The fundamental truths of Christianity briefly hinted at by way of question and answer : to which is added a treatise of prayer in the same method / by George Keith.

9. It is objected, That Paul in his Epistles used the same Forms of Salutations and Prayers, both at the beginning and end of them frequently, and therefore he could not be against Set Forms, who used them so much himself, as Grace, Mercy and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ, at the beginning of di∣vers of them, and at the end, Grace be with you, &c.

Answ. These little short Forms, being (as is already said upon another occasion) ex∣pressions and significations of the Prayer of Aspiration and Affection, and not of that called Discursive Prayer, which require di∣vers Sentences, do not infer that Set Forms may be used in Discursive Prayer. For when the Heart and Affection is earnestly and zea∣lously bent and moved to desire one only thing, it may be expressed in one Sentence, and as oft as that Affection is renewed, the expression of it in the same Sentence, as it freely ariseth in the Heart, may be renewed also: but men find it not so in Discursive Prayer, or other Discursive Exercises. As when men at this day commonly write Epi∣stles one to another, they retain some little common Forms of Salutation, at the begin∣ning and end of their Epistles, which are commodious and not thought strange not

disliked. But if a Man, yea, if a School-boy at School, should alwaies write to his Father or Kindred, the same words through∣out, without any alteration, they would say he were a fool and void of understanding, to be so barren as to have no new matter in his Epistles, even when daily occasion is given.