A26906:608
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 you said that it belonged to the Pastors office to word his own Sermons and Prayers: Therefore prescribed forms destroy the Pastors office: And I may not consent to such usurpations by tyrannical men.
Answ. First, the Pastor is the mouth of God to the people, & of the people to God: And he doth word his own Sermons and Prayers; or else his voice could not conduct you. But if he that is conscious of his own infirmity, do take the help of others in wording them, that doth not destroy his office, but help him in the exercise of it. If a weak Minister learn a prayer out of the writings of some abler Divine and use it in the Pulpit, this is no destroying of his office.
Secondly, and if they that fear the effect of Ministers weakness shall force them to use the words of others, the speaker still maketh them his own words before you join with him. And if it did hinder the free exercise of all his office, it doth not destroy it.
Secondly, and if they that fear the effect of Ministers weakness shall force them to use the words of others, the speaker still maketh them his own words before you joyn with him. And if it did hinder the free exercise of all his office, it doth not destroy it.