Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

Now to the Objection, That Christ gave his Disciples a Form of Prayer, Mat. 5. and that therefore it is lawful for men to make and impose Forms of Prayer in the Church of God. I answer, This consequence is not to be admitted by any means, because he gave no Authority to any man to make Divine Laws and Rules for his Service, but hath reserved that as his peculiar, Jam. 4. 12. There is one Law-giver, &c. But secondly, Christ did not impose any Form of Prayer upon his Disciples, Mat. 6. but only gave them some brief Rules by which they should express themselves in their Devotions to God, and therefore it is also read after this manner pray ye. And this he did too, in opposition to the Pharisees, who had their long Prayers, and these often repeated, which he terms babling, and assures us that God heareth us not for our much speaking: yet here the distinction of Augustine is very good, for multum loqui & multum precari, much praying and much speak∣ing, are things very different, seeing according to our Saviours exam∣ple, Luke 6. 12. such may be the occasion that prayer may be continu∣ed very long. But in our private or publick devotions we are doubt∣less taught by this prayer which our Lord made, to use modesty of expression with convenient brevity, as most suitable to the will of God and profitable for our selves.

When the Apostle exhorts Timothy that prayers and supplications be made for all men, for Kings and all that are in Authority, it can∣not rationally be imagined that he gives Timothy any power here to make Forms of Prayer for the rest of the Ministery to read, for if any had this power it was most likely to be the Apostle himself; and had any thing of that kind been necessary he would not have omitted it, for he was faithful, and as such in the sight of God he was put into the Ministry. Furthermore prayer being (as Tindall well saith) a mourning, longing and desire of the Spirit to Godward, for that which the soul lacketh (as the sick man longeth for health) as also for those things which concern the honour of God and the good of man∣kind, it is not meet that the words of prayer be without this sense where

upon the heart of him that ministreth in the Church of God; and where this inward sense and feeling is upon the soul of the Minister, there will not want words to express the same, sith no man ought to be chosen to minister in the publick Ordinances, who hath not a compe∣tent capacity to serve the Lord and his Church in those Divine per∣formances.

It is observed by a learned Christian, on Rom. 8. 20. that the right form and affection of prayer cometh of the holy Ghost, who maketh intercessi∣on for us. It is meet then that all our prayers be formed by him (and more especially those that are made in the Churches of God) according to the present state of the Congregation, where such prayers is made; and to this agrees that of the Apostle, Rom. 1. 26. Likewise also the Spi∣rit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groans that can∣not be uttered, and he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.