The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

It would make a knowing Christian weep between indignation and compassion, to see in these times, what censures and worse are used on both sides, about the wording of our prayers to God! How vile and unsufferable some account them, that will pray in any words which are not written down for them? And how unlawful others account it to pray in their imposed forms: some because they are forms, and some because they are such forms; and some because that Papists have used them, and some because they are imposed! when God hath given them no command, but to pray in faith and fervency, according to the state of themselves, and others, and in such order as is agreeable to the matter, and in such method as he hath given them a Rule and Pattern of. But of all ⟨p. 176⟩quarrels about forms and words, he hath never made any of their particular determinations, no more than whether I shall preach by the help of Notes, or study the words, or speak those which another studied for me.

It is a wonder how they that believe the Scriptures, came first to make themselves believe, that God maketh such a matter as they do, of their several words and forms of prayer: That he loveth only extemporary prayer as some think, and hateth all prescribed forms: Or that he loveth only prescribed Forms as others think, and hateth all extemporary prayers by habit? Certainly in Christs time both Liturgies by forms, and also prayers by habit were used? And yet Christ never interposed in the Controversy, so as to condemn the one or the other. He condemneth the Pharisees for making long prayers to cover their devouring widows houses, and for their praying to be seen of men: But whether their prayers were a Liturgy and set form, or whether they were extemporary, he taketh no notice, as telling us that he condemned neither! (And its like the Pharisees long Liturgy, was in many things worse than ours, though the Psalms were a great part of it: And yet Christ and his Apostles oft joined with them, and never condemned them.)

It is a wonder how they that believe the Scriptures, came first to make themselves believe, that God maketh such a matter as they do, of their several words and forms of prayer: That he loveth only extemporary prayer as some think, and hateth all prescribed forms: Or that he loveth only prescribed Forms as others think, and hateth all extemporary prayers by habit? Certainly in Christs time both Liturgies by forms, and also prayers by habit were used? And yet Christ never interposed in the Controversie, so as to condemn the one or the other. He condemneth the Pharisees for making long prayers to cover their devouring widdows houses, and for their praying to be seen of men: But whether their prayers were a Liturgy and set forme, or whether they were extemporary, he taketh no notice, as telling us that he condemned neither! (And its like the Pharisees long Liturgy, was in many things worse than ours, though the Psalms were a great part of it: And yet Christ and his Apostles oft joyned with them, and never condemned them.)