286 How Divine Wcrflp S E R M. of our human compofitions ? Though I hopes X. ufed by many chriftians with fincerely good ` v' affefiions, and therefore acceptably, yet the forms themfelves carry too vifible marks of imperfeéion ; fome parts of them more agree- able to the divided opinions of particular felts, than the faith which was once delivered to the faints in the holy fcriptures, and exprefine rather of a narrow party- fpirit than catholick chriftian charity; fome very defe %ive in giving men a juft idea of the chriflian obligations, nay, tending to miflead them in a matter of fo great importance, as the foundation of their hopes towards God, by fubftituting other things in the room of fincere obedience, and placing too great efficacy and merit, in ex- ternal ads; many are obfcure, fcarcely intel- ligible, and the generality too tedious and perplex'd ; and the greaten part of thefe forms tranfgrefs the directions of Solomon in the text, and the rule of our Saviour before referred to, which is agreeable to them ; for how often do we meet with the fame thing, either in different or the fame words ? The name of God and the Lord occurreth in almoft every fentence; and fuch fhort petitions as have mercy on us, and bear us, fo frequently, that it can fcarcely efcape the cenfure of a vain repetition, at leaff it doth not tend to preferve a
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