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

In a word, God hath bound all his Ministers to use all their gifts to the Churches greatest edification: But to use a more defective form, with liberty to use my best gifts also, and to exercise my Ministry publicly to all, is more to the Churches edification, than to use my own gifts only a few days in a corner, and then to lie in prison and use them no more. Though no man must of choice prefer the less congruous before the more congruous, when he is free; (which I confess is a sin) yet it is a duty to prefer a less congruous order before none, or before a better for a day, with a restraint of that and all our Ministry hereafter.

In a word, God hath bound all his Ministers to use all their gifts to the Churches greatest edification: But to use a more defective form, with liberty to use my best gifts also, and to exercise my Ministry publickly to all, is more to the Churches edification, than to use my own gifts only a few days in a corner, and then to lie in prison and use them no more. Though no man must of choise prefer the less congruous before the more congruous, when he is free; (which I confess is a sin) yet it is a duty to prefer a less congruous order before none, or before a better for a day, with a restraint of that and all our Ministery hereafter.

For my part I have often truly professed, that I look at many Liturgies which I have read as I do at the prayers of some honest men, who use little method, nor very meet words and often toss Gods name through weakness; who put that last which should be first, & that first which should be last, but yet the matter is honest & good. I would not prefer such a man in a Congregation, before an abler man, who will speak more composedly & agreeable to the matter: But yet I would not be so peevish, as utterly to refuse to join with such a one. But as God doth not reject his prayers notwithstanding all his weakness, no more would I. And I had rather have such prayers, than none at all.

For my part I have often truly professed, that I look at many Liturgies which I have read as I do at the prayers of some honest men, who use little method, nor very meet words and often toss Gods name through weakness; who put that last which should be first, & that first which should be last, but yet the matter is honest & good. I would not prefer such a man in a Congregation, before an abler man, who will speak more composedly & agreeable to the matter: But yet I would not be so peevish, as utterly to refuse to joyn with such a one. But as God doth not reject his prayers notwithstanding all his weakness, no more would I. And I had rather have such prayers, than none at all.