Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

1. 0 of conceived prayers and feet forms: form or forms rather for the general! and the many bleflings for which we are either ro pray or to prayfe God ordinarily, whereunto extraordinarily fomething is to be added as occafion is offered : I fay, forms rather, for the avoyding of diflraC` ion and wandering thoughts. And becaufe our prayers are defective, it fhall be expedient to conclude them with that abfolute form which Chrift hath taught us. As for prayers publick and common with others ; Though a conceived prayer be more com- mendable in the fpeaker if it be performed without fpirituall pride and of}entation, yet a fet form or forms is more profitable for the hearers,who with a known form may eafily concurre in prayer with the fpeaker, which in a conceived form unheard of before they cannot fo well do. All which I have the rather noted, becaufe I underfland that in thefe times both many hearers do erroneoufly magnifie extemporall prayers, contemning all fet forms; and alto the oratours or fpeakers themfelves in great oflentation and fpirituall pride affea fuch variety of extemporall prayers, as if they fcorned to ufe the fame form twice 5 when as our Saviour in the garden is recorded to have prayed thrice and to have ufed the fame form, Matthe 26. 29, 42, 44. CHAP. XXIV. ;;