Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

94 ;That prayer ought to k made in a known tongue: -God; and he is no accepter of perlons , much lefï`e of tongues. Again , publick prayer as it is made for the people, fo it is the prayer of the congregati- on ; and we fhall prove that every one ought to underftand his own prayer. The Minifter Both pray, but the people ought to concurre with him in their prayers, and to give their confent thereunto by faying, Amen: which they cannot do if they un- derftand not what is faid, v. 16. .Elfe when thou (halt bleff in the fpirit, hoiv(hall he which occupieth the room of the unlearned fay Amen at thy giving of thanks, fee - ang he underflandeth not What thou fayefl ? But the Papiffs fay, That the Apofile meaneth not every one unlearned in the Laitie, but the clerk of the Church, who fupplieth the place of the Lai - tie. But the words do liignifie not him who fupply- etEthe place or Read, but he that filieth or occupi- eth the place of the unlearned, that is to fay, one of that rank, and fo is expounded by the Greek Fathers. Moreover, why is fpeech ufed at all in publick prayer ? and why do the people affemble them - felves thereunto For fpeech is not needfull in re- fpeet of God, who fearcheth the heart; neither is the prefence of the people neceflarie at a prayer which is onely made for them: but words in pub - lick prayer are ufed that the people both might be guided and edified, and alto that they might joya with the fpeaker and adde their confent, in which Lib. 6e Ma- refped alto their prefence, is necefTary. So Augu- g (o, cap. I. fine , opus elt locuti one in publicis precious, non ut .Dews fedut Amines audiant : Speech is needfull in publick