A26906:533
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being dividers or troublers of the church with some directions to the pastors how to deal with such Christians / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Symmons, 1670
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.
If you say, that the Apostles had an infallible spirit, I answer, True: And that proveth that that their Doctrine was more infallible than other mens: but not that they only and not other men may teach by the way of forms. All the Books of Sermons now written are so many prescribed words ⟨p. 178⟩or forms of teaching: And if we may use forms of Teaching as well as the Apostles, why not also forms of praying.
If you say that the Apostles prescribed the Church no Liturgy, I answer, That only proveth that no one is universally necessary, nor to be universally imposed? but not that therefore no use of forms of prayer are lawful; May we not now use the Lords Prayer, or pray in some other Scripture form?
Obj. But the Apostles compelled none to use them.
Answ. Christ and his Apostles assumed not the civil Sword, and therefore so compelled men to nothing: But yet their authority bound the conscience; when Christ said, when ye pray, say, Our Father, &c. he bound them in duty to do as he bid them, though he forced them not.