Mr. Richard Baxter's paraphrase on the Psalms of David in metre with other hymns…

§ 8. It is a doleful case that Satan by subtlety hath so far prevailed with many honest Christians, as to place their Religion in Negative Superstition, that they may avoid Positive Superstition. Touch not, taste not, handle not, kneel not, stand not up, bow not, use not those Forms which the common Congregations use, &c. And many by this are tempted to think that they are holier than others, because they avoid by erroneous singularity the lawful words and actions of others. And they think men Profane and Carnal, that are not as superstitiously singular as they: Not comparing the Men, but the Cause, I think it much less blameable to say with the ⟨image 11⟩Pharisee, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men, Extortioners, Unjust, Adulterers, or even as this Publican: Than to say, God, I thank thee that I am not as other Christians, that pray in a prescribed Form, or use Responses, or Communicate in the Parish-Churches, or kneel at the Lord's Table, or stand up at the Creed or Gospel, &c. The difference between these two cases is very notable. The first sort are proud of that which is good. The second take conceited erroneous Singularity for a mark of Piety. Not that we should commit the least sin for compliance with any, but as Augustine resolved in Lawful Customs to do as the Church doth where he comes, so should all the lovers of Peace and Concord. But (as the late Lord Chief Justice, Sir Matthew Hale▪ in his Judgment of Religion and its corruptions (who was no Schismatic, and whose M.S. I keep) saith) The Christian Religion is a plain and holy thing, fit for the Salvation and the Concord of all that sincerely own it: But mens Additions have proved the Corrupters and Dividers: And while one sort make a Religion of their own Inventions, and think that it is no good Church-Government that maketh not some new Religion, ⟨image 11⟩fitter for mens Consciences: And another sort thinketh that it is sin to do any thing that is not in Scripture, which men command us; and so all Sects are turned superstitious, and make Duties and Sins which God never made: Instead of God's Religion, which is plain, saving, and uniting, the World is torn by mens Dividing Engines, supposed by ignorance to be the means to heal it; even by the Positive Superstition of one Party, and the Negative Superstition of the other.

§ 8. It is a doleful case that Satan by subtilty hath so far prevailed with many honest Christians, as to place their Religion in Negative Superstition, that they may avoid Positive Superstition. Touch not, tast not, handle not, kneel not, stand not up, bow not, use not those Forms which the common Congregations use, &c. And many by this are tempted to think that they are holyer than others, because they avoid by erroneous singularity the lawful words and actions of others. And they think men Prophane and Carnal, that are not as superstitiously singular as they: Not comparing the Men, but the Cause, I think it much less blameable to say with the