Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

Knowledge required in prayer. Where the Apoftle as he doth in gene rail require in every Chriftian a plentifull knowledge of the word of God to direst him in his worfhip of God, fo he xeacheth us the ufe of our Pfalmes and fongs which we fing unto the Lord, to wit, that we and thofe that heare us may be inftruEted and edified thereby, which without underftanding of that which is faid cannot be done, as the Apoftle fheweth, r .Cor, iq.. And to the fame effect doth the Prophet David ex- hort us, Pfal. 47. 7, 8. ' wp 97pt, which words though diverfly tranflated do in every fenfe require underftanding in thofe that call upon God : whether you read it,sinn praifes every one that hath underfland- ing, or fing praifes underflandingly,or with underfland- xng, or (as "?' ;tq. alfo fignifieth, as appeareth by the titles of divers pfalmes) fing a Pfalme of infirm- Ilion whereby you may ( according to the exhorta- tion ofthe Apoftle, Col.3.) inftrua and edifie your felves and others. Here therefore two forts of men are condemned: the fiat of thofe who pray in an unknown tongue; the fecond of them who praying in their own tongue do not underftand their own prayer. The former fault is commited in the Church of The do$rine Rome both in publick and private prayers. And of he chu ch firff for publick, the Church of Rome hath ordain- of Rome ed that all the publick Divine fervice in the Weft- confuted, churches fhould be done in the Latine tongue. And pray priñ, although this their praétice be directly repugnant to unknown the word of God, and contrary to common fenfe tongue. and reafon, yet they do not onely ftiffly retein and conci!. r-id maintein it, but alfo pronounce 1..4 natherna againft fef:z2.can.9 him 9r