A discoverie of Brownisme: or, a brief declaration of some of the errors and abhominations daily practiced and increased among the English company of the seperation remayning for the present at Amsterdam in Holland. By Thomas White

Certaine briefe reasons proouing the vse of the Lords prayer as a Prayer.

1. AN expresse commaundement neyther contrary to nature, nor analogy of Faith, and agreeable also to the drift and tenor of the place, ought litterally to bee vnderstood and obeyed.

But this, Mat. 6. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. And Luc. 11. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 say our Father, &c. is such an ex∣presse commaundement &c. ergo It is also so to be vnderstood and vsed.

2. It Christ had taught onely to pray to this ef∣fect, then had he taught nothing but that which Iohns Disciples and al the faithful practised before: for the Prayers of the Saints, as of Salomon, Nehe∣miah, Daniel, were to that effect before.

3. Whatsoeuer Scripture hath in euery respect the forme of Prayer, that is not alone matter of Doctrine, but hath beene vsed also as Prayer.

But this Scripture Math. 6. 9. hath in euery re∣spect

the forme of Prayer: as, Our Father, giue vs, leade vs, and amen, annexed in the end: ergo. And in∣deed how can they tell, which were Prayers and which not, if not by their forme of Petition? wher∣by they are distinguished from Doctrines, & rules proposed in an other forme, as Mat. 7. 7. & 21. 22, 1. Ioh. 5. 14.

4. In a duety to bee vsed of all, the holy Ghost is plaine: but if those very words are not to bee vsed as a Prayer, no christian for 1500. yeares & more, did vnderstand our Lords meaning.

But they say that the Apostles neuer vsed those very wordes in prayer. I answere:

1. An expresse commaundemēt is warrant suf∣ficient without example.

2. There is no example in the whole booke of Gen: of the obseruation of the Sabaoth for 2369. yeares space after the institution of it. Gen. 2. Nei∣ther to come nearer, is their any example of Bap∣tising, in the name of the Father, Sonne and holy Ghost) yet is the commaundement of Christ suf∣ficient warrant so to doe. Compare Math. 28. 19. with Act. 10. 28. & 19. 5.

3. It is the Anabaptists reasoning against chil∣drens baptisme, asking for an example, whē other∣wise there is sufficient warrant so to doe, yet are their Pretences as good or better then M: Iohnsons in refusing obedience to our Lords commaunde∣ment for want of an example.

4. The Prayers mencioned in the new Testa∣ment,

are such as were poured foorth vpon speciall occasion as Act. 4. 24. Ioh. 17.

5. Let them shewe mee an example where euer the Apostles prayed before their Sermons; if they can.

FINIS.