Why Nonconforming Ministers Judge it Sinful, Treatise · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
The Queſtion ſtated, What is not the Queſtion? What is? No queſtion about the lawfulneſs of forms in general, nor forms of a mans compoſure for his own uſe, nor about any good uſe of forms, nor about the lawfulneſs of the uſe of ſcriptural forms, nor about short ejaculations: But onelyonly concerning the Lawful uſe of forms of Prayer compoſed by fallible men, & preſcribed to others, to be by them ordinarily uſed, in ſtated, ſolemn prayer, whom God hath fitted for the ministry by giving them the Gift of prayer. The negative aſſerted.
§. 1. AMongſt all Paralogiſmes, there is none more unworthy of a Scholar, then, that which the Logicians call, Ignoratio Elenchi where the Opponent cheats his adverſary, and the hearers, with an argument that ſeemes to conclude againſt the question, but indeed doth not; nor is there that wee know any matter in controverſy, where in diſpute, this fallacy hath been made more frequent uſe of, then in the Queſtion under our preſent debate. Let us therefore firſt truely ſtate our Queſtion, that our adverſaries may know what we ſpeak, and whereof we affirm and not looſe their labour in proving what we do not deny, nor bring arguments no way concluding the thing in Queſtion betwixt us.
§. 2 The ſubject of the Queſtion is, Forms of Prayer dictated or preſcribed by other men, to be ordinarily uſed in ſolemn prayer by miniſters of the goſpel, furnished by God with the gift of prayer, and having a natural liberty to uſe thoſe gifts. The Queſtion is whether the uſe of them bee lawful or no? We deny it, & ſay wee have arguments which appear to us very probable, whence wee have formed a particular judgment of conſcience, that they are Ʋnlawful, that is, That without ſinning againſt God, we cannot ordinarily uſe them, in the diſcharge of our miniſterial Act in ſolemn prayer.
§. 3 Hence appeareth. That wee are not diſputing
1 Whether there may bee a good and lawful uſe of Forms of Prayer. Wee deſire with all thankfulneſs to God, to own and acknowledge the profitable labours of thoſe, who have drawn the matter of prayer for more ordinary, & more extraordinary occaſions into Forms; from whence both young ſcholars, and private Chriſtians, may bee taught the ordinary method, and matter of prayer. And allow the ſame uſe of good Prayer-books, as of good ſermon-books, for Inſtruction of thoſe that are leſs knowing. It is onelyonly the uſe of them as our Prayers is in queſtion betwixt us.
2 Nor do we queſtion, the lawfulneſs of uſing all forms of Prayer for our Prayers; or part of our Prayers. I if there can be found any forms of Prayer, which either God or Chriſt, or any in Scripture deriving authority from him, hath commanded to bee uſed, undoubtedly we ought to uſe it, whether it be under ſuch an expreſs command or no, we believe it may bee uſed as a part of our prayer, though we do not think our ſelves obliged to it. 2 If any miniſter diſtruſting his memory, or invention, shall think fit to compoſe a prayer, or more prayers for his owne uſe, we doubt not but he may do it; he ſerveth God here as God hath given him the gift, & we should be loth to condemn him. The queſtion is onelyonly of forms compoſed for our uſe by others, & thoſe neither pretending to the Authority of Chriſt, or his Apoſtles.
3 Nor do we queſtion the lawfulneſs, of any perſons uſing a form of prayer 1 We do believe it lawful for ſuch perſons as are to join with others in prayer, to make uſe of his words who ſpeaketh, which can bee but a form to them, did we ſay it is lawful? yea, it is Neceſſary. 2 We do alſo believe it lawful for him that miniſtreth in prayer to others, to uſe the preſcribed form of anothers compoſure, if hee can do no other, we mean: if hee hath not the gift of prayer to which many private Chriſtians have not attained; yea, and many whom the church, in the beginning of Reformation, was forced to uſe for miniſters; and we should not find any difficulty to allow other miniſters alſo to do the ſame: Suppoſing them immediately hindred by God (which often happens by ſome diſeaſes in the head) that at this or that time they cannot uſe the gift they have. The Queſtion is onelyonly about Miniſters, and ſuch as have the Gift, or might have it, and are not by the hand of God immediately hindred ſo as they cannot exerciſe the gift, which they may do Ordinarily.
4 Neither is the queſtion about short Ejaculations, but ſolemn, ſtated Prayer. Wee are not ſo ridiculous, as to think wee may not ſay, Lord have mercy upon us, or the like, becauſe it is a form. The Queſtion then truly ſtated is this whether it bee lawful for miniſters ordinarily to perform their miniſterial acts in ſolemn, ſtated, publick Prayer by reading or reciting forms of prayer, compoſed by other men in obedience to the commands of ſuperiours?
§. 4 From whence it appeareth, That all arguments brought to prove the lawfulneſs of compoſing forms, or miniſters compoſing them for their own uſe, and ſo uſing them, or peoples praying by the form of him who miniſtreth, or Chriſt commending a form to his diſciples, or God preſcribing forms of bleſſing, or Davids or other holy penmen of ſcripture compoſing, or propoſing, or uſing forms, (if it could bee proved that they were at firſt compoſed, & commended for conſtant uſe, and ſo uſed generally) or from the lawfulneſs of the uſing of them by and commending them to ſuch, as had, or have not the gift of prayer, or the uſe of short ejaculatory forms. Are perfectly foreign arguments that proceed ex ignoratione elenchi and cannot conclude the Queſtion. All that we affirm is this, That our conſciences do, from arguments which to us at leaſt ſeem highly probable, judge. That it is unlawful for miniſters having the gift of prayer, ordinarily to perform their miniſterial acts inſolemn, ſtated, publick Prayer; by reading or reciting forms of prayer compoſed by other men confeſſedly not divinely & immediately inſpired, although our ſuperiours do require this of us. What thoſe arguments are, which to us appear highly probable in the negative part of this Queſtion, we now come to declare.