The Vindication of Liturgies Proved No Vindication, Questions
A Sylloge or Collection of the Original Queſtions that ſeem to be in difference, betwixt the Author of the Reaſonable Account, &c. and Dr. Falkner in his Vindication of Liturgies. As to the point of the Lawfulneſs of Forms of Prayer to be generally impoſed, or uſed in our Miniſterial Acts.
1 Queſt. WHether the diſtribution of Prayer, into that which is meerly Mental; and that which is not Mental onelyonly, but Vocal alſo, be a juſt diſtribution? I affirm it, becauſe the latter hath an eſſential part, which the former wants. The Vindicator ſeems to deny it, Vindication, p. 30. l. 1, 2, 3.
2 Queſt. Whether words be not an eſſential part of Vocal Prayer; and theſe, or thoſe words, an eſſential part of this or that Vocal Prayer, which no meer man can inſtitute? I affirm it. The Vindicator denies it. Vide Vindication, p. 177. & ſeq.
3 Queſt. Whether in an Act of Worſhip, or any part of it, any can determine what God hath left free to his Miniſters and People, excepting thoſe to whom it is ſo left free? I deny it.
4 Queſt. Whether an ability fitly to expreſs our minds to God in Prayer, may be properly call'd the Gift of Vocal Prayer? I affirm it. The Vindicator denies it. Chap. 1.
5 Queſt. Whether in Acts of external inſtituted Worſhip, or any part of it, any thing can be call'd Order or Decency: Or be ſaid to be Pious, Religious, Devout, and for Edification, antecedaneouſly, or without reſpect to the Divine Will, revealed in the Law of Nature, or in Holy Writ? I deny it. The Vindicator affirms it, Chap. 4, &c.
6 Queſt. Whether, conſidering the infirmity of our Nature, a Perſon in Prayer, can keep his thoughts as cloſe to, and have his affection as warm in the Duty, reading a Form, as in ſpeaking from his own conceptions? I deny it. The Vindicator affirms, pag. 75.
7 Queſt. Whether, where God hath left Miniſter or People, a liberty to uſe one, or another mean in an Act of Worſhip, but commanded all to ſerve him with the greateſt fervor of ſpirit they can, they be not, by a Divine Precept, obliged to uſe that means, which, upon experience, they find moſt conducive to the attention of their thoughts, or fervor of their ſpirits? I affirm it.
8 Queſt. Suppoſing Superiors ſhould command Miniſters and People in the Publick Worſhip, or in their Families, to pray by Forms onelyonly, which they appoint; ſuch a Command were lawful and obliging to them? I deny it. The Vindicator affirms, pag. 193, &c.
9 Queſt. Whether there be not equal reaſon for Superiors to command Miniſters to perform their Miniſterial Acts of Preaching, by reading other mens Sermons: as their Acts of Prayer, by reading orb…rs Forms of Prayer? I affirm. The Vindicator denies.
10 Queſt. Whether the Promiſes we have in Scripture, of the influence and aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit in Prayer, may not, or do not extend to words, as well as pious and devout affections; or our contending for a liberty, as to words in Prayer, he not a meer Contention for ſhewing our Parts, and a varying of Phraſes? As to the firſt part I affirm, as to the latter I deny. The Vindicator affirms the latter.
11 Queſt. Whether Prayer, Preaching, and Adminiſtring the Sacraments, be not the main works and parts of a Goſpel-Miniſters miniſtration? I affirm it. The Vindicator denies it.
12 Queſt. Whether if Miniſters perform their Acts of Prayer and Preaching, by preſcribed Forms of others, and adminiſter the Sacraments by other Forms, than Chriſt hath given them to uſe in the caſe, they, by it, do not transform themſelves from Miniſters of Chriſt, to meer Miniſters of men? The laſt hath not been touched, and may make a new Argument in my Caſe; I muſt confeſs the dread of it, is not the leaſt thing that aweth me. The Ruſſian Prieſts are brought to think they fulfil their Miniſtry by reading their Liturgy, and in ſtead of Preaching, reading an Homily out of Chryſoſtom. But in theſe things, whether they approve themſelves indeed Miniſters of Chriſt, or meer Servants of Men, may be conſidered. The famous Miniſtry of England hath ever been judged another thing; as ſoon, Reader, as thou canſt, fix thy anſwer to theſe Queſtions, ſatisfactorily to thy own Conſcience, thou wilt be able to determine, whether what I have ſaid in the Reaſonable Account, &c. or what Dr. Falkner hath ſaid in his Vindication, be of moſt weight; and whoſe Poſitions are moſt extravagant, falſe and erroneous.
Legat, & penes Lectorem ſit Judicium.