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

Because singing of Psalms is a considerable part of public Worship, we desire that the Version set forth and allowed to be sung in Churches, may be amended or that we may have leave to make use of a purer Version. 13. That all obsolete Words in the Common-Prayer, and such whose use is changed from their first significancy (as Aread) used in the Gospel for the Monday and Wednesday before Easter [Then opened he their Wits] used in the Gospel for Easter Tuesday, &c. may be altered unto other Words generally received, and better understood. 14. That no Portions of the Old Testament, or of the Acts of the Apostles, be called Epistles, and read as such. 15. That whereas throughout the several Offices, the Phrase is such as presumes all Persons (within the Communion of the Church) to be regenerated, converted, and in an actual state of Grace (which, had Ecclesiastical Discipline been truly and vigorously executed, in the Exclusion of Scandalous and obstinate Sinners, might be better supposed: But there having been, and still being a confessed want of that (as in the Liturgy is acknowledged) it cannot be rationally admitted in the utmost Latitude of Charity.) We desire that this may be reformed. ⟨p. 319⟩16. That whereas orderly Connection of Prayers, and of particular Petitions and Expressions, together with a competent length of the Forms used, are tending much to Edification, and to gain the reverence of People to them. There appears to us too great a neglect of both, of this Order, and of other just Laws, of Method. Particularly. 1. The Collects are generally short, many of them consisting but of one, or at most two Sentences of Petition; and these generally ushered in with a repeated mention of the Name and Attributes of God, and presently concluding with the Name and Merits of Christ; whence are caused many unnecessary Intercisions and Abruptions, which when many Petitions are to be offered at the same time, are neither agreeable to Scriptural Examples, nor suited to the Gravity and Seriousness of that Holy Duty. 2. The Prefaces of many Collects have not any clear and special Respect to the following Petitions; and particular Petitions are put together, which have not any due Order, nor evident Connection one with another, nor suitableness with the Occasions upon which they are used, but seem to have fallen in rather casually, than from an orderly Contrivance.

Because singing of Psalms is a considerable part of publick Worship, we desire that the Version set forth and allowed to be sung in Churches, may be amended or that we may have leave to make use of a purer Version. 13. That all obsolete Words in the Common-Prayer, and such whose use is changed from their first significancy (as Aread) used in the Gospel for the Monday and Wednesday before Easter [Then opened he their Wits] used in the Gospel for Easter Tuesday, &c. may be altered unto other Words generally received, and better understood. 14. That no Portions of the Old Testament, or of the Acts of the Apostles, be called Epistles, and read as such. 15. That whereas throughout the several Offices, the Phrase is such as presumes all Persons (within the Communion of the Church) to be regenerated, converted, and in an actual state of Grace (which, had Ecclesiastical Discipline been truly and vigorously executed, in the Exclusion of Scandalous and obstinate Sinners, might be better supposed: But there having been, and still being a confessed want of that (as in the Liturgy is acknowledged) it cannot be rationally admitted in the utmost Latitude of Charity.) We desire that this may be reformed.