Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministry rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministery rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…

And pardon me for saying, that when this petty controversy hath so much distracted us, those Ministers▪ that use but one way only, seem scandalously to the people to be only for that way, and so do harden them in their error, and keep the fire burning in the Church. He that prayeth only by Book or Form, persuadeth the poor people that free prayer is Fanatical, uncertain and unlawful: and they that never pray otherwise, persuade the poor people, that all Forms or Book-prayers are unlawful; if a whole party agree ⟨p. 100⟩in forbearing all Forms at such a time as this, when so many take them for unlawful. And so they corrupt mens very Religion, and teach them to make duties and sins to themselves which God never made, and thereby set them in a way of Hypocrisy, Self-delusion, and endless quarrelling with others.

And pardon me for saying, that when this petty controversie hath so much distracted us, those Ministers▪ that use but one way onely, seem scandalously to the people to be onely for that way, and so do harden them in their errour, and keep the fire burning in the Church. He that prayeth only by Book or Form, perswadeth the poor people that free prayer is Fanatical, uncertain and unlawful: and they that never pray otherwise, perswade the poor people, that all Forms or Book-prayers are unlawful; if a whole party agree ⟨p. 100⟩in forbearing all Forms at such a time as this, when so many take them for unlawful. And so they corrupt mens very Religion, and teach them to make duties and sins to themselves which God never made, and thereby set them in a way of Hypocrisie, Self-delusion, and endless quarreling with others.

I prescribe to no man; and toleration so far taketh off public Impositions, as that none can now say, This Form is imposed on me, and therefore unlawful. But (though I will not bind my self) I here tell the world, That if my strength and toleration, and a call should ever more give me opportunity for the free exercise of mine Office, I would sometimes pray freely without Forms, and sometimes use some part of the common Liturgy, and sometimes use the Reformed Liturgy, which in 1660. was agreed on by the Commissioned Non-Conformists, (though being done in extreme hast, it should be reviewed and perfected:) I would ordinarily pronounce the Creed, (as the Faith which the Church Assembleth in the profession of,) and ordinarily recite the Lords Prayer and Decalogue, and read two Chapters and the Psalms: And they that would not join in this way of Worship, should freely go choose them a Teacher more agreeable to their opinions: for I would not serve the humours of any in their dividing errors.