Mr. Richard Baxter's last legacy in select admonitions and directions to all sober dissenters

I have showed, that it was so in the Jewish Church. That it hath been of ancient use in the Church, since Christ, and at this day in Afric, Asia, Europe, and the Reformed Churches in France, Holland, Geneva, &c. is so well known, that I need not stand to prove it: And those few that seem to disuse it, do yet use it in Psalms and other parts of Worship. As for the Common-Prayer it self, I never rejected it, because it was a Form; or thought it simply unlawful, because it was such a Form; but have made use of it, and would do again in the like case.

I have shewed, that it was so in the Jewish Church. That it hath been of ancient use in the Church, since Christ, and at this day in Africk, Asia, Europe, and the Reformed Churches in France, Holland, Geneva, &c. is so well known, that I need not stand to prove it: And those few that seem to disuse it, do yet use it in Psalms and other parts of Worship. As for the Common-Prayer it self, I never rejected it, because it was a Form; or thought it simply unlawful, because it was such a Form; but have made use of it, and would do again in the like case.

Object. But if a faulty manner of praying be prescribed, ¹and imposed by a Law, I know it before-hand and am guilty of it. Answ. If the thing be sinful, either it is, 1. Because the Prayers are defective and faulty; Or, 2. Because they are imposed; Or, 3. because you knew the Fault before-hand, but none of these can prove your joining with them sinful. 1. Not because they are faulty; for you may join with as faulty Prayers (you confess) if not imposed. 2. Not because imposed for that is an extenuation,² and not an aggravation. For (1.) it proveth the Minister less voluntary of the two, than those are that do it without any command, through the error of their own Judgments. (2.) Because (though lawful things oft become unlawful when Superiors forbid them, yet) no reason can be given, why a lawful thing should become unlawful, because a lawful Superior doth command it; else Superiors might take away all our Christian Liberty, and make all things unlawful to us, by commanding them. You would take it for a wild Conceit in your Children or Servants, if they say, when you bid them learn a Catechism, or use a Form of Prayer, It was