A26924:931
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 58: Whether Communion with so Faulty a Church be Lawful.
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 verily they have need of prayer: But they seem to be very humble petitioners themselves when they bid you pray for them, but as to a God that worketh great Marvels. But mu•• you needs own every petition in the Assembly? By what Obligation? Do you undertake to own every petition that your own Preacher will put up, before you know what he will say? Yea, or if you knew he would speak amiss? I have elsewhere told you that one of the zealousest Non-Conformists against Prelacy, was old Mr. Humphrey F•n of Coventry, and he was wont after every Collect in the Common-Prayer to say Amen aloud, except the Prayer for the Bishops: And he thought his silence was sufficient notice of his Dissent.
L. But the broken Responses are ludicrous and intolerable.
M. Prejudice may make any thing seem so. But, 1. The Jews Church used such as the Scriptures tell us. 2. They are the oldest part of all the Liturgy, used by the Church, when Holy fervency would not endure to be silenced or restrained to a bare Amen. 3. And if it were not that profane Men use them unreverently and so bring them into disgrace, but they were again used fervently by zealous Christians, they would seem quite another thing. 4. And we do the same thing in effect, when all the people sing the Psalm, save that the tune keepeth them better in time and order, and avoideth the confusion.
M. Prejudice may make any thing seem so. But, 1. The Iews Church used such as the Scriptures tell us. 2. They are the oldest part of all the Liturgy, used by the Church, when Holy fervency would not endure to be silenced or restrained to a bare Amen. 3. And if it were not that prophane Men use them unreverently and so bring them into disgrace, but they were again used fervently by zealous Christians, they would seem quite another thing. 4. And we do the same thing in effect, when all the people sing the Psalm, save that the tune keepeth them better in time and order, and avoideth the confusion.