Quest. LXXI. Whether a form of prayer be lawful?
Answ. I have said so much of this and some following questions in many books already, that to avoid repetition, I shall say very little here.
The question must be out of question with all christians:
1. Because the Scripture itself hath many forms of prayer; which therefore cannot be unlawful.
Object. They were lawful then, but not now.
Answ. He that saith so, must prove where God hath since forbidden them. Which can never be.
Object. They may lawfully be read in Scripture for instruction, but not used as prayers.
Answ. They were used as prayers then, and are never since forbidden: yea, John and Christ did teach their disciples to pray, and Christ thus prefaceth his form, "When ye pray, say"——
2. All things must be done to edification: but to use a form of prayer is for the edification of many persons, at least those that cannot otherwise do so well; therefore those persons must use a form. Full experience doth prove the minor, and nothing but strangeness to men can contradict it.