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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 3
Question 71
p. 847

A Christian Directory: Or, A SUM of PRACTICAL THEOLOGY, AND CASES OF CONSCIENCE. Directing Christians, how to USE their Knowledge and Faith; How to improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to escape or mortify every Sin.In Four Parts,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.A Christian Directory: Or, A SUMM of PRACTICAL THEOLOGIE, AND CASES OF CONSCIENCE. Directing Christians, how to USE their Knowledge and Faith; How to improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to escape or mortifie every Sin.In Four Parts,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:6739

A Christian Directory

A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 3 › Question 71: Quest. 71. Whether a Form of Prayer be lawful?

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:6736–6751 of 9,947

:6736p. 847

Quest. 71. Whether a Form of Prayer be lawful?

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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.

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The question must be out of question with all Christians:

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I. Because the Scripture it self hath many forms of prayer; which therefore cannot be unlawful.

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Object. They were lawful then, but not now.

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Answ. He that saith so, must prove where God hath since forbidden them. Which can never be.

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Cited: :6739
On this page: :6736–6751
Section: :6736–6744
Whole work: 9,947 passages

Cite

Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 3, q. 71, p. 847. EEBO-TCP A26892.

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The book

Title as printed: A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

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Object. They may lawfully be read in Scripture for instruction, but not used as prayers.

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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—

Answ. They were used as prayers then, and are never since forbidden: Yea, Iohn and Christ did teach their Disciples to pray, and Christ thus prefaceth his form, When ye pray, say—

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II. 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.

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Quest. 72. Are Forms of Prayer or Preaching in the Church lawful?

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Answ. Yes: Most Ministers study the Methodical form of their Sermons before they preach¹ them: And many write the very words, or study them: And so most Sermons are a form. And sure it is as lawful to think before hand what to say in praying as in preaching.

Answ. YEs: Most Ministers study the Methodical form of their Sermons before they preach¹ them: And many write the very words, or study them: And so most Sermons are a form. And sure it is as lawful to think before hand what to say in praying as in preaching.

1God gave forms of preaching to Moses and the Prophets: See a large form of prayer for all the people, Deut. 26. 13, 14, 15. And so elsewhere there are many.

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1. That which God hath not forbidden is lawful: But God hath not forbidden Ministers to study their Sermons or Prayers, either for matter, method or words, and so to make them many ways a form.

1. That which God hath not forbidden is lawful: But God hath not forbidden Ministers to study their Sermons or Prayers, either for matter, method or words, and so to make them many wayes a form.

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2. That which God prescribed is lawful (if he reverse it not): But God prescribed public forms of prayer; As the titles and matter of many of the Psalms prove, which were daily used in the Jewish Synagogues.

2. That which God prescribed is lawful (if he reverse it not): But God prescribed publick forms of prayer; As the titles and matter of many of the Psalms prove, which were daily used in the Jewish Synagogues.

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Object. Psalms being to be sung, are more than Prayers.

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Answ. They were Prayers, though more. They are called Prayers, and for the Matter many of them were no more than prayers; but only for the measures of words: Nor was their singing like ours now, but liker to our saying. And there are many other prayers recorded in the Scripture.

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3. And all the Churches of Christ at least these thirteen or fourteen hundred years have taken public forms for lawful: which is not to be gainsaid without proof.

3. And all the Churches of Christ at least these thirteen or fourteen hundred years have taken publick forms for lawful: which is not to be gainsayed without proof.

Puritans

England

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
〈…〉: illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪: illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book