A26882:68
Catholic communion doubly defended by Dr. Owens, vindicator, and Richard Baxter and the state…Catholick communion doubly defended by Dr. Owens, vindicator, and Richard Baxter and the state…
Catholic communion doubly defended by Dr. Owens, vindicator, and Richard Baxter and the state of that communion opened, and the questions discussed, whether there be any displeasure at sin, or repentance for it in Heaven : with a parallel of the case of using a faulty translation of Scripture, and a faulty liturgy.Catholick communion doubly defended by Dr. Owens, vindicator, and Richard Baxter and the state of that communion opened, and the questions discussed, whether there be any displeasure at sin, or repentance for it in Heaven : with a parallel of the case of using a faulty translation of Scripture, and a faulty lyturgy.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1684
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.
It is by Love that the whole Body of Christ must edify itself, and win, and overcome their Adversaries, even those that curse, and hate, and persecute them, as God doth good to the just and unjust, Love being the most powerful Conqueror of Hearts, Eph. 4. 15, 16. Matth. 5. 44, &c. VIII. No excellency of one Party above others, nor no faultiness of any Christians, must be pretended against any duty of Love and Communion; But we must not sin for Communion with any. IX. Though we must not by profession, word, or subscription own the sin of any Church, we must join in their Communion in the Worship of God, with those whose Worship is mixed with sin in matter and manner, so it be not sin that is by its evil predominant against the good of the duty, to make the work rejected of God (like Poison in our food, which makes the hurt greater than the good) because else we must neither Worship God our selves, nor join with any in the world: All the works of sinful men being mixed with sin. To deny this, is virtually to separate from all the Christian world. X. Therefore our bare presence is no signification that we approve all that is done in that Assembly. The very nature of Christian Communion is a profession of the contrary; we being bound by God to communicate in good, and not to own the evil: And if men command us to own all that they there do, their command cannot bind us against Gods, nor make our presence a profession that we obey them against God: It being God that is the Master of us, and our work. And Christianity itself being a profession that we obey God before Man. Else Man by commanding us to own some ill word, or circumstance, might drive us from all Christian Communion. If Men should command us in our private Meetings, to do it for an ill end, or an ill Principle (as in Obedience to Usurpers) we must not therefore forbear all private Meetings, nor will our bare meeting signify our Obedience to such Commands. If the Pastor of a single Church (or many Associate) tell the people, your meeting must be to own e. g. Anabaptistry, Antinomianism, Presbytery, Erastianism, Separation, &c. this binds them not either to own it, or to withdraw, without some greater reason. He is no Master of their Faith. XI. Nor will the bare knowing beforehand that the Pastor will say or do somewhat unlawful, make our presence guilty of approving it.
It is by Love that the whole Body of Christ must edify itself, and win, and overcome their Adversaries, even those that curse, and hate, and persecute them, as God doth good to the just and unjust, Love being the most powerful Conquerour of Hearts,