Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

Ad 15m. I think (on the Credit of others) that the Jewish Church had a Liturgy; I am sure they had Forms of Praises and Prayer in some Cases. I know Christ taught his Disciples the Lord's Prayer, I will not determine whether as a Directory for Matter and Order, or whether as a Form of Words to be used, or when, or how oft used: I conjecture you regard the Judgment of Grotius, who saith in Matt. 6. 9. [[Greek or Hebrew]: In hunc Sensum: Non enim praecipit Christus verba recitari, quod nec legimus Apostolos fecisse, quanquam id quoque fieri cum fructu potest sed materiam precum hinc promere.] i.e. Pray thus; that is, to this Sense: For Christ doth not command the saying of the Words, nor do we read that the Apostles did it, though that also may profitably be done; but hence to fetch the Matter of Prayer.] You know the Directory adviseth the use of the Words: And how it was that John taught his Disciples to pray, I cannot tell; nor will herein pretend my self wiser than I am. The Example of the Primitive Church is never the more imitable for the Cessation of Persecution; and its Example before is most to be regarded, that being purest that is next the Fountain. We are sure that the Church long used extemporate Prayers, and its probable betimes, some Forms withal. I think they are strangely Dark and addicted to Extremes, that think either that no Forms are lawful, or that only prescribed or premeditated Forms are lawful. And if you will condemn all public extemporate Prayers, you will err as grossly as they that will have no other.

Ad 15m. I think (on the Credit of others) that the Jewish Church had a Liturgy; I am sure they had Forms of Praises and Prayer in some Cases. I know Christ taught his Disciples the Lord's Prayer, I will not determine whether as a Directory for Matter and Order, or whether as a Form of Words to be used, or when, or how oft used: I conjecture you regard the Judgment of Grotius, who saith in Matt. 6. 9. [〈non-Latin alphabet〉: In hunc Sensum: Non enim praecipit Christus verba recitari, quod nec legimus Apostolos fecisse, quanquam id quoque fieri cum fructu potest sed materiam precum hinc promere.] i.e. Pray thus; that is, to this Sense: For Christ doth not command the saying of the Words, nor do we read that the Apostles did it, though that also may profitably be done; but hence to fetch the Matter of Prayer.] You know the Directory adviseth the use of the Words: And how it was that Iohn taught his Disciples to pray, I cannot tell; nor will herein pretend my self wiser than I am. The Example of the Primitive Church is never the more imitable for the Cessation of Persecution; and its Example before is most to be regarded, that being purest that is next the Fountain. We are sure that the Church long used extemporate Prayers, and its probable betimes, some Forms withal. I think they are strangely Dark and addicted to Extreams, that think either that no Forms are lawful, or that only prescribed or premiditated Forms are lawful. And if you will condemn all publick extemporate Prayers, you will err as grosly as they that will have no other.