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

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.

O that men would discern what is the true worth of prayer? and how little God is taken with the Oratory of them, in comparison of the ⟨p. 187⟩faith and love and desire which is the soul of prayer. And O that men would lay no greater stress on their peculiar modes and words than God doth; and condemn no mens prayers further than they are condemned by God; nor separate from any further then God rejecteth them or commandeth our separation.