A26854:14
Richard Baxter his account to his dearly beloved, the inhabitants of Kidderminster, of the…
Richard Baxter his account to his dearly beloved, the inhabitants of Kidderminster, of the causes of his being forbidden by the Bishop of Worcester to preach within his diocese with the Bishop of Worcester's letter in answer thereunto : and some short animadversions upon the said bishops letter.Richard Baxter his account to his dearly beloved, the inhabitants of Kidderminster, of the causes of his being forbidden by the Bishop of Worcester to preach within his diocess with the Bishop of Worcester's letter in answer thereunto : and some short animadversions upon the said bishops letter.
London printed : s.n., 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Having given you (to whom I owe it) this account of the cause for which I am forbidden the exercise of my Ministry in that Country, I now direct these Sermons to your hands, that seeing I cannot teach you as I would, I may teach you as I can. And if I much longer enjoy such liberty as this, it will be much above my expectation.
Having given you (to whom I owe it) this account of the cause for which I am forbidden the exercise of my Ministry in that Countrey, I now direct these Sermons to your hands, that seeing I cannot teach you as I would, I may teach you as I can. And if I much longer enjoy such liberty as this, it will be much above my expectation.
My dearly beloved, stand fast in the Lord; And fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings: For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but the righteousness of the Lord shall be for ever, and his salvation from generation to generation, Isa. 51. 7, 8. If I have taught you my doctrine of error or impiety, of disobedience to your Governors in lawful things, of schism or uncharit blenesse, unlearn them all, and renounce them with penitent detestation: But if otherwise, I beseech you mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them: For they are such as serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple, Rom. 16. 17. If any shall speak against Truth or Godliness, remember what you have received; and how little any adversary could say, that ever made such assaults upon you: ⟨image 4⟩and that it is easy for any man to talk confidently when no man must contradict him. I denied no man liberty upon equal terms, to have said his worst against any doctrine that ever I taught you. And how they succeeded, I need not tell you: your own stability tells the world. As you have maintained true Catholicism, and never followed any sect, so I beseech you still maintain the ancient faith, the Love of every member of Christ, and common charity to all, your Loyalty to your King, your peace with all men: And let none draw you from Catholic Unity to faction, though the declaiming against Faction and Schism should be the device by which they would accomplish it And as the world is nothing, and God is all, to all that are sincere believers? so let no worldly interest seem regardable to you, when it stands in any opposition to Christ; but account all loss and dung for him,