Part 10 (1/2)

_Bun._ I said, But not by the Common Prayer-Book.

_Keel._ He said, How then?

_Bun._ I said, With the Spirit. As the apostle saith, _I will pray with the Spirit_, _and with the understanding_. 1 Cor. xiv. 15.

_Keel._ He said, We might pray with the Spirit, and with the understanding, and with the Common Prayer-Book also.

_Bun._ I said, that the prayers in the Common Prayer-Book were such as was made by other men, and not by the motions of the Holy Ghost, within our hearts; and as I said, the apostle saith, he will pray with the Spirit, and with the understanding; not with the Spirit and the Common Prayer-Book.

_Another Justice_. What do you count prayer? Do you think it is to say a few words over before or among a people?

_Bun._ I said, No, not so; for men might have many elegant, or excellent words, and yet not pray at all; but when a man prayeth, he doth, through a sense of those things which he wants (which sense is begotten by the Spirit), pour out his heart before G.o.d through Christ; though his words be not so many and so excellent as others are.

_Justices_. They said, That was true.

_Bun._ I said, This might be done without the Common Prayer-Book.

_Another_. One of them said (I think it was Justice _Blundale_, or Justice _Snagg_), How should we know that you do not write out your prayers first, and then read them afterwards to the people? This he spake in a laughing way.

_Bun._ I said, it is not our use, to take a pen and paper, and write a few words thereon, and then go and read it over to a company of people.

But how should we know it, said he?

_Bun._ Sir, it is none of our custom, said I.

_Keel._ But said Justice _Keelin_, It is lawful to use the Common Prayer, and such like forms: for Christ taught His disciples to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And further, said he, Cannot one man teach another to pray? Faith comes by hearing; and one man may convince another of sin, and therefore prayers made by men, and read over, are good to teach, and help men to pray.

While he was speaking these words, G.o.d brought that word into my mind, in the eighth of the Romans, at the 26th verse. I say, G.o.d brought it, for I thought not on it before: but as he was speaking, it came so fresh into my mind, and was set so evidently before me, as if the scripture had said, Take me, take me; so when he had done speaking,

_Bun._ I said, Sir, the scripture saith, that _it is the spirit that helpeth our infirmities_; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with sighs and groanings which cannot be uttered. Mark, said I, it doth not say the Common Prayer-Book teacheth us how to pray, but the Spirit. And it is _the Spirit that helpeth our infirmities_, saith the apostle; he doth not say it is the Common Prayer-Book.

And as to the Lord's prayer, although it be an easy thing to say, _Our Father_, etc., with the mouth; yet there is very few that can, in the Spirit, say the two first words in that prayer; that is, that can call G.o.d their Father, as knowing what it is to be born again, and as having experience, that they are begotten of the Spirit of G.o.d: which if they do not, all is but babbling, etc.

_Keel._ Justice _Keelin_ said that that was a truth.

_Bun._ And I say further, as to your saying that one man may convince another of sin, and that faith comes by hearing, and that one man may tell another how he should pray, etc., I say men may tell each other of their sins, but it is the Spirit that must convince them.

And though it be said that _faith comes by hearing_: yet it is the Spirit that worketh faith in the heart through hearing, or else _they are not profited by hearing_. Heb. iv. 12.

And that though one man may tell another how he should pray: yet, as I said before, he cannot pray, nor make his condition known to G.o.d, except the Spirit help. It is not the Common Prayer-Book that can do this. It is the _Spirit that showeth us our sins_, and the _Spirit that showeth us a Saviour_, Jn. xvi. 16, and the Spirit that stirreth up in our hearts desires to come to G.o.d, for such things as we stand in need of, Matt. xi.

27, even sighing out our souls unto Him for them with _groans which cannot be uttered_. With other words to the same purpose. At this they were set.

_Keel._ But says Justice _Keelin_, What have you against the Common Prayer-Book?

_Bun._ I said, Sir, if you will hear me, I shall lay down my reasons against it.

_Keel._ He said I should have liberty; but first, said he, let me give you one caution; take heed of speaking irreverently of the Common Prayer-Book; for if you do so, you will bring great damage upon yourself.

_Bun._ So I proceeded, and said, My first reason was, because it was not commanded in the Word of G.o.d, and therefore I could not use it.

_Another_. One of them said, Where do you find it commanded in the Scripture, that you should go to _Elstow_, or _Bedford_, and yet it is lawful to go to either of them, is it not?