A26912:235
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and concord of Christians and are delivered in a book called The cure of church-divisions ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
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.
6. This mistake tendeth to cast all Rational Worship out of the Church and World; by deterring men from inventing or studying how to do Gods work aright. For if all that man inventeth or deviseth be a forbidden Image, than we must not invent or find out by study, the true meaning of a Text, the true method ⟨p. 101⟩of Praying or Preaching, according to the various subjects: Nay, we must not study what to say, till we are speaking, nor what Time, Place, Gesture, Words to use; no nor the very English Tongue that we must Pray and Preach in, Whereas the Scripture it self-requireth us, to meditate day and night, to study to show our selves workmen that need not be ashamed: to search and dig for knowledge, &c. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good: Prov. 14. 22. I Wisdom dwell, with Prudence (or subtlety) and find out knowledge of witty inventions, Prov. 8. 12. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, Eccles. 12. 10. Banish study, and you banish knowledge and Religion from the world: The Spirit moveth us to search and study, and thereby teacheth us what to judge, and say, and do; and doth not move us, as I play on an Instrument, that knoweth not what it doth.
6. This mistake tendeth to cast all Rational Worship out of the Church and World; by deterring men from inventing or studying how to do Gods work aright. For if all that man inventeth or deviseth be a forbidden Image, than we must not invent or find out by study, the true meaning of a Text, the true method ⟨p. 101⟩of Praying or Preaching, according to the various subjects: Nay, we must not study what to say, till we are speaking, nor what Time, Place, Gesture, Words to use; no nor the very English Tongue that we must Pray and Preach in, Whereas the Scripture it self-requireth us, to meditate day and night, to study to shew our selves workmen that need not be ashamed: to search and dig for knowledge, &c. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good: