Gospel order revived being an answer to a book lately set forth by ... Increase Mather ... entituled, The order of the gospel, &c ... / by sundry ministers of the gospel in New England.

Qu. 16. Is it a Duty for Christians in their Prayers, to make use of the words of that which is commonly called the Lords Prayer?

Though the Authors answer hereto be very large, yet we shall say very little to it, or against it. He yeilds and allows, it may be law∣fully used, as well as other Prayers and Passages in Scripture, in our Addresses to Heaven: That it has been used in antient Times, he does not deny; and we know that it is most frequently used by the most famous Divines in these days. And he gives us an instance of

Mr. Je••. Burroughs, which we thank him for, having never heard it before. That it has been abused to Superstition, and the Tryal of Witch-craft, we also know; but the abuse of a thing does not take away the proper lawful Use of it; nor is it fit so far to gratifie those that made it a Charm, as ••o•• ••h••t reason to ••••••rain to use it.

But verily the Author would have us more superstitious that we are willing to be; for he quarrels •••• the varying but of one word or clause in this excellent form of Prayer: If instead of Debts or Sin•• we say Trespasses, it is a fearful Crime. For why? says the Author, It smells rank of the Li••••••gy, its le••••n'd •••••• of the Common-Prayer Book. He might have said rather, That we learn first to read •••• so in our Horn-Books, and are mis-taught from our infancy. But truly, we account this difference of Translation a petty thing. And if in∣stead of Hallowed, the Author would say sanctified; and instead of daily Bread, he would chuse to say convenient Food, we should not full foul on him.

No, says the Author, pag. 123. why then you give up the Cause. In truth, then the Author has no adversary in the world, where the Lords Prayer is used in any Language beside the Greek; for who bind•• himself to a Translation, as to an Original? but the Author's meaning is apparent, he would insinuate into the heedless Reader, That whoever useth the Lords Prayer, ought not to vary one word from the words Christ gave it in▪ and truly, then they must, like Barbarians to the People, tone it in the Original Greek.

We would offer here one Query more. Does the Author mean, in stating this Question, to enquire whether it be an indispensible Duty to use the words of the Lords Prayer in all our Addresses to God, so that as often as we bow our Knees in Prayer, we should think it neces∣sary to repeat this Form? Here again he would have no Adversary under Heaven Yet the Question may be strained to all this, and he has taken no care to bound it.

But to detain the Reader no longer, 'tis enough and enough that the Reverend Author justifies it as lawful; for then doubtless it may be sometimes proper: for that would be a strange thing indeed, that is always lawful, and never (in no Circumstances, not in that of Mr. Burroughs himself I can be proper. But since 'tis lawful, I'〈…〉〈…〉or once give my sence when it is proper, s••il, When People have been

long taught and made to believe, that the Use of it is Superstitious, To place a great part of their Religion in the dislike of it; To think this a principal ground of Non-conformity, and a distinguishing Badge of a Dissenter; or, that it is too vain a Formality to comport w••••h the Spirit of Devotion. Then, if ever, it is high time to cor∣rect such a Prejudice, and to show the People it may be used without Superstition, and that neither the Spirit of Religion, nor yet the Arguments for Episcopacy, Presbyteria••••sm nor Independency are any ways concerned in this affair.

Here we would crave the Readers patience for one Quotation, and the rather inasmuch as the N•••••• of Mr. Philip Henry may be of more Authority with the Reverend Author, than many arguments, when barely offered by us. It is said in the 97th page of Mr Henry's Life,

That he looked upon the Lords Prayer to be not only a Directory or Pattern for Prayer, but (according to the advice of the Assembly of Divines) proper to be used as a Form. He thought it was an Error on the o••e hand to lay so much stress upon it, as some do, who think no solemn Prayer accepted, nor ••o solemn administration of Wor∣ship compleat without it; and he thought it an Error on the other hand not to use it at all, since it is a Prayer, a compendious com∣prehensive Prayer, and may be of Use to us, at least, as other Scripture Prayers; but he thought it a much greater Error to be angry at those who do use i••, to judge and censure them, and for no other reason to conceive Prejudices against them and their Ministry. A great strait (faith he) poor Ministers are in, when some will not hear them, if they do not use the Lords Prayer, and others will no•• hear them it they do! What is to be done in this case? We must walk according to the light we have, and approve our selves to God, either in using or no•• using it, and wait for the day when God will mend the matter, which I 〈…〉〈…〉 he will do in his own due time.

——Thus spake the holy and heavenly Mr Henry, and with ••i•• the late Reverend Dr. Bates, who writ••s the Dedication of his Life, and as h•• hath fully expressed our sense in this matter, so we would wait and pray with him, for the Happy Day.

Well, but if the case be so circumstanced, says the Author, pag. 135. that it cannot be done without Offence, it is rather a Duty, and will be most pleasing to Christ, not to use it as a ••orm. But then such Offence must

be manifested, and appear to be conscientious. This confirms what I before suggested, That there is a riv••••ed Prejudice people are edu∣cated in against this Practice, that they start at it as a thing in it self sinful and scandalous.

But to show we are in Charity with the Author, and all those who omit the Use of this excellent Form of Prayer, we shall close this Chapter in the words of St. Paul, Rom 14. 3. Let u•••• h••m that ca••••th de••p•••••• him that ••a••e•••• no••; and let not ••••m that ••a••eth no••, judge him that ••ateth.