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

And though we do most heartily acknowledge your Majesty to be Custos utriusque Tabulae, and to be Supreme Governor over all Persons, and in all Things and Causes, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, in these your Majesty's Dominions, yet we humbly crave leave to beseech your Majesty to consider, whether as a Christian Magistrate, you be not as well obliged by that Doctrine of the Apostle touching Things indifferent, not occasioning an offence to weak Brethren, as the Apostle himself (then one of the highest Officers in the Church of Christ) judged himself to be obliged: and whether the great Work wherewith the Lord hath entrusted your Majesty, be not rather to provide by your Sacred Authority, that the things which are necessary by virtue of Divine Command in his Worship should be duly performed, then that Things unnecessary should be made by Humane Command necessary and penal. And how greatly pleasing it will be to the Lord, that your Majesty's heart is so tenderly and religiously Compassionate, to such of his poor Servants differing in so small matters, as to preserve the Peace of their Consciences in God's Worship above all their Civil Concernments whatsoever. May it therefore please your Majesty, out of your Princely Care of healing our Breaches, graciously to grant, That Kneeling at the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and such Holidays as are but of Humane Institution may not be imposed upon such as do conscientiously scruple the Observation of them. And that the use of the Surplice and Cross in Baptism, and bowing at the Name of Jesus rather than the Name of Christ or Emanuel, or other Names whereby that Divine Person, or either of the other Divine Persons is nominated, may be abolished; these things being in the Judgment of the Imposers themselves but indifferent and mutable; in the Judgment of others a Rock of Offence; and in the Judgment of all not to be valued with the Peace of the Church. We likewise humbly represent unto your most Excellent Majesty, That divers Ceremonies which we conceive had no Foundation in the Law of the Land, as erecting Altars, bowing towards them, and such like, have been not only introduced, but in some places imposed;

And though we do most heartily acknowledge your Majesty to be Custos utriusque Tabulae, and to be Supream Governour over all Persons, and in all Things and Causes, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, in these your Majesty's Dominions, yet we humbly crave leave to beseech your Majesty to consider, whether as a Christian Magistrate, you be not as well obliged by that Doctrine of the Apostle touching Things indifferent, not occasioning an offence to weak Brethren, as the Apostle himself (then one of the highest Officers in the Church of Christ) judged himself to be obliged: and whether the great Work wherewith the Lord hath intrusted your Majesty, be not rather to provide by your Sacred Authority, that the things which are necessary by virtue of Divine Command in his Worship should be duly performed, then that Things unnecessary should be made by Humane Command necessary and penal. And how greatly pleasing it will be to the Lord, that your Majesty's heart is so tenderly and religiously Compassionate, to such of his poor Servants differing in so small matters, as to preserve the Peace of their Consciences in God's Worship above all their Civil Concernments whatsoever. May it therefore please your Majesty, out of your Princely Care of healing our Breaches, graciously to grant, That Kneeling at the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and such Holydays as are but of Humane Institution may not be imposed upon such as do conscientiously scruple the Observation of them. And that the use of the Surplice and Cross in Baptism, and bowing at the Name of Iesus rather than the Name of Christ or Emanuel, or other Names whereby that Divine Person, or either of the other Divine Persons is nominated, may be abolished; these things being in the Judgment of the Imposers themselves but indifferent and mutable; in the Judgment of others a Rock of Offence; and in the Judgment of all not to be valued with the Peace of the Church. We likewise humbly represent unto your most Excellent Majesty, That divers Ceremonies which we conceive had no Foundation in the Law of the Land, as erecting Altars, bowing towards them, and such like, have been not only introduced, but in some places imposed;