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

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.

But Secondly, tell me if you can where God forbiddeth you to use good and lawful words in prayer, merely because the Magistrate or Pastor bids you use them. Is this the meaning of all the Precepts of honouring and obeying your Superiors [Do nothing which they bid you do, though otherwise lawful.] O strange exposition of the Fifth Commandment? If you command your Child to learn a Catechism or Form of Prayer before his meat, or for other times, will you teach him to say Father or Mother, it had been lawful for me to use this Form, if neither you nor any body had bid me; But because you bid me, now it is unlawful. O whither will not partiality lead men!

But Secondly, tell me if you can where God forbiddeth you to use good and lawful words in prayer, meerly because the Magistrate or Pastor bids you use them. Is this the meaning of all the Precepts of honouring and obeying your Superiors [Do nothing which they bid you do, though otherwise lawful.] O strange exposition of the Fifth Commandment? If you command your Child to learn a Catechism or Form of Prayer before his meat, or for other times, will you teach him to say Father or Mother, it had been lawful for me to use this Form, if neither you nor any body had bid me; But because you bid me, now it is unlawful. O whither will not partiality lead men!