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

but the Minister must exclude all such from the Communion: although such kneeling not only differs from the practice of Christ and of his Apostles, but (at least on the Lord's Day) is contrary to the practice of the Catholic Church for many hundred Years after, and forbidden by the most venerable Councils that ⟨p. 320⟩ever were in the Christian World. All which Impositions, are made yet more grievous, by that Subscription to their Lawfulness, which the Canon exacts, and by the heavy Punishment upon the Non-observance of them which the Act of Uniformity inflicts. And it being doubtful whether God hath given power unto Men, to institute in his Worship such Mystical Teaching Signs, which not being necessary in genere, fall not under the Rule of doing all things decently, orderly, and to edification, and which once granted will upon the same reason, open a door to the Arbitrary Imposition of numerous Ceremonies of which St. Augustine complained in his days; and the things in Controversy being in the Judgment of the Imposers confessedly indifferent, who do not so much as pretend any real Goodness in them of themselves, otherwise than what is derived from their being imposed, and consequently the Imposition ceasing, that will cease also, and the Worship of God not become indecent without them. Whereas in the other hand on the Judgment of the Opposers, they are by some held sinful, and unlawful in themselves; by others very inconvenient and unsuitable to the Simplicity of Gospel Worship, and by all of them very grievous and burdensome, and therefore not at all fit to be put in balance with the Peace of the Church, which is more likely to be promoted by their removal, than continuance: Considering also how tender our Lord and Saviour himself is of weak Brethren, declaring it much better for a Man to have Millstone hanged about his neck, and be cast into the depth of the Sea, than to offend one of his little Ones: And how the Apostle Paul (who had as great a Legislative Power in the Church, as any under Christ) held himself obliged by that Common Rule of Charity, not to lay a stumbling block, or an occasion of offence before a weak Brother, choosing rather not to eat flesh whiles the world stands (though in it self a thing lawful) than offend his Brother for whom Christ died.

but the Minister must exclude all such from the Communion: although such kneeling not only differs from the practice of Christ and of his Apostles, but (at least on the Lord's Day) is contrary to the practice of the Catholick Church for many hundred Years after, and forbidden by the most venerable Councils that