Seven Treatises, Treatise 3 · Chapter 4
CHAP. 4. Of publike prayers: alſo of the priuate helpes in generall.
THe publike prayers ſolemnly offred to God in the congregation, and praiſing of him with Pſalmes, is another of theſe publike helpes. In the which, if that minde be in vsus, with the which we hauehave been taught to come to all holie exerciſes, and ſo be prepared for them; who doubteth but that wee may receiue much helpe by them? yea and the better a man is, the more he ſhall profit by them. For when the faithfull, from God himſelfe, hauehave a promiſe that they ſhall be heard in all things that are good for them, euen the moſt excellenteſt, and doe then emptie their hearts by confeſſing their ſinnes, and with the reſt of the godly, lift vp their ſpirits and voices together in praiſing him; is there any doubt, but that they are afterward in priuate more cheerefully bent to ſerue him? And in that the ignorant (which in the beſt places is the greateſt number) take no more profit by them, it is not long of the exerciſes, but that they are vnfit to receiue benefit by them: and a preiudicate opinion in ſome that they can take no good by them, and therefore partly in ignorance, partly in raſh zeale, they giuegive themſelues to ſleight and negligent hearing of them. The direct remedie to redreſſe both faults, as farre as in man lieth, were an ordinarie able miniſterie: whereby both the ignorant might (beſides other good things) learne rightly how to vſe them: and the preiudicate ones (which conceiue the worſe of them, for that they ſee ſmall fruit to follow of them) ſhould be ſilent and hauehave nothing to ſay againſt them, except with the Browniſts, they will deſpiſe all publike aſſemblies. But whatſoeuer the ignorant get, the children of God may find eſpeciall good refreſhing by them: which is that thing that I hauehave to prooue and perſwade. For when beſides our owne priuate ſupplications and thankſgiuings, we hauehave by the Lord himſelf, appointed for vsus theſe alſo in publike: and that in ſo ſolemne a manner, the whole aſſemblie conſenting with vsus in the ſame,Matth. 18. and God preſent amongst vsus to aſſiſt vsus, as he hath promiſed; the very ordinance of God (who is the author of them) doth promiſe a bleſſing therto, as oft as we are partakers of them. So that if we come with reuerence, and a feeling of our wants, with an earneſt deſire and confidence to obtaine the things which we pray for, in true repentance, we ſhall receiue fruite of them accordingly. But herein a preiudicate opinion, which is a raſh iudgement, doth much harme.VVhat holdeth ſome from publike prayer. For by reaſon of this, that the Miniſters hauehave been, for the moſt part diſordered perſons and ignorant, and too many remaine ſo ſtill; and thereby hauehave brought themſelues, by Gods iuſt iudgement, and their owne deſerts, as the ſonnes of Ely did, into diſhonour and diſcredit: it hath come to paſſe, that through raſh and prepoſterous iudgement, many hauehave had an euill opinion of that, which hath been done by them, and of the ſeruing of God which they hauehave vſed; and therefore hauehave thought that they hauehave had good cauſe to ſequeſter themſelues from being preſent at the ſeruice of God, which is performed by them; and thus they obiect againſt it.
Another ſort hauehave thought all ſet formes of prayer are to be diſliked,How others are withholden. and ſuch onelyonly to be allowed and offered vp to God, as by extemporarie gift are conceiued and vttered according to eueryevery ones neceſſitie: which opinion is alſo to be reformed: Of both which I will ſay ſomewhat being obiections, though otherwiſe it bee beſides my purpoſe to diſcourſe of them at large. This I ſay, as I hauehave taken in hand, that publike prayer, as hath been ſaid of preaching and Sacraments, is a great helpe to godlines, to all ſuch as hauehave any meaſure of true godlines: or elſe it is long of themſelues, who, through the ignorance and darknes that is in them, doe not know, that they ought to pray alwaies with all manner ſupplications and giuing of thankes; and therefore publikely as well as priuately, when many hearts are powred out to God rather then few, or one alone: or if they know this, their ſinne is the greater, in that they reſiſt and ſpurne againſt it.
For to fortifie this that I ſay, to the firſt obiection I anſwere;Anſwere to the firſt obiection. although it be not to bee denied, but that the example of ignorant and vnreformed, eſpecially notorious perſons in the Miniſterie hath done, and doth much harme; yet if either they cannot be conuicted, or if their crimes be ſuch, as cannot remoue them out of their places; there is iuſt cauſe of griefe, that ſuch ſhould hauehave any thing to doe in Gods matters, which are ſo weightie and to be dealt in with al high reuerence: Yet, if this burden muſt be borne, I aske, if among many ſweete liberties which we inioy, wee may not ioyne in prayer with them, if wee can pray in faith, ſeeing their vnworthines cannot withhold the fruite of Gods promiſe from vsus, which is to one kind of prayer as well as to another, aske and ye ſhall receiue, that your ioy may be full. Ioh. 16.24.And as it is farre from me to be a patrone of ſuch, or to iuſtifie them: ſo yet, while wee may inioy the miniſterie of better, I would not refuſe to bee partaker of the prayers which are offered vp by them. Who can blame him, who deſireth to pray with better then they be? and yet better to ioyne with them ſometime, then to leaue the aſſemblies publike altogether.
Concerning the next obiection,Anſwere to the ſecond. that though the miniſters be not offenſiue as the former, yet they ſhould vſe no ſet forme of prayer, but as they are moued by Gods ſpirit: I anſwere, it is a fond error ſo to thinke. For as there be neceſſarie things to be prayed for, of all men, and alwaies, and thoſe are the moſt things which we are to pray to the Lord for: ſo there may be preſcript formes of prayer made concerning all ſuch things. Which being ſo, what letteth that in the reading of ſuch formes either of confeſſion of ſinnes, requeſt, or thankſgiuing; what letteth (I ſay) that the hearers hearts may not profitably goe with the ſame, both to humble, to quicken, and to comfort? For is the reading it ſelfe vnpure, when the miniſter in his owne behalfe and the peoples, vttereth them to God? I ſpeake not (ye ſee) of the matter of prayer, but of reading it: for if the matter be erroneous and naught, the pronouncing of it maketh it not good, any more then the reading doth: if it be good and pure, being vttered or pronounced, the reading cannot hurt it or make it euil. And as the Church in the Scripture did and doth now ſing Pſalmes vponupon a booke to God, and yet though it vtter a preſcript forme of words, I hope none will ſay, that it is a ſinne to doe ſo, the heart being prepared: in like manner, to follow a preſcript forme of words in praying, is no ſinne: and therefore ought not to be offenſiue to any.
If it be ſaid, how can men repeate the ſame forme of words daily, as they doe in the reading of publike prayer, but it muſt needes be coldly done, and ſo abhominable to God? I anſwere, it is not the oft praying for the ſame things, that maketh it odious to God, but when it is done with an vnreuerent, vnprepared, and corrupt heart; for cuſtome, not feruently and in faith. And further to ſatisfie them, they may know that in all Churches, and the beſt reformed that they would alleage, there is a preſcript forme of prayer vſed: and therefore they who are of minde, that it ought not to be, muſt ſeparate themſelues from all Churches. Alſo if a ſet forme of prayer were vnlawfull, then neither were the Lords prayer (which is a ſet forme of prayer preſcribed by our Sauiour himſelfe) to be vſed. Which yet though it bee ſometime to be vſed in the forme wherein it is ſet downe: yet ſpeaking of it by this occaſion, I thinke it not amiſſe to adde this one thing. That though our Sauiour tied vsus to the matter of this prayer, as being perfect and full: yet he tied vsus not to the words themſelues, ſeeing wee cannot either thinke on, remember, or deſire at one inſtant, all the particulars contained in the ſame. And beſides, we by crauing particularly the things which we ſtand in neede of, are more ſtirred vp and moued.
But theſe thus anſwered, I will proceede, perſwading all good Chriſtians to lay aſide contention, and endles, and (many of them alſo) needles queſtions about this matter: And to reſolue with themſelues, ſeeing it muſt of al, who are well aduiſed, bee graunted, that the publike prayers are an helpe to ſtirre vp Gods graces in vsus, and to conuey to vsus the many good bleſſings of God which wee want, beſide other notable effects: therefore, to looke to themſelues eueryevery way ſo carefully, that they may euer keepe themſelues fit to be helped and benefited by them, and with the ſame well ordered hearts and minds to attend vntounto, and applie to themſelues the prayers which either before and after the Sermon are vttered, or the other, which through the whole action of Gods worſhip are read in their hearing: And not to be led by opinion, that they can take no profit by them; nor as the common ſort doe, who after long going to Church, doe prooue too truly, that they hauehave taken no good by them, being not indeede able to ſhew how they ſhould pray,The booke of Common prayer in the Letanie, and exhortation after Baptiſme. or behaue themſelues in that action. But ſeeing they hauehave libertie to heare Gods word preached where they may moſt commodiouſly inioy it, (for ſo they are willed not onelyonly themſelues, but to call vponupon their children to heare Sermons, and the Miniſters are vrged as well by their preaching, as by their liuing, to giuegive good example) therefore to take their part in both, with cheerefulnes and thankſgiuing: And in ſinging of Pſalmes, ſuch as can not reade, ſhould attend to them who are neereſt them in the congregation, that they may ioyne with them, and conſent to the action of praiſing God with the reſt of the aſſemblie; and not to gaze, and toſſe vaine imaginations and phantaſies, where they ſhould lift vp pure hearts and hands to God. And as for ſuch as refuſe to come to take part in the worſhip of God, altogether, as the Browniſts and ſuch like, let them beare their ſhame before men, and their peace ſhall be ſmall to Godward, while they ſit at home with their owne bare reading for their diet, who ſcorne the beſt liberties of the word preached, prayer, and the Sacraments in the publike aſſemblies. For ſo I vnderſtand they doe, as well otherwaies, as by the confeſſion of themſelues, and that before the Magiſtrate, examining what they did while, by the whole monethmonth and quarter, they abſented themſelues from the publike meetings: anſwere was made by the examinate, they ſate at home and read by themſelues. Let all iudge by what ſpirit ſuch are led and guided.
Now hauing deſcribed and ſhewed the nature and vſe of the publike meanes,Neceſſitie of priuate helpes. I thinke it needfull before I doe more particularly enter into the diſcourſe of the priuate, to ſay ſomewhat of the neceſſitie of them, as well as of the publike. For that thouſands of the profeſſors,The priuate helpes in little acquaintance with men. And that alſo with ſome of the godly. and of them which are of the viſible Church (amongſt whom wee muſt hope that God hath many of his elect) are little acquainted with the priuate, but doe thinke it needles for them to hearken after the ſame. And beſides, ſome of the deare children of God for want of ordinarie teaching, hauehave little vſe of them: and therefore it is much the worſe with them.
For theſe cauſes therefore, and ſuch like, this is to be knowne and holden in firme perſwaſion, that the priuate are (in ſome ſort) as needfull as the publike: for they may be vſed at all times, whereas the publike cannot; as in perſecution. For it being of neceſſitie that as our bodies, ſo our ſoules ſhould hauehave ſome daily refreſhing: therefore ſeeing the publike cannot daily bee had, we muſt vſe priuate, as I ſaid before: and therefore they are both authoriſed and commaunded by one God. And the publike are but a part of the helpes, which God hath prouided for the profiting of his Church: and therfore without the priuate, they doe the leſſe profit.
For mens comming to Church (beſides which a great number know no other ſeruing of God) cannot doe that good to the beſt Chriſtians,The publike without the priuate, cold. which is to be looked for, if it bee not accompanied with theſe: as may bee ſeene in eueryevery part of the publike worſhip of God. For hearing of the word read and preached, doth little profit, where it is not ioyned with preparation to heare reuerently and attentiuely, and where it is not muſed on after, yea and as occaſion ſhall offer, conferred of alſo: and if reading priuately (where it may be inioyed) be not vſed; what is more manifeſt then this, that almoſt al in a congregation doe by and by forget that which they hauehave heard, and make little vſe of it in their liues? And what greater cauſe can be rendred hereof then this, that they neuer looke after matters concerning their ſoules, when they are about their priuate dealings, and (as we ſay) out of the Church?
Euen ſo, what vſe doe ſuch make of the Lords Supper? who (for the moſt part) beſides that they cannot tell how to prepare themſelues to it; ſo if ſome Miniſters, more carefull ouer the peoples ſoules, then others, doe teach and examine them about the knowledge they hauehave, yet cannot they be brought to trie themſelues indeede, in what true faith and vnfained repentance they come: ſeeing they are not wont, through the whole quarter before their receiuing, to beate their braines, or trouble themſelues about ſuch matters: Whereby it may be gathered for certaintie, that whatſoeuer the Scriptures ſpeake in the commendation therof, they be in little account and reckoning with them. And if they doe not priuately before the receiuing of the Sacrament, nouriſh theſe good graces of God in themſelues very carefully (for I ſpeake euen of the better ſort of Chriſtians, as well as of others) who ſeeth not, that they ſhall hauehave much adoe, to bring their hearts, willingly to ſift themſelues, and to ſeeke for thoſe gifts at that time?
So to ſay the ſame of the publike hearing of prayer in the aſſemblie, it is not onelyonly to bee doubted, that they pray there in hypocriſie, drawing neere to God with their mouthes, their hearts being farre from him, if they doe neglect to pray alone, and ſecretly to God, and in their familie: but alſo the publike prayer groweth common with them, that is, weariſome, a bare ceremonie, and for faſhion (ſo farre is it off, that they be eaſed and comforted by it) as I can prooue by too ſure experience at this day, in ſuch as hauehave not learned to make conſcience of priuate prayer, but doe ſeparate the one from the other.
No excuſe for neglecting priuate helps.And by this which I hauehave ſaid, it may appeare how neceſſarie it is, that the priuate helpes ſhould be vſed of al ſuch as hauehave their part in the publike. And beſides, as our neceſſities doe require it, ſo the Lord commanding the ſame, he hath giuen time and libertie from our other buſines and duties either in familie or otherwiſe, to vſe holily and continue the ſame: So that our worldly affaires ought to giuegive place to them, which through ignorance many count ridiculous, and fooliſh; and others, though they will not ſpeake ſo groſſely, yet being giuen ouer to the world ſo griplie, will put aſide little, or no buſines for the ſeruing of God. Although it is manifeſt, that where God is moſt purely, and beſt ſerued, their other buſines, as theſe earthly, hauehave beſt ſucceſſe.
Theſe few lines I thought good (before further diſcourſing of the priuate helpes) to ſet downe, that they which vſe them conſcionably, may not thinke that they doe any more then they ought, and hauehave neede of: they who vſe them but ſlackly and coldly, may beſtowe greater diligence therein, and that amongſt all ſorts they may bee had in better regarde, if they deſire to ſee good dayes here vponupon earth.