;
             and
             secondly
             ,
             because
             when
             he
             utters
             his
             words
             immediately
             from
             his
             affections
             ,
             his
             thoughts
             have
             not
             that
             scope
             to
             wander
             ,
             as
             when
             he
             reads
             them
             out
             of
             a
             Book
             .
             And
             as
             conceived
             doth
             more
             fix
             the
             attention
             of
             the
             Minister
             ,
             so
             it
             doth
             also
             more
             raise
             his
             intention
             ,
             or
             in
             other
             words
             ,
             more
             warm
             and
             inflame
             his
             affections
             ;
             for
             first
             ,
             whereas
             in
             reading
             a
             Form
             ,
             his
             affections
             follow
             his
             words
             ,
             and
             are
             raised
             and
             excited
             by
             them
             ,
             in
             conceived
             Prayer
             ,
             his
             words
             follow
             his
             affections
             ,
             and
             are
             immediately
             utter'd
             from
             ,
             and
             indited
             by
             them
             ;
             and
             secondly
             ,
             how
             is
             it
             possible
             ,
             say
             they
             ,
             that
             the
             words
             of
             another
             ,
             which
             he
             reads
             out
             of
             a
             Form
             ,
             should
             so
             well
             express
             his
             affections
             
             as
             his
             own
             ;
             besides
             ,
             thirdly
             ,
             that
             while
             he
             is
             reading
             his
             Form
             ,
             his
             soul
             is
             so
             intent
             in
             directing
             his
             eye
             to
             read
             ,
             that
             it
             cannot
             direct
             its
             affections
             to
             God
             with
             that
             fervour
             and
             intention
             as
             it
             might
             do
             in
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             .
             These
             are
             the
             supposed
             helps
             which
             the
             Ministers
             devotion
             ,
             and
             from
             his
             the
             Peoples
             receive
             from
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             ,
             above
             what
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             can
             afford
             :
             and
             as
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             hath
             these
             peculiar
             advantages
             to
             raise
             the
             Ministers
             devotion
             ,
             and
             by
             his
             the
             Peoples
             ,
             so
             it
             hath
             another
             advantage
             by
             which
             it
             more
             immediately
             influences
             the
             devotion
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             viz.
             that
             the
             matter
             of
             it
             is
             still
             exprest
             in
             new
             words
             ,
             which
             must
             needs
             much
             more
             affect
             the
             attention
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             than
             when
             it
             is
             always
             exprest
             in
             the
             same
             words
             without
             any
             variation
             ;
             And
             this
             ,
             so
             far
             as
             I
             can
             gather
             from
             the
             Writings
             of
             our
             Brethren
             ,
             is
             the
             sum
             of
             what
             they
             plead
             in
             behalf
             of
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             to
             its
             peculiar
             advantageousness
             to
             publick
             Devotion
             above
             stated
             Forms
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Therefore
             we
             will
             enquire
             whether
             these
             Advantages
             are
             not
             in
             a
             great
             measure
             imaginary
             ,
             and
             whether
             so
             far
             as
             they
             are
             real
             ,
             they
             are
             not
             much
             more
             peculiar
             to
             Forms
             ,
             than
             to
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             .
             And
             here
             I
             will
             readily
             grant
             ,
             that
             by
             expressing
             a
             serious
             and
             devout
             affection
             ,
             the
             Minister
             doth
             really
             advantage
             the
             Devotion
             of
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             even
             as
             by
             his
             good
             example
             in
             all
             other
             things
             he
             excites
             the
             people
             to
             a
             pious
             and
             virtuous
             imitation
             ;
             in
             whose
             eyes
             devotion
             never
             looks
             so
             amiable
             ,
             as
             when
             't
             is
             exprest
             in
             serious
             and
             well
             compos'd
             words
             ,
             accompanied
             with
             a
             devout
             ,
             a
             sober
             ,
             and
             affectionate
             behaviour
             :
             both
             which
             are
             equally
             necessary
             to
             excite
             the
             devotion
             of
             the
             People
             :
             if
             therefore
             it
             be
             really
             true
             ,
             that
             the
             use
             of
             conceived
             or
             extempore
             Prayer
             is
             in
             its
             own
             nature
             
             most
             apt
             to
             fix
             the
             attention
             ,
             and
             excite
             the
             intention
             of
             the
             Minister
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             confest
             that
             herein
             it
             hath
             the
             advantage
             of
             Forms
             .
             1.
             
             Therefore
             we
             will
             inquire
             whether
             these
             advantages
             it
             pretends
             to
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             exciting
             the
             Ministers
             attention
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             be
             real
             ,
             or
             no
             :
             The
             first
             advantage
             is
             ,
             that
             the
             very
             conceiving
             the
             matter
             of
             his
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             speaking
             it
             from
             his
             own
             conceptions
             ,
             doth
             naturally
             more
             bind
             his
             attention
             ,
             than
             the
             reading
             it
             out
             of
             a
             Form
             ;
             but
             I
             beseech
             you
             ,
             what
             doth
             it
             more
             bind
             him
             to
             attend
             to
             ?
             is
             it
             to
             attend
             to
             the
             words
             and
             phrases
             ?
             if
             so
             ,
             then
             't
             is
             not
             to
             attend
             to
             the
             acts
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             is
             it
             to
             attend
             to
             those
             acts
             which
             are
             the
             proper
             business
             of
             Prayer
             ?
             that
             is
             to
             be
             asham'd
             of
             sin
             ,
             and
             to
             bewail
             it
             in
             confession
             ,
             to
             be
             sensible
             of
             the
             common
             wants
             ,
             and
             common
             dependancies
             upon
             God
             for
             supply
             in
             petition
             ,
             to
             admire
             God's
             perfections
             ,
             and
             gratefully
             commemorate
             his
             goodness
             in
             praise
             and
             thanksgiving
             ;
             for
             in
             these
             things
             the
             true
             devotion
             both
             of
             Minister
             and
             People
             consists
             ;
             and
             't
             is
             only
             by
             being
             an
             example
             of
             these
             in
             his
             Prayer
             ,
             that
             the
             Minister
             excites
             the
             devotion
             of
             his
             people
             :
             't
             is
             by
             confessing
             sin
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             were
             asham'd
             of
             ,
             and
             sorry
             for
             it
             ,
             that
             he
             excites
             their
             shame
             and
             sorrow
             ;
             by
             petitioning
             for
             mercy
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             were
             sensible
             of
             the
             want
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             did
             heartily
             desire
             it
             ,
             and
             depended
             upon
             God
             for
             it
             ,
             that
             he
             excites
             their
             sense
             of
             need
             ,
             and
             their
             desire
             ,
             and
             hope
             of
             relief
             ,
             and
             supply
             ;
             by
             praising
             and
             thanking
             God
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             heartily
             admired
             his
             excellencies
             ,
             and
             gratefully
             resented
             his
             goodness
             that
             he
             excites
             their
             admiration
             and
             gratitude
             ;
             that
             mode
             of
             Prayer
             therefore
             which
             is
             most
             apt
             to
             fix
             the
             Ministers
             attention
             to
             these
             acts
             of
             devotion
             ,
             must
             needs
             be
             most
             apt
             to
             excite
             the
             devotions
             of
             the
             people
             :
             Now
             as
             for
             the
             mode
             of
             praying
             from
             his
             own
             conceptions
             ,
             I
             really
             think
             that
             it
             is
             much
             more
             apt
             to
             
             unfix
             the
             Ministers
             attention
             to
             these
             acts
             ,
             than
             that
             of
             praying
             by
             a
             Form
             ;
             because
             it
             forces
             him
             to
             attend
             to
             other
             things
             at
             the
             same
             time
             ,
             viz.
             the
             recollection
             of
             matter
             ,
             and
             invention
             of
             sutable
             expressions
             ,
             which
             must
             more
             or
             less
             divert
             him
             from
             attending
             to
             the
             inward
             acts
             of
             devotion
             ,
             according
             as
             his
             fancy
             and
             tongue
             are
             more
             or
             less
             pregnant
             and
             voluble
             ;
             it
             being
             impossible
             for
             him
             to
             attend
             at
             the
             same
             time
             ,
             to
             several
             things
             ,
             as
             closely
             as
             he
             may
             to
             one
             :
             but
             when
             he
             prays
             by
             a
             Form
             ,
             his
             matter
             and
             words
             are
             ready
             before
             him
             ,
             and
             so
             he
             hath
             nothing
             else
             to
             do
             ,
             but
             to
             attend
             to
             his
             devotion
             ;
             and
             certainly
             when
             a
             man
             hath
             but
             one
             thing
             to
             do
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             he
             may
             attend
             to
             that
             more
             fixedly
             and
             closely
             ,
             than
             when
             he
             hath
             two
             or
             three
             :
             't
             is
             true
             ,
             by
             being
             released
             from
             attending
             to
             the
             invention
             of
             his
             matter
             and
             words
             ,
             his
             mind
             is
             more
             at
             leisure
             to
             wander
             ,
             and
             instead
             of
             attending
             as
             he
             ought
             more
             closely
             to
             the
             acts
             of
             devotion
             ,
             by
             imploying
             those
             thoughts
             which
             in
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             he
             imploys
             in
             invention
             in
             a
             closer
             attention
             to
             the
             acts
             of
             devotion
             ,
             he
             may
             ,
             if
             he
             please
             ,
             permit
             them
             to
             rove
             abroad
             ;
             but
             if
             he
             doth
             ,
             the
             fault
             is
             in
             himself
             ,
             and
             not
             in
             the
             Form
             he
             prays
             by
             :
             the
             design
             of
             his
             Form
             is
             to
             release
             his
             mind
             from
             all
             other
             business
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             but
             only
             that
             of
             inward
             devotion
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             life
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             that
             so
             it
             may
             be
             the
             more
             attentive
             to
             it
             :
             but
             if
             instead
             of
             applying
             his
             mind
             to
             this
             design
             ,
             he
             suffers
             it
             to
             wander
             abroad
             ,
             he
             makes
             an
             ill
             use
             of
             a
             good
             thing
             ,
             and
             converts
             that
             which
             is
             in
             it self
             a
             help
             to
             devotion
             ,
             into
             an
             occasion
             of
             indevotion
             :
             but
             't
             is
             objected
             ,
             that
             while
             his
             thoughts
             are
             imployed
             in
             inventing
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             his
             Prayer
             ,
             they
             are
             attending
             to
             the
             duty
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             while
             they
             are
             so
             ,
             they
             are
             well
             imploy'd
             ,
             though
             they
             should
             not
             be
             so
             attentively
             fixt
             upon
             the
             inward
             
             devotion
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             they
             might
             be
             in
             the
             use
             of
             a
             Form
             :
             to
             which
             in
             short
             I
             answer
             ,
             That
             to
             invent
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             is
             not
             to
             pray
             ,
             but
             to
             study
             a
             Prayer
             ;
             and
             till
             our
             Brethren
             have
             proved
             ,
             that
             our
             inventing
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             ,
             is
             a
             part
             of
             our
             duty
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             Question
             in
             debate
             between
             us
             ,
             we
             can
             by
             no
             means
             grant
             ,
             that
             our
             attention
             to
             it
             is
             attending
             to
             the
             duty
             of
             Prayer
             ;
             we
             believe
             that
             when
             we
             pray
             devoutly
             by
             a
             Form
             ,
             we
             discharge
             the
             whole
             duty
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             though
             we
             do
             not
             invent
             the
             matter
             and
             words
             our selves
             ,
             and
             when
             we
             see
             the
             contrary
             proved
             ,
             we
             will
             not
             only
             yield
             that
             to
             attend
             to
             inventing
             ,
             is
             to
             attend
             to
             the
             duty
             of
             Prayer
             ;
             but
             that
             it
             is
             unlawful
             to
             pray
             by
             a
             Form
             :
             but
             in
             the
             mean
             time
             we
             can
             yield
             neither
             one
             ,
             nor
             t'other
             .
             Seeing
             then
             that
             Forms
             are
             in
             themselves
             more
             apt
             to
             fix
             the
             Ministers
             attention
             to
             the
             inward
             acts
             of
             devotion
             ,
             and
             seeing
             that
             't
             is
             by
             attending
             to
             these
             acts
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             by
             seeming
             to
             do
             so
             ,
             that
             he
             influences
             the
             attention
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             it
             necessarily
             follows
             ,
             that
             in
             this
             respect
             Forms
             are
             more
             advantageous
             to
             publick
             devotion
             ,
             than
             conceiv'd
             or
             extemporary
             Prayer
             .
             But
             then
             ,
          
           
             2.
             
             It
             is
             pretended
             that
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             is
             in
             it self
             more
             apt
             to
             fix
             the
             Ministers
             attention
             in
             Prayer
             than
             Forms
             ,
             because
             in
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             he
             utters
             his
             words
             immediately
             from
             his
             affections
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             which
             his
             thoughts
             have
             not
             that
             scope
             to
             wander
             ,
             as
             when
             he
             reads
             them
             out
             of
             a
             Book
             :
             to
             which
             ,
             in
             short
             ,
             I
             answer
             ,
             That
             if
             he
             hath
             devout
             affections
             ,
             he
             may
             utter
             his
             words
             as
             immediately
             from
             his
             affections
             in
             a
             Form
             ,
             as
             in
             a
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             ;
             and
             therefore
             this
             pretence
             is
             altogether
             insignificant
             ;
             for
             his
             own
             invention
             is
             as
             much
             a
             medium
             between
             his
             affections
             and
             utterance
             in
             Praying
             extempore
             ,
             as
             the
             Book
             in
             praying
             
             by
             a
             Form
             ;
             as
             for
             instance
             ,
             suppose
             that
             in
             confessing
             sin
             ,
             he
             be
             affected
             with
             shame
             and
             sorrow
             ,
             he
             cannot
             express
             it
             in
             words
             ,
             but
             by
             using
             his
             own
             invention
             ,
             or
             a
             Form
             ,
             and
             whether
             he
             uses
             one
             ,
             or
             t'other
             ,
             he
             uses
             a
             medium
             to
             express
             it
             ;
             and
             why
             those
             words
             which
             he
             reads
             should
             not
             be
             as
             immediate
             to
             his
             affections
             as
             those
             which
             he
             invents
             ,
             provided
             they
             do
             as
             fully
             express
             them
             ,
             I
             am
             not
             able
             to
             apprehend
             ;
             in
             short
             therefore
             ,
             if
             he
             hath
             devout
             affections
             ,
             they
             will
             at
             least
             as
             much
             confine
             his
             thoughts
             from
             wandering
             when
             he
             prays
             by
             Form
             ,
             as
             when
             he
             prays
             Extempore
             ,
             if
             he
             hath
             not
             ,
             he
             cannot
             utter
             his
             words
             from
             his
             affections
             ,
             either
             in
             the
             one
             or
             t'other
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             We
             will
             inquire
             whether
             those
             advantages
             which
             our
             Brethren
             ascribe
             to
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             above
             Forms
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             raising
             the
             Ministers
             intention
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             be
             real
             ,
             or
             no
             :
             first
             they
             pretend
             that
             in
             reading
             a
             Form
             ,
             his
             affections
             follow
             his
             words
             ,
             and
             are
             raised
             and
             excited
             by
             them
             ;
             whereas
             in
             praying
             extempore
             ,
             his
             words
             follow
             his
             affections
             .
             This
             I
             confess
             is
             a
             very
             curious
             distinction
             ,
             but
             I
             am
             not
             able
             to
             apprehend
             either
             what
             foundation
             there
             is
             for
             it
             ,
             or
             how
             it
             is
             applicable
             to
             the
             matter
             ;
             for
             first
             what
             necessity
             is
             there
             either
             that
             his
             affections
             should
             follow
             his
             words
             in
             a
             Form
             ,
             more
             than
             in
             a
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             ,
             or
             that
             his
             words
             should
             follow
             his
             affections
             in
             a
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             ,
             more
             than
             in
             a
             Form
             ?
             why
             may
             not
             a
             man
             be
             devoutly
             affected
             with
             the
             matter
             he
             prays
             for
             ,
             before
             he
             expresses
             in
             a
             Form
             of
             words
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             before
             he
             expresses
             it
             extempore
             ?
             since
             if
             he
             be
             acquainted
             with
             the
             Form
             ,
             he
             cannot
             but
             know
             before-hand
             what
             he
             is
             to
             pray
             for
             in
             it
             ;
             and
             therefore
             if
             he
             be
             truly
             devout
             ,
             cannot
             but
             be
             affected
             with
             it
             ,
             before
             he
             prays
             for
             it
             ;
             and
             so
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             ,
             why
             may
             not
             a
             man
             as
             well
             be
             unaffected
             with
             the
             matter
             he
             prays
             for
             in
             conceiv'd
             
             Prayer
             ,
             till
             he
             hath
             exprest
             it
             ,
             as
             with
             the
             matter
             he
             prays
             for
             in
             a
             Form
             ?
             or
             what
             reason
             can
             be
             assign'd
             ,
             why
             the
             affection
             may
             not
             follow
             the
             words
             ,
             and
             be
             excited
             by
             them
             in
             the
             one
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             in
             the
             other
             ?
             may
             not
             a
             man
             pray
             inconsiderately
             ,
             and
             suffer
             his
             tongue
             ,
             to
             run
             before
             his
             heart
             in
             both
             ?
             and
             may
             not
             his
             affections
             which
             were
             before
             asleep
             ,
             be
             awakened
             by
             the
             sound
             of
             his
             words
             in
             either
             ?
             In
             short
             therefore
             ,
             since
             in
             praying
             by
             a
             Form
             ,
             a
             man
             may
             know
             as
             well
             at
             least
             ,
             and
             hath
             as
             much
             time
             to
             consider
             the
             matter
             he
             is
             to
             pray
             for
             before-hand
             ,
             as
             in
             praying
             extempore
             ;
             what
             reason
             is
             there
             why
             it
             should
             be
             more
             difficult
             for
             him
             to
             affect
             his
             soul
             before-hand
             with
             it
             in
             the
             one
             ,
             than
             in
             the
             other
             ?
             and
             if
             it
             be
             equally
             hard
             and
             easie
             in
             both
             ,
             than
             't
             is
             equally
             possible
             for
             his
             affections
             to
             go
             before
             ,
             or
             follow
             his
             words
             in
             either
             .
             But
             then
             secondly
             ,
             suppose
             it
             were
             true
             ,
             that
             in
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             the
             words
             follow
             the
             affections
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             Form
             the
             affections
             the
             words
             ,
             how
             doth
             it
             from
             hence
             follow
             ,
             that
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             doth
             more
             intend
             and
             heighten
             the
             affections
             ,
             than
             Forms
             ?
             what
             reason
             can
             there
             be
             assign'd
             ,
             why
             those
             acts
             of
             inward
             affections
             ,
             which
             follow
             our
             words
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             should
             not
             be
             as
             intense
             and
             vigorous
             as
             those
             which
             go
             before
             them
             ?
             why
             may
             not
             a
             man
             exert
             as
             flagrant
             an
             act
             of
             desire
             ,
             immediately
             after
             he
             hath
             exprest
             his
             Petition
             ,
             as
             immediately
             before
             ,
             especially
             if
             that
             be
             true
             which
             our
             Brethren
             affirm
             ,
             and
             which
             most
             men
             find
             by
             experence
             ;
             that
             the
             words
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             if
             they
             are
             proper
             and
             expressive
             ,
             do
             naturally
             quicken
             and
             excite
             the
             affections
             ;
             so
             that
             if
             it
             be
             the
             matter
             only
             that
             excites
             the
             affections
             ,
             they
             may
             be
             as
             vehemently
             excited
             after
             the
             words
             are
             spoken
             as
             before
             ;
             if
             it
             be
             the
             words
             also
             ,
             the
             affections
             must
             be
             less
             vehemently
             excited
             before
             the
             words
             ,
             than
             after
             :
             in
             short
             therefore
             ,
             when
             the
             
             Minister
             prays
             in
             publick
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             by
             Form
             ,
             or
             extempore
             ,
             he
             prays
             on
             ,
             without
             making
             any
             long
             pauses
             between
             one
             Petition
             and
             another
             ,
             so
             that
             as
             soon
             as
             ever
             he
             hath
             conceived
             the
             matter
             ,
             he
             expresses
             it
             ,
             and
             whether
             it
             be
             immediately
             before
             or
             immediately
             after
             ,
             or
             while
             he
             is
             expressing
             it
             ,
             that
             he
             joyns
             his
             affection
             to
             it
             ,
             there
             can
             be
             no
             reason
             assign'd
             ,
             if
             it
             be
             the
             matter
             he
             joyns
             them
             to
             ,
             why
             he
             should
             more
             affect
             it
             now
             ,
             than
             then
             ,
             there
             being
             nothing
             in
             the
             order
             of
             before
             or
             after
             ,
             to
             raise
             and
             excite
             his
             affection
             :
             and
             if
             so
             ,
             his
             affections
             following
             his
             words
             ,
             though
             it
             were
             necessary
             to
             his
             praying
             by
             a
             Form
             ,
             can
             be
             no
             disadvantage
             to
             his
             Devotion
             ,
             nor
             the
             contrary
             an
             advantage
             to
             it
             ,
             though
             it
             were
             necessary
             to
             his
             praying
             extempore
             :
             but
             then
             secondly
             ,
             it
             is
             pretended
             that
             the
             Minister
             cannot
             so
             well
             express
             his
             devout
             affections
             in
             other
             mens
             words
             ,
             as
             in
             his
             own
             ,
             and
             therefore
             when
             he
             prays
             in
             a
             Form
             of
             words
             of
             other
             mens
             composure
             ,
             't
             is
             impossible
             his
             affections
             should
             be
             so
             livelily
             represented
             ,
             as
             when
             he
             prays
             extempore
             :
             To
             which
             in
             short
             I
             answer
             ,
             That
             the
             Ministers
             business
             in
             publick
             Prayer
             is
             not
             to
             express
             the
             degrees
             and
             heighths
             of
             his
             own
             affections
             ,
             or
             to
             acquaint
             God
             of
             the
             particular
             and
             extraordinary
             fervencies
             of
             his
             own
             soul
             :
             for
             in
             publick
             he
             prays
             as
             the
             common
             mouth
             of
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             and
             therefore
             he
             ought
             not
             to
             express
             to
             God
             in
             the
             name
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             any
             matter
             that
             is
             peculiar
             to
             himself
             ,
             or
             to
             represent
             his
             own
             particular
             extraordinary
             fervours
             ,
             as
             the
             common
             case
             of
             the
             Congregation
             ,
             but
             his
             words
             ought
             to
             be
             such
             as
             every
             honest
             and
             ordinary
             Christian
             may
             truly
             joyn
             with
             ,
             as
             the
             sense
             and
             meaning
             of
             his
             own
             soul
             ;
             and
             for
             him
             to
             express
             to
             God
             in
             the
             name
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             such
             heights
             of
             Devotion
             as
             few
             or
             none
             of
             them
             are
             arrived
             to
             ,
             is
             as
             bad
             as
             to
             confess
             in
             their
             names
             such
             sins
             to
             God
             ,
             as
             few
             or
             
             none
             of
             them
             are
             guilty
             of
             .
             So
             that
             if
             the
             Minister
             hath
             such
             peculiar
             heighths
             of
             affection
             as
             can
             be
             fitly
             exprest
             only
             in
             his
             own
             words
             ,
             he
             ought
             not
             to
             tell
             God
             of
             them
             in
             a
             publick
             Prayer
             ,
             in
             which
             he
             is
             to
             express
             nothing
             but
             what
             is
             the
             true
             and
             common
             sense
             of
             every
             honest
             and
             sincere
             Christian
             ;
             and
             this
             certainly
             may
             be
             as
             fitly
             exprest
             in
             another
             mans
             words
             ,
             as
             in
             his
             own
             ,
             unless
             we
             will
             suppose
             that
             no
             man
             can
             so
             well
             express
             the
             common
             sense
             of
             a
             Christian
             Congregation
             ,
             as
             he
             that
             prays
             extempore
             ,
             yea
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             himself
             cannot
             so
             fitly
             express
             it
             in
             premeditated
             words
             ,
             as
             in
             extemporary
             ones
             ;
             neither
             of
             which
             I
             suppose
             any
             sober
             Dissenter
             will
             affirm
             .
             But
             then
             Thirdly
             and
             lastly
             ,
             it
             is
             also
             pretended
             ,
             that
             in
             the
             use
             of
             Forms
             ,
             the
             Ministers
             soul
             is
             so
             ingaged
             in
             directing
             his
             eye
             to
             read
             ,
             that
             it
             cannot
             be
             so
             intensly
             affected
             with
             what
             he
             prays
             for
             ,
             as
             when
             he
             prays
             extempore
             ;
             in
             answer
             to
             which
             ,
             I
             leave
             the
             Reader
             to
             judge
             ,
             whether
             the
             recollecting
             of
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             the
             disposing
             of
             it
             into
             a
             due
             method
             ,
             and
             inventing
             of
             proper
             phrases
             to
             express
             it
             ,
             (
             neither
             of
             which
             are
             acts
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             I
             shew'd
             before
             )
             must
             not
             much
             more
             busie
             and
             ingage
             the
             Ministers
             soul
             when
             he
             is
             praying
             publickly
             ,
             than
             the
             directing
             of
             his
             eye
             to
             read
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             whether
             one
             that
             hath
             so
             perfect
             a
             habit
             of
             reading
             as
             that
             he
             can
             readily
             exercise
             it
             without
             imploying
             one
             thought
             about
             it
             ,
             cannot
             read
             a
             Prayer
             more
             easily
             ,
             than
             invent
             one
             ?
             for
             so
             much
             easier
             as
             it
             is
             to
             read
             than
             to
             invent
             a
             Prayer
             ,
             so
             much
             less
             his
             soul
             hath
             to
             divert
             it
             from
             being
             affected
             with
             what
             he
             prays
             for
             when
             he
             prays
             by
             a
             Form
             ,
             than
             when
             he
             prays
             extempore
             .
             And
             thus
             you
             see
             that
             those
             advantages
             which
             are
             ascribed
             to
             conceiv'd
             Prayer
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             raising
             the
             Ministers
             Devotion
             ,
             are
             such
             as
             are
             either
             imaginary
             ,
             or
             as
             ought
             rather
             to
             be
             ascribed
             to
             Forms
             .
          
           
           
             But
             it
             is
             pretended
             ,
             that
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             do
             not
             only
             deaden
             the
             Ministers
             Devotion
             ,
             and
             so
             by
             consequence
             the
             Peoples
             ,
             but
             that
             they
             do
             also
             deaden
             the
             Peoples
             by
             a
             more
             direct
             and
             immediate
             influence
             ,
             because
             they
             still
             express
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             in
             the
             same
             words
             ,
             which
             when
             the
             People
             have
             often
             heard
             ,
             will
             be
             apt
             to
             cloy
             their
             attention
             ,
             whereas
             the
             very
             newness
             and
             variety
             of
             words
             ,
             in
             which
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             are
             exprest
             ,
             doth
             naturally
             awaken
             and
             entertain
             their
             minds
             and
             keep
             them
             more
             fixt
             and
             intent
             .
             For
             answer
             whereunto
             ,
             let
             us
             consider
             upon
             what
             it
             is
             that
             this
             novelty
             and
             variety
             of
             expression
             doth
             keep
             our
             minds
             so
             fixt
             and
             intent
             on
             ,
             is
             it
             upon
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ?
             doubtless
             ,
             No
             ;
             for
             that
             is
             generally
             the
             same
             ,
             especially
             the
             matter
             of
             publick
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             therefore
             if
             it
             were
             that
             that
             fixt
             our
             minds
             ,
             't
             would
             as
             well
             do
             it
             in
             the
             same
             as
             in
             new
             and
             varied
             expressions
             ;
             and
             since
             the
             matter
             of
             publick
             Prayer
             is
             old
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             main
             will
             be
             always
             so
             ,
             why
             should
             it
             not
             as
             well
             affect
             us
             in
             old
             words
             as
             in
             new
             ,
             provided
             they
             exprest
             it
             with
             equal
             propriety
             and
             fitness
             ;
             but
             if
             it
             be
             meerly
             the
             newness
             of
             the
             phrase
             't
             is
             express'd
             in
             ,
             that
             fixes
             their
             minds
             :
             there
             is
             nothing
             in
             it
             but
             a
             meer
             surprise
             and
             amusement
             of
             their
             fancies
             ,
             which
             instead
             of
             fixing
             doth
             unfix
             their
             minds
             from
             the
             internal
             acts
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             divert
             its
             attention
             from
             the
             devotion
             to
             the
             oratory
             of
             it
             ;
             so
             that
             this
             fixation
             of
             their
             minds
             on
             the
             novelty
             of
             the
             phrase
             and
             method
             of
             Prayer
             is
             so
             far
             from
             being
             an
             advantage
             ,
             that
             't
             is
             a
             distraction
             to
             their
             devotion
             .
             As
             for
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             doubt
             but
             they
             may
             be
             composed
             with
             the
             same
             advantage
             of
             expression
             and
             pronounced
             with
             the
             same
             affection
             as
             the
             Prayers
             of
             our
             own
             extempore
             composure
             ,
             and
             if
             they
             are
             so
             ,
             they
             will
             have
             the
             same
             advantage
             of
             the
             musick
             of
             speech
             to
             excite
             the
             Devotions
             of
             the
             People
             ;
             
             but
             as
             for
             novelty
             of
             method
             and
             expression
             ,
             that
             may
             indeed
             entertain
             their
             minds
             and
             divert
             them
             from
             roving
             out
             to
             other
             objects
             ,
             but
             even
             this
             entertainment
             is
             a
             roving
             and
             excursion
             of
             their
             minds
             from
             the
             acts
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             which
             ,
             while
             they
             are
             amused
             with
             the
             novelty
             of
             the
             phrase
             and
             method
             of
             the
             Prayer
             ,
             can
             be
             no
             more
             intent
             on
             the
             devotion
             of
             it
             ,
             than
             while
             they
             are
             busied
             about
             secular
             objects
             and
             affairs
             .
             And
             indeed
             that
             seeming
             devotion
             that
             is
             raised
             in
             the
             minds
             of
             the
             People
             by
             the
             gingling
             of
             the
             Ministers
             words
             about
             their
             fancies
             ,
             is
             generally
             false
             and
             counterfeit
             ,
             for
             as
             words
             do
             naturally
             impress
             the
             fancy
             ,
             so
             the
             fancy
             doth
             naturally
             excite
             the
             sensitive
             affections
             ;
             so
             that
             when
             the
             affections
             are
             excited
             meerly
             by
             the
             art
             and
             musick
             of
             the
             words
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             Devotion
             but
             Mechanism
             ;
             for
             there
             is
             no
             doubt
             but
             men
             may
             be
             and
             many
             times
             are
             strangely
             affected
             with
             the
             words
             of
             Prayer
             when
             they
             have
             not
             the
             least
             spark
             of
             true
             devotion
             to
             the
             matter
             of
             it
             ;
             for
             when
             they
             fancy
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             and
             are
             affected
             with
             it
             meerly
             for
             the
             sake
             of
             the
             words
             ,
             the
             movement
             of
             their
             affection
             will
             cease
             as
             soon
             as
             the
             impression
             is
             worn
             out
             which
             the
             words
             make
             upon
             their
             fancies
             ,
             and
             if
             in
             the
             mean
             time
             they
             happen
             to
             hear
             any
             other
             matter
             exprest
             in
             the
             same
             affectionate
             words
             ,
             they
             will
             in
             all
             probability
             be
             as
             much
             affected
             with
             it
             ,
             as
             they
             are
             now
             with
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             but
             if
             the
             mind
             be
             truly
             devout
             and
             doth
             affect
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             for
             it self
             and
             not
             for
             the
             sake
             of
             the
             words
             ,
             I
             cannot
             imagin
             how
             new
             words
             should
             any
             way
             advantage
             its
             devotion
             ,
             unless
             they
             were
             to
             express
             new
             matter
             .
             Since
             therefore
             the
             matter
             of
             publick
             Prayer
             neither
             is
             nor
             ought
             to
             be
             new
             ,
             unless
             it
             be
             upon
             extraordinary
             publick
             emergencies
             ,
             what
             colour
             of
             reason
             can
             there
             be
             assign'd
             ,
             why
             the
             devotion
             of
             the
             hearers
             should
             be
             
             more
             affected
             with
             it
             in
             new
             words
             than
             in
             old
             ,
             supposing
             it
             be
             express'd
             and
             pronounc'd
             with
             the
             same
             propriety
             and
             affection
             in
             both
             .
             And
             thus
             I
             have
             shewn
             that
             those
             advantages
             of
             publick
             Devotion
             which
             are
             pretended
             to
             be
             peculiar
             to
             conceiv'd
             Prayers
             ,
             are
             for
             the
             most
             part
             imaginary
             ,
             and
             that
             so
             far
             forth
             as
             they
             are
             real
             they
             are
             more
             peculiar
             to
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             I
             proceed
             to
             the
             third
             and
             last
             enquiry
             ,
             viz.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             Whether
             there
             are
             not
             sundry
             advantages
             of
             publick
             Devotion
             peculiar
             to
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             which
             conceived
             Prayers
             cannot
             pretend
             to
             ?
             That
             there
             are
             ,
             I
             do
             affirm
             ,
             and
             will
             indeavour
             to
             prove
             by
             these
             following
             Instances
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             One
             great
             advantage
             that
             is
             peculiar
             to
             publick
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             People
             may
             address
             themselves
             to
             them
             with
             greater
             preparation
             ;
             for
             if
             they
             please
             ,
             they
             may
             peruse
             the
             words
             before-hand
             ,
             and
             consider
             the
             sense
             and
             matter
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             indeavour
             to
             affect
             their
             minds
             with
             it
             ;
             as
             for
             instance
             ,
             when
             I
             know
             before-hand
             what
             words
             my
             sins
             will
             be
             confest
             in
             ,
             when
             I
             am
             to
             joyn
             in
             the
             publick
             Devotions
             ,
             I
             can
             consider
             before-hand
             the
             sense
             and
             meaning
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             prepare
             such
             affection
             as
             are
             sutable
             to
             them
             ;
             as
             suppose
             the
             confession
             be
             that
             of
             our
             Church's
             Liturgy
             ,
             wherein
             we
             begin
             with
             
               Almighty
               and
               most
               merciful
               Father
            
             ;
             I
             can
             consider
             the
             meaning
             of
             these
             words
             before
             I
             come
             to
             Church
             ;
             and
             from
             the
             consideration
             of
             God's
             almighty
             and
             most
             merciful
             nature
             ,
             excite
             my
             affections
             to
             an
             awful
             dread
             of
             his
             power
             ,
             and
             an
             ingenuous
             sense
             of
             his
             mercy
             ;
             by
             which
             when
             I
             come
             to
             joyn
             with
             these
             words
             in
             the
             publick
             confession
             ,
             I
             shall
             be
             duely
             affected
             with
             the
             sense
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             my
             soul
             will
             beready
             melted
             into
             all
             that
             filial
             sorrow
             and
             humiliation
             for
             my
             sin
             ,
             with
             the
             consideration
             that
             I
             have
             offended
             by
             it
             an
             Almighty
             and
             most
             
             merciful
             Father
             suggests
             ;
             and
             so
             if
             I
             consider
             ,
             and
             apply
             before-hand
             all
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             confession
             ,
             I
             shall
             thereby
             tune
             and
             set
             my
             affections
             to
             the
             sense
             and
             matter
             of
             each
             particular
             phrase
             and
             expression
             in
             it
             ;
             which
             't
             will
             be
             impossible
             for
             me
             to
             do
             when
             I
             am
             to
             joyn
             with
             an
             extempore
             Prayer
             ;
             because
             I
             cannot
             know
             before-hand
             what
             the
             phrases
             and
             expressions
             of
             it
             will
             be
             ;
             besides
             which
             ,
             upon
             the
             words
             of
             publick
             Forms
             ,
             there
             may
             be
             written
             excellent
             Paraphrases
             and
             Meditations
             ,
             such
             as
             is
             that
             of
             the
             
               Companion
               to
               the
               Temple
            
             ;
             by
             reading
             of
             which
             the
             Devotions
             of
             the
             People
             may
             be
             very
             much
             excited
             and
             improved
             ;
             which
             is
             such
             an
             advantage
             as
             the
             words
             of
             extempore
             Prayer
             will
             not
             admit
             of
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Another
             advantage
             peculiar
             to
             publick
             Forms
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
             in
             joining
             with
             them
             the
             People
             may
             pray
             with
             more
             understanding
             ,
             than
             they
             can
             well
             be
             supposed
             to
             do
             in
             conceiv'd
             and
             extempore
             Prayer
             ,
             wherein
             generally
             the
             Minister
             is
             forc'd
             to
             make
             use
             of
             such
             words
             and
             expressions
             as
             come
             first
             to
             hand
             ,
             having
             not
             leisure
             enough
             to
             pick
             and
             choose
             his
             words
             ,
             without
             making
             long
             and
             undecent
             pauses
             and
             interruptions
             ,
             so
             that
             sometimes
             he
             is
             fain
             to
             use
             a
             hard
             word
             ,
             which
             perhaps
             not
             half
             the
             People
             understand
             ,
             because
             an
             easier
             doth
             not
             come
             to
             his
             mind
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             to
             intangle
             his
             expressions
             with
             long
             Parentheses
             ,
             sometimes
             to
             darken
             his
             matter
             with
             far
             fetch'd
             Metaphors
             ,
             or
             to
             express
             it
             by
             halfs
             in
             broken
             Sentences
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             to
             run
             out
             his
             Periods
             to
             an
             inordinate
             length
             ,
             by
             which
             the
             sense
             of
             them
             is
             very
             much
             clouded
             and
             obscur'd
             :
             these
             and
             such
             like
             inconveniences
             all
             the
             World
             knows
             do
             very
             commonly
             attend
             extempore
             Effusions
             :
             and
             let
             a
             mans
             fancy
             and
             tongue
             be
             never
             so
             fluent
             and
             voluble
             ,
             he
             can
             never
             be
             so
             secure
             of
             expressing
             himself
             intelligibly
             to
             the
             People
             when
             he
             
             prays
             extempore
             ,
             as
             he
             might
             be
             if
             he
             took
             time
             enough
             before-hand
             to
             choose
             his
             words
             ,
             and
             form
             his
             expressions
             ,
             so
             that
             the
             People
             may
             be
             much
             more
             secure
             of
             understanding
             what
             they
             pray
             for
             when
             they
             joyn
             with
             a
             Form
             ,
             than
             when
             they
             joyn
             with
             an
             extempore
             Prayer
             ;
             for
             to
             be
             sure
             in
             composing
             publick
             Forms
             more
             care
             will
             be
             taken
             of
             the
             phrase
             ,
             that
             the
             words
             may
             fit
             the
             matter
             ,
             and
             express
             it
             intelligibly
             to
             the
             People
             ,
             than
             there
             can
             be
             in
             extempore
             Prayer
             ;
             which
             admits
             of
             no
             long
             consideration
             ,
             no
             alteration
             upon
             second
             thoughts
             ,
             no
             after-scanning
             or
             revisal
             ,
             as
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             do
             ,
             but
             it
             must
             pass
             as
             it
             happens
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             intelligible
             or
             no
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             which
             those
             who
             
               occupy
               the
               room
               of
               the
               unlearned
               ,
            
             are
             many
             times
             forc'd
             to
             break
             off
             praying
             for
             want
             of
             understanding
             what
             the
             words
             and
             expressions
             of
             the
             Prayer
             mean
             ;
             for
             whether
             the
             Prayer
             be
             spoken
             
               in
               an
               unknown
               Tongue
            
             ,
             or
             in
             words
             that
             are
             unintelligible
             to
             the
             People
             ,
             it
             is
             all
             one
             to
             them
             ,
             for
             still
             their
             
               understanding
               is
               unfruitful
            
             ,
             and
             so
             long
             their
             devotion
             must
             be
             broken
             and
             interrupted
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             Another
             advantage
             peculiar
             to
             publick
             Forms
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             People
             may
             joyn
             with
             them
             with
             much
             more
             faith
             and
             ussurance
             ,
             than
             they
             can
             with
             extempore
             Prayers
             ;
             it
             must
             doubtless
             be
             of
             great
             advantage
             to
             a
             mans
             devotion
             in
             publick
             ,
             to
             be
             satisfied
             before-hand
             that
             the
             matter
             he
             is
             to
             pray
             for
             is
             good
             and
             acceptable
             to
             God
             ;
             for
             by
             this
             means
             he
             will
             be
             inabled
             to
             pray
             on
             with
             a
             stronger
             faith
             and
             surer
             hope
             of
             being
             heard
             and
             accepted
             ;
             but
             this
             a
             man
             can
             never
             be
             satisfi'd
             of
             aforehand
             ,
             that
             joyns
             in
             extempore
             Prayer
             ,
             unless
             he
             hath
             an
             implicit
             faith
             in
             his
             Minister
             ,
             that
             he
             will
             say
             nothing
             to
             God
             but
             what
             is
             true
             ,
             nor
             ask
             any
             thing
             of
             him
             but
             what
             is
             lawful
             ;
             which
             how
             he
             can
             certainl
             depend
             on
             ,
             I
             cannot
             imagin
             ,
             especially
             considering
             
             that
             the
             Minister
             who
             prays
             is
             many
             times
             a
             stranger
             to
             him
             ,
             both
             as
             to
             his
             person
             and
             principles
             ,
             and
             for
             all
             that
             he
             knows
             may
             be
             very
             erronious
             ,
             rash
             ,
             and
             unadvised
             ,
             or
             very
             ignorant
             of
             what
             is
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             what
             not
             ;
             And
             even
             those
             Ministers
             whom
             he
             knows
             ,
             and
             can
             best
             confide
             in
             ,
             are
             not
             always
             so
             very
             sure
             of
             their
             hands
             ,
             but
             that
             some
             times
             they
             may
             mistake
             their
             passion
             for
             their
             zeal
             ,
             and
             reak
             their
             anger
             or
             faction
             in
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             or
             in
             the
             heat
             and
             hurry
             of
             speaking
             what
             comes
             next
             ,
             let
             drop
             an
             error
             before
             they
             are
             aware
             ,
             or
             express
             themselves
             so
             doubtfully
             ,
             or
             unadvisedly
             ,
             that
             an
             honest
             and
             discerning
             mind
             may
             not
             be
             able
             to
             joyn
             with
             him
             ;
             so
             that
             in
             joyning
             with
             an
             extempore
             Prayer
             ,
             it
             is
             very
             necessary
             ,
             (
             as
             hath
             been
             observed
             by
             an
             excellent
             Divine
             upon
             this
             Argument
             )
             that
             as
             we
             go
             along
             with
             the
             Minister
             ,
             we
             should
             judge
             of
             what
             he
             saith
             before
             our
             hearts
             consent
             to
             it
             ,
             and
             if
             it
             should
             so
             happen
             ,
             that
             by
             reason
             of
             the
             novelty
             ,
             or
             ambiguity
             ,
             affectation
             ,
             or
             indigestedness
             of
             his
             expressions
             ,
             or
             any
             such
             rub
             in
             our
             way
             ,
             we
             cannot
             readily
             judge
             ,
             but
             are
             fain
             to
             hesitate
             ,
             and
             deliberate
             upon
             this
             ,
             or
             that
             passage
             ;
             in
             the
             mean
             time
             he
             who
             prays
             is
             gone
             on
             ,
             and
             now
             upon
             a
             new
             subject
             ,
             and
             we
             are
             left
             behind
             ,
             and
             at
             a
             loss
             ,
             and
             perhaps
             miserably
             confounded
             before
             our
             Devotion
             can
             close
             in
             again
             ,
             and
             no
             sooner
             it
             may
             be
             is
             it
             well
             fixt
             ,
             but
             't
             is
             led
             away
             again
             into
             the
             same
             inconveniency
             and
             maze
             :
             all
             which
             may
             be
             easily
             prevented
             by
             the
             use
             of
             publick
             Forms
             ;
             of
             the
             matter
             and
             expressions
             of
             which
             ,
             the
             People
             may
             easily
             satisfie
             themselves
             aforehand
             ,
             and
             when
             this
             is
             done
             ,
             they
             will
             have
             nothing
             else
             to
             do
             ,
             but
             to
             pray
             and
             keep
             their
             holy
             affections
             a
             going
             ,
             they
             will
             have
             no
             new
             Judgment
             to
             make
             of
             what
             is
             said
             ,
             no
             doubtful
             phrase
             or
             matter
             to
             examin
             ,
             and
             their
             judgment
             being
             satisfied
             before
             
             they
             begin
             to
             pray
             ,
             with
             the
             words
             and
             matter
             of
             the
             Prayer
             ,
             their
             devotion
             may
             go
             on
             with
             it
             ,
             without
             pause
             or
             stop
             in
             an
             even
             and
             uninterrupted
             current
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             Another
             advantage
             peculiar
             to
             publick
             Forms
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
             they
             have
             much
             less
             in
             them
             to
             divert
             the
             affefections
             of
             the
             People
             from
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             .
             For
             as
             for
             extempore
             Prayer
             ,
             it
             is
             very
             apt
             to
             disturb
             the
             devotion
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             well
             or
             ill
             perform'd
             ,
             if
             he
             who
             performs
             it
             hesitates
             ,
             or
             blunders
             ,
             or
             expresses
             himself
             in
             crude
             ,
             undecent
             ,
             or
             fantastick
             phrases
             ,
             instead
             of
             attending
             to
             the
             matter
             ,
             and
             joyning
             their
             affections
             with
             it
             ,
             they
             will
             in
             all
             probability
             be
             pitying
             ,
             or
             contemning
             him
             ,
             carping
             at
             what
             comes
             next
             ,
             and
             running
             descants
             on
             his
             weakness
             and
             impertinence
             ;
             if
             he
             perform
             well
             ,
             and
             his
             method
             be
             orderly
             and
             artificial
             ,
             his
             matter
             good
             ,
             and
             his
             expressions
             fluent
             and
             apt
             ,
             and
             easie
             ,
             they
             will
             in
             all
             probability
             be
             admiring
             his
             parts
             ,
             and
             entertaining
             their
             curiosity
             with
             the
             elegancy
             of
             his
             phrase
             ,
             the
             solidity
             and
             promptness
             of
             his
             judgment
             ,
             and
             the
             art
             and
             finery
             of
             his
             composure
             ;
             either
             of
             which
             must
             very
             much
             divert
             and
             call
             off
             their
             affections
             from
             the
             matter
             ;
             whereas
             while
             they
             are
             joyning
             in
             publick
             Forms
             ,
             to
             which
             they
             have
             been
             accustomed
             ,
             and
             in
             which
             neither
             the
             strength
             ,
             nor
             weakness
             of
             the
             Ministers
             parts
             appears
             ,
             they
             have
             none
             of
             all
             these
             snares
             to
             intangle
             their
             devotion
             :
             for
             being
             used
             to
             the
             words
             ,
             and
             phrase
             ,
             and
             method
             ,
             they
             have
             no
             temptation
             to
             concern
             their
             minds
             any
             farther
             about
             them
             ,
             than
             as
             they
             convey
             the
             matter
             of
             the
             Prayer
             to
             them
             ,
             and
             having
             none
             of
             the
             above-named
             diversions
             ,
             to
             carry
             away
             their
             minds
             from
             the
             matter
             ,
             they
             may
             doubtless
             ,
             if
             they
             please
             ,
             attend
             to
             it
             with
             much
             more
             fervour
             and
             affection
             .
          
           
           
             5.
             
             Another
             peculiar
             advantage
             to
             the
             Peoples
             Devotion
             in
             joyning
             with
             publick
             Forms
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
             they
             are
             more
             secur'd
             as
             to
             the
             decency
             and
             solemnity
             of
             their
             publick
             Worship
             ;
             and
             I
             suppose
             there
             is
             no
             body
             will
             question
             ,
             but
             that
             the
             decent
             and
             solemn
             performance
             of
             publick
             Worship
             ,
             is
             highly
             advantageous
             to
             the
             Devotion
             of
             the
             People
             .
             But
             now
             whilst
             they
             joyn
             in
             extempore
             Prayers
             ,
             the
             decency
             and
             solemnity
             of
             the
             performance
             ,
             doth
             altogether
             depend
             upon
             the
             ability
             and
             present
             disposedness
             of
             the
             Minister
             ;
             so
             that
             if
             the
             Minister
             happen
             to
             be
             a
             man
             of
             a
             mean
             elocution
             ,
             of
             an
             unready
             memory
             ,
             or
             an
             unfruitful
             invention
             ,
             it
             is
             impossible
             the
             Office
             should
             be
             perform'd
             with
             that
             decency
             and
             solemnity
             ,
             that
             is
             necessary
             to
             affect
             the
             minds
             ,
             and
             excite
             the
             devotions
             of
             the
             People
             ;
             yea
             ,
             instead
             of
             that
             perhaps
             ,
             the
             wretched
             dulness
             ,
             the
             blundering
             ,
             confusion
             ,
             and
             impertinence
             of
             the
             performance
             ,
             may
             turn
             their
             devotion
             into
             scorn
             and
             laughter
             ;
             for
             of
             this
             I
             have
             seen
             too
             many
             sad
             experiments
             :
             but
             suppose
             the
             Minister
             be
             a
             man
             of
             pregnant
             parts
             ,
             and
             ready
             invention
             and
             elocution
             ,
             yea
             and
             of
             great
             Piety
             and
             Devotion
             too
             ,
             yet
             't
             is
             possible
             he
             may
             be
             frequently
             liable
             to
             great
             indispositions
             of
             body
             ,
             and
             mind
             ,
             to
             dulness
             ,
             and
             inadvertency
             ,
             to
             wandering
             ,
             and
             distraction
             of
             thoughts
             ,
             to
             deficiencies
             of
             invention
             ,
             and
             failures
             of
             memory
             ,
             and
             incumbrances
             of
             mind
             ,
             with
             outward
             cares
             and
             accidents
             ;
             and
             if
             he
             be
             ,
             what
             remedy
             is
             there
             ,
             but
             that
             he
             must
             many
             times
             pray
             confusedly
             ,
             and
             omit
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             the
             matter
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             utter
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             it
             in
             broken
             or
             undecent
             expressions
             ?
             and
             how
             can
             he
             avoid
             being
             sometimes
             at
             a
             loss
             ,
             both
             for
             words
             and
             matter
             ,
             and
             being
             forc'd
             to
             supply
             the
             present
             defects
             of
             his
             invention
             ,
             with
             fulsome
             repetitions
             of
             what
             went
             before
             ?
             and
             how
             is
             it
             possible
             almost
             but
             that
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             slat
             and
             empty
             nonsense
             ,
             a
             great
             many
             
             crude
             and
             undigested
             conceptions
             ,
             and
             rash
             and
             unadvis'd
             expressions
             should
             escape
             from
             his
             lips
             before
             he
             is
             aware
             ?
             and
             this
             ,
             if
             he
             hath
             any
             grain
             of
             modesty
             in
             him
             ,
             must
             ,
             upon
             the
             least
             reflection
             ,
             put
             him
             into
             a
             greater
             confusion
             ,
             and
             so
             amaze
             ,
             and
             bewilder
             him
             ,
             that
             throughout
             the
             whole
             Prayer
             perhaps
             ,
             he
             will
             hardly
             be
             able
             to
             recover
             himself
             to
             any
             consistency
             of
             thoughts
             :
             Now
             is
             it
             not
             a
             hard
             case
             ,
             that
             the
             decency
             and
             solemnity
             of
             the
             publick
             Prayers
             of
             a
             Congregation
             ,
             should
             depend
             upon
             the
             uncertain
             and
             variable
             temper
             and
             disposition
             of
             one
             single
             person
             ;
             so
             as
             that
             if
             he
             happen
             to
             be
             indispos'd
             or
             disorder'd
             in
             his
             body
             or
             mind
             ,
             the
             Devotions
             of
             500
             or
             1000
             persons
             must
             partake
             of
             his
             disorders
             and
             distractions
             ;
             for
             how
             much
             soever
             he
             is
             indisposed
             ,
             their
             Prayer
             can
             be
             no
             better
             than
             what
             he
             is
             able
             to
             pour
             out
             extempore
             ,
             and
             how
             flatly
             ,
             unadvisedly
             or
             confusedly
             soever
             he
             prays
             ,
             they
             must
             pray
             after
             him
             ,
             or
             not
             pray
             at
             all
             ;
             which
             vast
             inconvenience
             is
             wholly
             cur'd
             and
             prevented
             ,
             by
             a
             well
             compos'd
             Form
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             for
             how
             weak
             soever
             the
             Ministers
             parts
             be
             ,
             or
             how
             much
             soever
             he
             may
             be
             at
             present
             indisposed
             ,
             if
             he
             can
             but
             read
             distinctly
             and
             seriously
             ,
             the
             Devotion
             of
             the
             People
             will
             not
             be
             at
             all
             affected
             or
             influenc'd
             by
             it
             ,
             for
             whatsoever
             his
             parts
             ,
             or
             present
             temper
             be
             ,
             they
             will
             be
             sure
             to
             find
             an
             orderly
             and
             methodical
             Prayer
             to
             joyn
             with
             ;
             a
             Prayer
             that
             is
             comprehensive
             of
             all
             their
             common
             cases
             and
             necessities
             ;
             that
             is
             sober
             and
             good
             ,
             mature
             and
             well
             advised
             as
             to
             the
             matter
             ;
             that
             is
             full
             and
             plain
             and
             decent
             as
             to
             the
             phrase
             and
             expression
             of
             it
             ;
             and
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             that
             is
             every
             way
             suted
             to
             all
             the
             parts
             and
             ends
             and
             offices
             of
             publick
             Devotion
             ;
             And
             if
             they
             please
             ,
             they
             may
             satisfie
             themselves
             before-hand
             ,
             that
             there
             is
             nothing
             in
             the
             Prayer
             they
             are
             to
             joyn
             with
             ,
             but
             what
             becomes
             publick
             Worship
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             most
             serious
             and
             solemn
             thing
             in
             the
             World.
             
          
           
           
             6.
             
             Another
             peculiar
             advantage
             of
             publick
             Forms
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
             in
             joyning
             with
             them
             the
             People
             may
             be
             better
             secur'd
             of
             the
             reality
             and
             sincerity
             of
             their
             own
             Devotion
             .
             For
             in
             joyning
             with
             extempore
             Prayers
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             doubt
             but
             they
             may
             ,
             and
             many
             times
             do
             mistake
             the
             tickling
             of
             their
             fancics
             ,
             for
             true
             and
             sincere
             Devotion
             ;
             for
             their
             fancies
             being
             surpriz'd
             ,
             and
             amused
             ,
             meerly
             by
             the
             novelty
             of
             the
             expressions
             ,
             will
             naturally
             influence
             their
             sensitive
             passions
             ,
             and
             chase
             them
             into
             such
             warmths
             as
             an
             undiscerning
             judgment
             may
             easily
             mistake
             for
             the
             holy
             fervours
             of
             Devotions
             ;
             they
             find
             themselves
             strangely
             heated
             in
             the
             Prayer
             ,
             and
             upon
             that
             immediately
             conclude
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             wonderfully
             devout
             ,
             without
             ever
             enquiring
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             the
             matter
             ,
             or
             the
             phrase
             and
             expression
             that
             heats
             them
             ;
             and
             so
             from
             those
             transports
             of
             passion
             ,
             which
             are
             meerly
             the
             effects
             of
             new
             and
             surprising
             words
             ,
             striking
             briskly
             on
             their
             fancies
             ,
             they
             many
             times
             take
             occasion
             to
             flatter
             themselves
             into
             a
             great
             opinion
             of
             their
             Piety
             and
             Godliness
             ,
             whereas
             many
             of
             these
             persons
             are
             notoriously
             immoral
             in
             their
             lives
             ,
             and
             utterly
             disaffected
             to
             the
             matter
             they
             pray
             for
             with
             so
             much
             seeming
             earnestness
             and
             affection
             ;
             which
             is
             a
             plain
             argument
             ,
             that
             their
             affection
             is
             not
             to
             the
             matter
             ,
             but
             meerly
             to
             the
             words
             and
             expressions
             ;
             and
             in
             all
             probability
             the
             same
             surprisingness
             of
             expression
             would
             have
             as
             much
             affected
             them
             at
             a
             Play
             ,
             as
             it
             doth
             at
             a
             Prayer
             :
             thus
             for
             instance
             ,
             when
             they
             hear
             God
             or
             Christ
             spoken
             of
             ,
             and
             their
             goodness
             and
             perfections
             represented
             in
             a
             new
             and
             surprising
             strain
             of
             expressions
             ,
             their
             fancy
             many
             times
             is
             strangely
             smitten
             with
             it
             ,
             and
             this
             makes
             their
             spirits
             flow
             in
             a
             sweet
             and
             placid
             torrent
             to
             their
             heart
             ;
             and
             by
             their
             frisking
             about
             it
             ,
             to
             sooth
             and
             tickle
             it
             into
             great
             complacency
             and
             pleasure
             ,
             till
             at
             last
             it
             opens
             and
             dilates
             it
             orifices
             ,
             and
             the
             grateful
             flood
             breaks
             in
             ,
             and
             
             drowns
             it
             in
             delight
             and
             ravishment
             ;
             and
             yet
             all
             this
             many
             times
             ,
             instead
             of
             being
             a
             real
             complacency
             of
             their
             souls
             in
             God
             ,
             is
             only
             a
             complacency
             of
             their
             fancies
             in
             the
             phrase
             by
             which
             he
             is
             described
             and
             represented
             ,
             and
             had
             they
             heard
             the
             Hero
             of
             Play
             describ'd
             in
             the
             same
             phrase
             ,
             they
             might
             probably
             have
             been
             moved
             to
             the
             same
             affection
             to
             him
             ,
             as
             they
             are
             now
             to
             God
             and
             their
             Saviour
             ;
             for
             the
             same
             kind
             of
             influence
             that
             new
             and
             surprising
             expressions
             have
             upon
             mens
             fancies
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             they
             will
             have
             when
             applied
             to
             other
             matters
             ;
             And
             if
             we
             will
             believe
             Plutarch
             ,
             it
             was
             an
             ordinary
             thing
             with
             the
             Greek
             Sophists
             ,
             by
             their
             honied
             words
             ,
             surprising
             phrases
             ,
             singing
             tones
             ,
             and
             effeminate
             accents
             ,
             to
             excite
             their
             Auditors
             into
             a
             kind
             of
             Bacchical
             Enthusiasm
             ;
             and
             no
             doubt
             but
             those
             hearers
             ,
             of
             whom
             he
             there
             speaks
             ,
             who
             were
             wont
             to
             applaud
             their
             Orators
             at
             the
             end
             of
             their
             Declamations
             with
             a
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             divinely
             ,
             heavenly
             ,
             unimitably
             spoken
             ;
             found
             themselves
             as
             much
             moved
             ,
             as
             many
             a
             man
             doth
             at
             an
             extempore
             Prayer
             ,
             who
             yet
             verily
             believes
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             not
             meerly
             a
             movement
             of
             his
             fancy
             ,
             but
             of
             his
             sincere
             and
             true
             devotion
             .
             This
             therefore
             is
             a
             great
             disadvantage
             of
             extempore
             Prayer
             in
             publick
             ,
             that
             meerly
             by
             amusing
             the
             fancies
             of
             the
             people
             with
             the
             surprising
             novelty
             of
             its
             expressions
             ,
             it
             puts
             them
             into
             fits
             of
             counterfeit
             devotion
             ,
             and
             makes
             them
             many
             times
             imagin
             that
             they
             are
             heartily
             affected
             with
             the
             matter
             of
             the
             Prayers
             ,
             when
             't
             is
             meerly
             the
             phrase
             of
             it
             that
             by
             striking
             on
             their
             fancies
             ,
             moves
             their
             sensitive
             affection
             .
             But
             whether
             this
             movement
             of
             affection
             be
             fancy
             ,
             or
             devotion
             ,
             a
             man
             may
             much
             more
             easily
             distinguish
             when
             he
             joyns
             with
             a
             Form
             ,
             than
             when
             he
             joyns
             with
             an
             extempore
             Prayer
             ;
             for
             he
             being
             acquainted
             aforehand
             with
             the
             phrases
             and
             expressions
             of
             the
             Form
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             to
             be
             supposed
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             much
             
             surprise
             and
             amuse
             his
             fancy
             ,
             and
             therefore
             if
             notwithstanding
             that
             ,
             he
             finds
             himself
             heartily
             affected
             in
             the
             Prayer
             ,
             he
             may
             much
             more
             securely
             conclude
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             matter
             ,
             and
             not
             meerly
             the
             words
             that
             moves
             and
             affects
             him
             .
             And
             thus
             ,
             with
             all
             plainness
             and
             sincerity
             ,
             I
             have
             indeavoured
             to
             represent
             those
             peculiar
             advantages
             which
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             have
             above
             extempore
             ones
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             quickening
             and
             improving
             the
             Devotions
             of
             the
             People
             :
             I
             might
             have
             given
             other
             Instances
             of
             it
             ,
             but
             these
             I
             think
             are
             sufficient
             to
             determin
             the
             case
             in
             debate
             ,
             and
             to
             convince
             any
             unprejudic'd
             man
             ,
             that
             pious
             and
             well
             composed
             Forms
             ,
             are
             so
             far
             from
             deadening
             the
             publick
             Devotions
             ,
             that
             they
             contribute
             sundry
             great
             advantages
             to
             it
             .
             And
             indeed
             if
             publick
             Forms
             do
             deaden
             the
             Peoples
             Devotion
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             either
             as
             they
             always
             confine
             the
             Devotions
             of
             the
             People
             to
             the
             same
             set
             of
             words
             ,
             which
             ,
             as
             I
             have
             proved
             at
             large
             ,
             is
             a
             great
             advantage
             to
             their
             Devotion
             ;
             or
             as
             they
             do
             
               pro
               tempore
            
             confine
             them
             to
             a
             certain
             set
             of
             words
             ;
             in
             which
             sense
             the
             Ministers
             extempore
             Prayer
             is
             a
             Form
             to
             the
             People
             ,
             and
             doth
             as
             much
             confine
             their
             Devotions
             to
             a
             certain
             set
             of
             words
             ,
             
               pro
               tempore
            
             ,
             as
             any
             stated
             Form
             whatsoever
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             ,
             if
             after
             all
             this
             ,
             it
             be
             objected
             by
             our
             Brethren
             ,
             that
             they
             find
             by
             Experience
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             best
             Argument
             ,
             that
             Forms
             do
             actually
             deaden
             their
             Devotion
             ,
             I
             would
             beseech
             them
             seriously
             to
             consider
             ,
             whether
             this
             experience
             of
             theirs
             be
             not
             founded
             in
             an
             unreasonable
             prejudice
             ;
             and
             if
             it
             be
             ,
             whether
             it
             's
             fit
             that
             their
             unreasonable
             prejudice
             should
             prescribe
             to
             the
             whole
             Church
             ?
             it's
             certain
             ,
             that
             there
             are
             other
             men
             as
             truly
             pious
             and
             devout
             as
             they
             ,
             who
             find
             by
             experience
             ,
             that
             joyning
             with
             the
             publick
             Forms
             is
             a
             great
             advantage
             to
             their
             Devotion
             ;
             so
             that
             here
             is
             experience
             against
             experience
             ;
             and
             certainly
             where
             there
             are
             two
             
             contrary
             experiences
             of
             the
             same
             thing
             ,
             they
             cannot
             both
             proceed
             from
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             thing
             ;
             but
             one
             ,
             or
             t'other
             must
             necessarily
             arise
             from
             the
             disposition
             and
             temper
             of
             those
             who
             are
             conversant
             about
             it
             :
             Now
             I
             have
             shew'd
             that
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             are
             in
             themselves
             real
             advantages
             to
             publick
             Devotion
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             are
             so
             ,
             there
             are
             many
             thousands
             of
             good
             Christians
             can
             attest
             by
             their
             own
             experience
             ;
             and
             therefore
             if
             our
             Brethren
             do
             not
             experience
             the
             same
             ,
             the
             fault
             must
             lie
             in
             their
             own
             prejudice
             ,
             or
             temper
             ,
             and
             there
             is
             no
             doubt
             to
             be
             made
             ,
             but
             would
             they
             heartily
             indeavour
             to
             cure
             their
             own
             prejudice
             ,
             and
             to
             dispossess
             their
             minds
             of
             those
             groundless
             Piques
             they
             have
             entertain'd
             against
             our
             Liturgy
             ;
             would
             they
             but
             peruse
             it
             with
             impartial
             eyes
             ;
             consider
             the
             contents
             ,
             and
             labour
             to
             affect
             their
             minds
             with
             the
             sense
             and
             matter
             of
             it
             ;
             they
             would
             quickly
             find
             the
             same
             experience
             of
             its
             advantageousness
             to
             publick
             Devotion
             ,
             as
             those
             blessed
             Martyrs
             did
             who
             compos'd
             it
             ,
             us'd
             ,
             and
             at
             last
             died
             for
             it
             ,
             and
             valued
             every
             Leaf
             of
             it
             as
             an
             inestimable
             treasure
             ;
             and
             as
             we
             should
             consent
             in
             our
             experience
             ,
             so
             we
             should
             also
             in
             our
             communion
             ,
             and
             with
             one
             heart
             and
             one
             mouth
             glorifie
             our
             Father
             together
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .