A26912:384
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.
EXCEPT. XVII. p. 10. Answered. 1When I say that I wonder at men that think God maketh such a matter as they do of their several words and forms, as that he loveth only extemporate prayers and hateth forms, or loveth only prescribed forms and hateth extemporate prayers by habit,] he saith this is ▪As if I could never speak meanly enough about prayer. But, brother, if you kindle this burning zeal your self, by teaching men to hate either forms or praying by habit; Marvel not if it burn you, within and without; and when your own passions have scorched you, other mens hatred of your prayers, as you hate theirs, do trouble you also. And if you hate the quenching of these fires, even when the ⟨p. 65⟩Churches by them are all on a flame, as sober▪ men as you will be of another mind, I tell you again, brother, you greatly wrong and dishonour God, if you think that he layeth so much upon that which he never gave any law about, or spake one word for or against, as to tell the World that he hateth all prayer that is put up by a form or book. And that he that denieth this, speaketh meanly of prayer. The Lord teach you to know what manner of spirit you are of, (which request I shall reiterate for you, instead of praying with your earnestness, The Lord rebuke him.▪ Have you the bowels of a Christian, and the spirit of Christian Love and Unity▪ and can you think that God hateth (for that was my word) all the prayers of all the Churches and Christians in the World, that use a form? Even of all the Greek Churches, the Armenians, Abassines, Jacobites, Syrians, Cop•ies, Lutherans, and Calvinists; of all the English public Churches; and the prayers of such holy men as Dr. Preston, Dr. Sibbes, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Hildersham, Mr. Cartwright, Dr. Stoughton, Mr. Whateley, Mr. Bolton, and all such as they that used some the Liturgy, and some other forms? And that God hateth the prayers of all Christian Families and Christians that use a form? Do you dislike adding to God's word, and will you add to it so boldly, as to say, he hateth that which he never once forbade?
EXCEPT. XVII. p. 10. Answered.