A26906:538
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.
Obj. But though it be lawful to impose forms on ⟨p. 179⟩children, yet not upon aged Christians.
Answ. Aged persons have too many of them as much need of such forms as children. Age maketh not the difference: We are fain to teach many aged persons forms of Catechism as well as children; Why not therefore forms of prayer?
Obj. But it is not lawful to impose forms publicly on whole Congregations of Believers.
Obj. But it is not lawful to impose forms publikely on whole Congregations of Believers.
Answ. All sects in the world do it. I never heard any Separatist or Anabaptist or any other public Minister, but he imposed a form of prayer upon all the Congregation. He is void of common sense that thinketh that his extemporary prayer is not as truly a form to all the people, as if it had been written in a book. The order and words are not of your own invention, but invented by another to your hand; and imposed upon you to use: For I hope you come together to pray, and not to hear a prayer only. But the difference is, First, that one imposeth every day a new form on you, and the other imposeth every day the same: Secondly, And that one telleth you not what words you shall pray in, before you hear them; and the other writeth them down for you to know before hand. For my part I wonder why written or unwritten, long-premeditated or suddenly expressed prayers should be taken for unlawful. But however do not think the difference to lie where it doth not: For doubtless to the people, they are both forms, and both imposed, though not imposed by the same persons and authority.