Of rJ\!ading 'FraJ'er>, and Prayin~ rvithout a Form, i11 the (lmrcb. QQefl:. Is it lawjrd to rJ\!ad a Prayer i11 the G11rch Anfw. r. THat whi,ch is not forbidden is lawful: But to Read a pray<r is not .forbiddc ( fuch, though by accident it lllay ), - n as _ '2• ThePrayeuin the Scripture Pfalms, were ufually Read in the Jewilh Synagogues.Jawfully ;– for the~ were wntrc:n to that end; and were ~ndec:d the ]cw1{h Liturgy. Therefore ro Read ~ Prayer 15 not unh.wful. 3. He that bath a weak memory may Read his own Sermon Notes : Therefore he may Rea<l ~~~ . 4-l add as to this cafe and the former together, that r. Chrill did ufually frequent che Jewith Synagogues. 2· That in thofe Synagogues thpc were forms of Prayer, and that ordinarily Read; At leatl Scripture forms: And if either the Jcwifh Rabbins ( cited by Scalig<r, .Stlden in Euty<b. Alt:t:– andr. &c. ) or the llrongefl probability may be credited, there were alfo humane form 1 • For who can imagine that thofc Pharifccs Chould have no humane forms, r. Who are fo much accufed of formality, and following Traditions: 2· And ufed long and frrqHent praym: But if indeed they h~d no fu~h forms, then long and frtqutnt txtempttrate pr.ym are not fo ~re~t a lign of the Spirits gtfrs as rs rmagmed, when fuch Phanlecs abounded m them. But there rs ltttlc probability, but that thty ufed both waycs. 3• That Chrill did nor fcparate from the Synagogues for fuch puyeiS fake. • 4 . Yea, rbat we never read that Chrift mcdled in the Controverfi.e, it being t!1en no Contro– verlie ; nor that be once reproved fuch forms or Reading themi or ever called the Jews to repent of rhern. . If you fay, His eeneral reproof of Traditions was enough: I anfwer, I· Even Traditionr he re– proved not ., [uch, but as [et btfort, or againjl the Coinm•ndt ofGod. 2 · He named many of their particular 1raditiont andCorruptionr, Matth. 15.& :13,&c. and yet.never named tbU: 3· His being ufually prefenr at their Atfcmblies, and fo joyninjl with them in their Worfbip, would be fuch an appearance of his approbation, as would make Jt needful to exprefs Ius dJ[allowance of ir if in– deed he thought it finful. So that who ever impartially confidercth all this,. thar he joyn;d wirli thetn, that he particularly rcp~oved other co!rurtions, and that _he ~cyer faid any thing ar all a~ainit form! or re•ding prayers, that rs recor~ed,, will lure be moderate tn hiS judgement of fuch indilfcrcnr things, if he know what mode•atton ss. · Quefl:. 77. Is it larvfu! t9 'Pray in tl1e (hurc/1 without a prefcribed or pmne• ditated form of Words ~ Anfw. THere are fo few fobcr and ferious Chrillians that ever made a doubt of this, that 1will , not bellow many words to prove ir. 1 , That which is not forbidden is lawful. But Church-prayer without a premeditated or pre– fcribcd form of words is not forbidden (by God) Therefore (as to Gods Laws) it is not un– lawful. 2 , To exprefs holy defircs underllandingly, orderly, fcrioully and in apt expr<rrions, is lawfull praying. But all this may be done without :i fer form of words ; Therefore to pray without a fet form of words may be lawful. 3 , The Confent of the Univerfal Church, and the experience of godly men , are ar~umenti fo firong, as are not to be made light of, 4• To which Smpture mfianccs may be added, •
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