A26906:595
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.
Thirdly, The wording of the public prayers, is the Pastors work and none of mine: It is part of his office, as the wording and methodizing of his Sermons is: And if he do it well the praise is not mine but his: And if he do it ill the dispraise is not mine but his. Why should any hold me guilty of another mans fault, which I neither can help, nor belongeth to any office of mine to help, any further than to admonish him.
Thirdly, The wording of the publike prayers, is the Pastors work and none of mine: It is part of his office, as the wording and methodizing of his Sermons is: And if he do it well the praise is not mine but his: And if he do it ill the dispraise is not mine but his. Why should any hold me guilty of another mans fault, which I neither can help, nor belongeth to any office of mine to help, any further than to admonish him.
Fourthly, I do not profess an approbation and consent to all the faults of my own secret or family prayers: Much less to another mans, who is not in my power. I have disorders, and defects and incongruities and other faults in all my prayers; And if my very speaking and committing them signify not my approbation of them, how much less is it signified where it is not I but another man that speaketh and committeth them.
Fourthly, I do not profess an approbation and consent to all the faults of my own secret or family prayers: Much less to another mans, who is not in my power. I have d•sorders, and defects and incongruities and other faults in all my prayers; And if my very speaking and committing them signifie not my approbation of them, how much less is it signified where it is not I but another man that speaketh and committeth them.
Fifthly, And as I have said, This opinion would make it unlawful to join with any Pastor or Church on earth, because no sin must be approved of and consented to: and every one mixeth sin with their prayers.