A26924:636
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
Chapter 41: Point XXXVIII. Of Saying Common-Prayer twice a day every day in the Year ordinarily.
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.
M. I think when the Book was made, to help the ignorant Vulgar out of Popery, every day to use the Common-Prayer was a very good help to them. But the Case is much altered, and People now have more suitable Helps; and Ministers have so much other Work to do in their Studies, and with their Neighbours every day, and some Prayers to use more suitable to their Families and Closets, that it must needs be a sinful Impediment against other Duties, to say Common-Prayer twice a day. If they were commanded to Preach twice a day, every day in the year, it would cause a sinful Omission of other Duties, how good soever Preaching be in it self.
L. But then you have urgent Cause of forbearance.
M. We are not for abusive dallying with Covenants about Sacred things: It is evident by the instance of Sickness, that the Authors of the Imposition, meant only extraordinary Causes as urgent, and not that we should take our ordinary Work for such an urgent Cause. As if a Man that is bound to spend most of the day in his Shop should Covenant to go Thirty Miles every day, if he be not let by urgent Cause.
M. We are not for abusive dallying with Covenants about Sacred things: It is evident by the instance of Sickness, that the Authors of the Imposition, meant only extraordinary Causes as urgent, and not that we should take our ordinary Work for such an urgent Cause. As if a Man that is bound to spend most of the day in his Shop should Covenant to go Thirty Miles every day, if he be not lett by urgent Cause.