A Christian Plea, Treatise 3 · Chapter 1
CHAPTER I. Touching Book prayer.
VVHether it be the Lords ordinance, that his churches & ſervants, should (vvhen they pray) read their prayers out of a book, euen certaine ſet vvords impoſed by men; and ſo uſe a forme and manner of prayer and leitourgie deviſed and preſcribed by man, for their ſpirituall ſacrifice of prayer and vvorship of God: And conſequently, vvhether it be lavvfull for us, in ſuch maner to vvorship the Lord. Exod. 20, 4, 5, 6. and 30, 9. compared with Pſal. 141, 2. Eſa. 29, 13. vvith Mat. 15, 9. Lev. 10, 1, Mal. 1.8, 14. Rom. 8, 26. Epheſ. 4, 8 — 12. 1 Pet. 2, 5. Rev. 8, 3, &c.
I. Seeing that the book-prayer aforeſaid, being not appointed by the Lord, or approved in his word, is an invention of Man in the vvorship of God. And mens inventions in Gods vvorship, are tranſgreſſions of the ſecond commandement. Exod. 20, 4, 5. vvith Lev. 10, 1. Judg. 8, 27. Pſa. 119, 113, 128. Eſa. 29, 13. and 30, 21, 22,
II. Thus alſo it is as an image & ſimilitude of ſpiritual prayer, which yet it is not. And ſo theſe books and ſtinted prayers preſcribed by man, in the vvorship of God, come in deed to be idols, ſupplying the place of the vvord and ſpirit of God▪ vvhichwhich ought not to be. In vvhichwhich reſpect, ſuch manner of worship becommeth idolatrous & ſuperſtitious, forbidden of the Lord, and not to be communicated vvithall. For vvhat agreement hath the temple of God vvith Idols? 2 Cor. 6.16. Exod. 20, 4, 5, 6. compared vvith Rom. 8, 26. Epheſ 6, 18. 1 Pet. 2, 5. and vvith the other Scriptures aforeſaid, and the like.
III. The incenſe offred by the Prieſts upon the golden Altar in the time of the Lavv, vvas a type of prayer offred up unto God by the mediation of Chriſt: Pſal. 141, 2. Rev. 8, 3, 4. And therefore as it vvas not lavvfull to uſe any ſtraunge incenſe, but that onelyonly vvhichwhich God appointed: ſo neither is it lavvful to uſe any ſtraunge manner of prayer, but ſuch onelyonly as the Lord requireth. Exod. 30, 9. vvith Pſal. 141, 2. Now that the Lord did ever ordeyne in his vvorship the book-prayer aforeſaid, vvho can shevv? Yea, or that any of the godly (either the Patriarks, Prophets, Apoſtles, or other men or vvomen) recorded in the Scriptures, when they vvould pray unto God, did ever take a book in their hands, to read out of it ſome ſtinted prayers preſcribed by men, for their ſacrifice of prayer and ſupplication to God? Or can vve think, if this vvere the manner of prayer and worship vvhichwhich God required, that the Scripture would be ſilent in it; or that none of the ſervants of God ſet before us for examples in the Scriptures, should ever uſe it; or that vve should preſcribe or uſe ſuch manner of prayer in the worship of God, as never any of the godly mētioned in the Scripture did uſe? If then in the time of the Legall shadovves under Moſes, God vvould not admit of any ſtraunge thing in his worship, but did ſeverely punish it, as may be ſeen in the example of Nadab and Abihu, Levit. 10, 1. hovv shall vve thinke that he vvill novv admit of any ſtraunge manner of prayer for his worship in the time of the Goſpel under Chriſt; whenas Chriſt the ſonne is vvorthy of more honour, then Moſes the ſervant. Heb. 3, 3, 5, 6.
IIII. It derogateth from the honour, fruit, and benefit of the aſcenſion of Chriſt: vvho aſcending up on high, hath giuen gifts unto men for the worke of the miniſterie: and therefore as vvell for prayer, as for doctrine and preaching &c. Eph. 4, 8, 12. vvith Act. 6, 4. If any be not indued vvith ſuch gifts, there is no vvarrant to chuſe them to be miniſters of Chriſt. If they be ſo indued, there is no vvarrant for others to preſcribe, nor for themſelues to read over ſuch ſtinted prayers, preſcribed by men for the worship of God. Neither doeth it onelyonly derogate from the honour and benefit of Chriſts aſcenſion into heauen: but alſo from the care, louelove, and bountie that he hath and shevveth continually to his church upon earth, giving ſtill gifts unto men for the vvork of the miniſterie, from time to time. Epheſ. 4, 8 — 13. and Pſal. 68, 19. vvith 1 Cor. 12, 4, 5, 6. 1 Tim. 2, 1. and 6, 13, 14. with Matth. 28, 20. Els alſo why doe they not put a book of Homilies, in the hands of all the Miniſters, to be read over dayly for their ſermons to the people, aſvvell as a book of prayers, in and for the worship of God? And vvhy doe not the miniſters uſe the one, aſwel as the other, in their publick miniſtration?
V. The ſpirit of God is the onelyonly help which he giueth us to help our infirmities in the time of prayer: (not books, or beads, or any ſuch thing▪) Rom. 8, 26, 27. Gal. 4, 6. Zach. 12, 10. Epheſ. 6, 18. Iude ver. 20. And hovv els should blinde men pray, that cannot read? Beſides that Book-prayer quencheth the ſpirit, and abridgeth the work of the holy Ghoſt, ſuppreſſing the gifts and graces of God in us, and removing the heart far from God, hovvever we may ſeeme with the mouth to come neare unto him: inaſmuch as our prayers are not dravven and powred out of the heart by the help of the ſpirit of God, according to our preſent and continuall occaſions: but are preſcribed unto us, and read in a book, ſtill alike, from time to time, 1 Theſ. 5, 17, 18, 19. Eſa. 29, 13. compared with 1 Sam. 1, 15. Zach. 12, 10. Phil. 4, 6.
VI. We our ſelues as living ſtones, are built up a ſpirituall houſe, an holy Prieſthood, to offer up spirituall ſacrifices, acceptable to God by Ieſus Chriſt. 1 Pet. 2, 5. vvith Iohn 4, 24. Rev. 1, 5, 6. Therefore alſo should we not read our prayers out of a book, when we worship God: ſeeing it is not a living or ſpiritual ſacrifice, but dead & carnal: And hovv then is it a vvorship acceptable to God by Ieſus Chriſt? as all our prayers and worship of God should be. 1 Pet. 4, 5. with Rev. 8, 3. Rom. 8, 26, 27. 1 Theſ. 5, 17, 18. 1 Tim. 2, 1 — 5. 1 Joh. 5, 13, 14, 15. Iude v. 20, 21.
VII. Prayer is to be made, for things that are needfull, and lawfull to be asked of God, according to the ſeverall occaſions, eſtate, & conditions of people, publikely and privately, joyntly and ſeverally, in churches and common vveales, by ſea and by land, in peace and in warre, in proſperitie and adverſitie, ſpirituall and bodily, &c. and thankſgiving againe accordingly to be rendred unto God upon the prayers heard, &c. as throughout the Scriptures may be ſeen, Phil. 4, 6. and 1 Theſ 5, 17, 18. compared with Gen. 32, 9 — 12. Exod. 14, 15. and 32, 11, 12, 13. Lev. 16, 6, 10, 21, 33, 34. Numb. 14.13 — 19. Deut. 3, 23, 24, 25. Ioſh. 7, 6 — 9. Judg. 16, 28. Ruth. 4, 11, 12. 1 Sam. 1, 10, ….12. and 23, 10, 11. 2 Sam. 7, 18 — 29. 1 King. 7, 22 — 54. 2 King. 13, 3, 4. and 19, …— 19. 1 Chron. 21, 8, 16, 17. 2 Chron. 14, 11. and 20, 5 — 13. Ezra 6, 10. and 8.21, 22, 23. and 9, 5 — 15. Neh. 1, 4 — 11. and 4, 9. Eſter 4, 16. Job 42, 8, 10. Pſa. 5, 2, 3. & 6, & 17, and 22, and 28, 6. and 32, 6. and 41, 4 and 50, 14, 25. and 55, 16, 17. and 66, 17 — 20. and 86, and 88, and 102, and 107, and 109, 4. and 116, 1, 2, 4. and 118, 5. and 142. Prov. 30, 7, 8, 9. Eccleſ. 5, 1, 2. Eſa. 38, 2, 3. and 64. Ier. 7, 16. and 14, 7, 8, 9, 11. & 18, 1…— 23. and 29, 7. and 32, 16 — 25. Ezech. 9, 8. and 11, 13. Dan. 2, 17 — 23. and 6, 10, 11. and 9, 3 — 19. Hoſ. 14, 2, 3. Ioel 2, 17. Amos 7, 2, 5. Ion. 2 ch. & 4, 2, 3. Hab. 3 ch. Mal. 1, 8 — 11. Mat. 14, 23, 30. and 26, 36 — 44. Mar. 13, 18, 33. Luke 6, 12.28. and 11, 1 — 13. and 18, 1 — 13. Ioh. 17. ch. Act. 1, 14, 24, 25. and 4, 24 — 30 and 6, 4, 6. and 13, 3. and 14, 23. and 16, 25 and 20, 36. and 21, 5. and 22, 17. & 28 8. Rom. 8, 26, 27. and 15, 30.31, 32 1 Cor. 14, 13 — 16. 2 Cor. 12, 8. and 13, 7. Gal. 4, 6. Eph. 6, 18. Phil. 1, 9 — 11. Col. 1, 3, 9 — 12. and 4, 2, 3, 12. 1 Theſ. 3, 10— 13. 2 Theſ. 1, 11, 12. and 3, 1, 2. 1 Tim. 2, 1 — 5. Heb. 5, 7. and 13, 18 — 21. Iam. 1, 5, 6, 7. & 4, 3 & 5. 13 — 18. 1 Pet. 4, 7. 1 Joh. 5, 14, 15, 16. Jude v. 20. Rev. 5, 8. and 8, 3. Which doth yet the more make againſt Book prayer: that is ſtil read over, thirtie, fiftie, an hundred, yea many hundreds of yeares: as if God never heard our prayers; or gaue not continually ſeveral occaſions of prayer, to churches and people of all ſorts, publick and private: vvhichwhich none can conceiue, much leſſe expreſſe the manifold and unſpeakable particulars thereof.
VIII. If Book-prayer vvere the ordinance of God, why did not the Prophets and Apoſtles make ſuch books of prayer, & leaue them to the church, as they did their other vvritings, for continuall uſe, publike and private? Or shall vve think, that they were unfaithfull to the Lord, … unſufficient for this vvork, if it had ben committed unto them? Or that thoſe which make or preſcribe ſuch books, are more wiſe, more carefull, more ſufficient, then they were? Moſes ſaith, Ye ſhal not adde unto the word which I command you, neither ſhall you diminiſh ought from it, that ye may keep the Commandements of the Lord your God, which I command you. Deut. 4, 2. and 12, 32. The Prophet Eſay ſends all, to the Law and to the teſtimonie: affirming that … men speak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them. Eſa. 8.2…. The Apoſtle ſaith, that he delivered to the churches, what he received of the Lord: and ſhunned not to declare unto them all the counſell of God. Act 20.27. 1 Cor. 11.1.2.23. and 14.37. And he ſtraitly chargeth Timothee (and in him all the miniſters of Chriſt) to keep the commandement (giuen in that Epiſtle of his) without ſpot, and unrebukeable, untill the appearing of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Tim 6, 13, 12. Either therefore Book-prayer is none of Gods counſels, cōmandements, and ordinances: or if it were, the Prophets and Apoſtles hauehave delivered ſuch books to the Churches, and miniſters of God, with commandement accordingly to uſe them. Which if any could bring forth, the queſtion were ſoone ended. But if the Prophets & Apoſtles never made, nor ever appointed others to make, ſuch books of praier, for ſuch uſe, as is aforeſaid: by vvhat right then may any take upon them, to make, preſcribe, or uſe them, in ſuch ſort, as churches and people now dayly doe? Or hovv shall we aſſure our ſelues, or others, that it is not a will vvorship, devi…ed by man, and diſpleaſing to God?
IX. Yea and let it be vvell conſidered, vvhether it be not a part of the apoſtaſie of Antichriſt, and ſuch as mainteyneth ſuperſtition, & (in ſome churches) an Idoll and dumbe miniſterie, and nourisheth the people ſtill in ignorance of the nature and right uſe of prayer, &c. D. Raynolds writing againſt Bellarmine, hath this general propoſition, that to worſhip God after an unlawfull manner is ſuperſtition, as †Col. 2, 23Paul witneſſeth, and ”In 2a. 2a. quaeſt. 92. & 93.Aquinas: and ſuperſtitious zeale is prepoſterous, as the *Rom. 10, 2. Aquin. in Rom. 10, lect. 1.ſame perſons teſtifie, becauſe it is not ordered by a right knowledge. Rayn. de Rom. Eccleſ. Idolat. contra Bellarminum. lib. 1, cap. 5. ſect. 9.
X. If ſuch books of prayer ſo uſed, be the leitourgie and worship vvhichwhich the Lord hath appointed, then ought all Churches and people on earth to uſe that ſervice and maner of vvorship. Mat. 28.20. 1 Tim. 6.13.14. Rev. 22.18.19. And who then shall make ſuch books, for all churches and people in the vvorld? Or who can shevv, that the Primitiue Churches, planted by the Apoſtles & recorded in the Scriptures, had any ſuch books of prayer preſcribed unto them? Or that the Chriſtians in that age did read their prayers out of ſuch books, and ſo vvorship God? Fynd vve not mention of their prayers divers times recorded? Mat. 14, 28, 30. Luk. 17, 5. Act. 1, 24, 25. and 4, 24 — 30. And doe not the Apoſtles in their writings, Paul, Iames, Peter, Iohn, and Iude, everie of thē in their Epiſtles ſpeak of prayer, and of the manner & uſe thereof? yet where doeth any one of them teach the Churches or particular perſons to vvhom they write, to read their prayers out of a book, and ſo to uſe ſet formes of prayer deviſed by men, for their ſpiritual worship of God, & making their requeſts known unto him? Let the Scriptures here noted before (in the 7 ſection) and all their vvritings throughout be ſearched hereabout.
XI. Finally, if ſuch book-prayers be the ordinance of God, and lawfull to be uſed in ſuch ſort, as is aforeſaid: then might one man knovve and ſet downe anothers prayers aforehand; and all men might buy their prayers at the book bynders shops; and carry them in their pockets, and ſo out of their pockets take their prayers, &c. Whereas right and true ſpiritual prayer is the work of Gods ſpirit, in our hearts, ſtirring, teaching and inabling us to povvre out our ſoules and prayers unto God in all our neceſſities and occaſions: and ſo to offer up ſpiritual ſacrifices acceptable to God by Ieſus Chriſt; as is aforeſaid. Rom. 8, 15, 26, 27. Epheſ. 6, 18. Phi. 4, 6. J…de v. 20. 1 Sam. 1, 12, 15. Zach. 12, 10. 1 Pet. 2, 5. Rev. 8, 3, 4.
Divers objections and exceptions made hereabout, I hauehave treated of†Quaeſt. de precibus p. 12. &c. otherwhere in particular. To vvhichwhich I refer the Reader: as alſo to the writings of others heretofore, concerning the ſame argument. For which ſee M. Greenvvoods treatiſe of read prayer, &c. beſides the handling of this queſtion, in two epiſtles, betvveen M. Carp. & my ſelf: p. 11, 12, &c.