(3.) That whilst these forms of prayer are clothed with the general notions of prayer, — that is, are esteemed as such in the minds of them that use them; are accompanied in their use with the motives and ends of prayer; express no matter unlawful to be insisted on in prayer; directing the souls of men to none but lawful objects of divine wor- ship and prayer, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and whilst men make use of them with the true design of prayer, looking after due assistance unto prayer; — I do not judge there is any such evil in them
CHAP. XI.] PRESCRIBED FORMS OF PRAYER EXAMINED. 347
as that God will not communicate his Spirit to any in the use of them, so as that they should have no holy communion with him in and under them. Much less will I say that God never therein re- gards their persons, or rejects their praying as unlawful ; for the per- sons and duties of men may be accepted with God when they walk and act in sincerity according to their light, though in many things, and those of no small importance, sundry irregularities are found both in what they do and in the manner of doing it. Where per- sons walk before God in their integrity, and practise nothing contrary to their light and conviction in his worship, God is merciful unto them, although they order not every thing according to the rule and measure of the word. So was it with them who came to the pass- over in the days of Hezekiah ; they had not cleansed themselves, but did " eat the passover otherwise than it was written," 2 Chron. xxx. 18: for whom the good king made the solemn prayer suited to their occasion, " The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord heark- ened unto Hezekiah, and healed the people," verses 18-20. Here was a duty for the substance of it appointed of God; but in the manner of its performance there was a failure, — they did it not ac- cording to what was written, which is the sole rule of all religious duties. This God was displeased withal, yet graciously passed by the offence, and accepted them whose hearts were upright in what they did. In the meantime, I do yet judge that the use of them is in itself obstructive of all the principal ends of prayer and sacred worship. Where they are alone used, they are opposite to the edi- fication of the church ; and where they are imposed to the absolute exclusion of other prayer, [they] are destructive of its liberty, and render a good part of the purchase of Christ of none effect.
Things being thus stated, it will be inquired whether the use of such forms of prayer is lawful or no. To this inquiry something shall be returned briefly in way of answer, and an end put unto this discourse. And I say, —
1. To compose and write forms of prayer to be directive and doc- trinal helps unto others, as to the matter and method to be used in the right discharge of this duty, is lawful, and may in some cases be useful. It were better, it may be, if the same thing were done in another way, suited to give direction in the case, and not cast into the form of a prayer, which is apt to divert the mind from the due consideration of its proper end and use unto that which is not so ; but this way of instruction is not to be looked on as unlawful merely for the form and method whereinto it is cast, whilst its true use only is attended unto.
348 WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER. [BOOK VII.
2. To read, consider, and meditate upon, such written prayers, as to the matter and arguments of prayer expressed in them, composed by persons from their own experience and the light of Scripture directions; or to make use of expressions set down in them, where the hearts of them that read them are really affected, because they find their state and condition, their wants and desires, declared in them, is not unlawful, but may be of good use unto some, though I must acknowledge I never heard any expressing any great benefit which they had received thereby, — but it is possible that some may so do : for no such freedom of prayer is asserted as should make it un- lawful for men to make use of any proper means the better to enable them to pray, nor is any such ability of prayer granted as to super- sede the duty of using means for the increase and furtherance of it.
3. To set up and prescribe the use of such forms universally, in opposition and unto the exclusion of free prayer by the aid of the Spirit of grace, is contrary not only to many divine precepts before insisted on, but to the light of nature itself, requiring every man to pray, and on some occasions necessitating them thereunto. But whatever be the practice of some men, I know not that any such opinion is pleaded for, and so shall not farther oppose it.