Fourteen Sermons on Various Subjects - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1721. Excerpt: ... Sermon One is, Forms of Prayer, in general: Out IV. Church requiring her Clergy, and all such as frequent her Communion, to use such Prayers as she hath composed; in which, she hath the Misfortune to differ with all Sorts of Dissenters in this Nation. The Practice of them all, howsoever widely different in other Matters, being contrary to ours in this, they having no publick Liturgies, no Forms of Prayer, neither Teachers, nor People standing in Need, it seemeth, of such Helps, being above them, and despising them: For they all profess, that they can, and da pray extempore, as it is termed i And this is reckoned a marvellous Perfection, in dissenting Churches, an extraordinary Gift in their Teachers, and the Want of this Liberty and Ability in us, is Matter of no small Complaint, and Disparagement: And, perhaps, there is not a greater Inveaglement upon common Men, a greater Charm, a greater Support of the dissenting Congregations than thjs Plea, and Practice in their Teachers: For other Controversies and Differences between us, common Men little mind, and less understand; but this Liberty, and Ability of Praying without Forms, without Helps, yea, without Premeditation, this is wonderful, this raises mighty Admiration and Applause, this lifts such as exercise it, far above others, who do not, or cannot do it. Sermon No wonder, therefore, that illiterate Men, IV. who never examined into the trueNatureof "VN Prayer, are mightily affected with such Performances, adhere to a Church where they think there is so much Spirituality, so extraordinarr Talents and Gifts, compared to those of others. I shall therefore, from these Words of our Saviour, First, Endeavour to defend our Church iii this Particular, in her Establishing and Using Forms, in opposition to unpre...