Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…

P. I am certain that the Wisdom from above is first pure, and then peaceable, and gentle, &c. James 3. 17. and it ever takes in both. And I am sure that Christ first and his Apostles after him make Love the sum of our Religion. I think it not amiss to tell you, of this, what an old Non-conformist saith in a Latin Treatise called De vera & genuina Jesu Christi Religione, Authore Ministro Anglo, p. 36, 37, 38, 39. The words are too large to recite, but in short he laboureth to prove, that next Faith in God and the Redeemer, Love is the Christian Religion it self, and set up instead of Ceremonies and penal Jewish Laws, as the Great Law of Christ, and the fulfilling of all Laws, answering his own Office, and so his new and great Commandment and the Character of his people, and so the Communion of the Saints is our faith and life. And that to believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and Love him and one another, is the Gospel, and our true Religion: And that when it cometh to Ceremonies, Rituals and externals, this still is Christs voice, [Go learn what this meaneth, I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice.] But know you not that you come up to the worser part of Popery, when you imitate the bloodiest men among them in your degree, by pleading for Sacrifice against Mercy? A cruel Religion, and burning and destroying men, and setting Kingdoms on fire, on pretence of keeping out Heresy and Schism, and preserving the right Faith, and Government, and Worship, is the malignity of Popery. When either They or You grow wrathfully zealous against your Brethren on pretence of purity of Faith or ⟨p. 299⟩Worship, and to make you a Religion which quencheth Love, you know not what manner of Spirit you are of.

P. I am certain that the Wisdom from above is first pure, and then peaceable, and gentle, &c. James 3. 17. and it ever takes in both. And I am sure that Christ first and his Apostles after him make Love the summ of our Religion. I think it not amiss to tell you, of this, what an old Non-conformist saith in a Latin Treatise called De vera & genuina Jesu Christi Religione, Authore Ministro Anglo, p. 36, 37, 38, 39. The words are too large to recite, but in short he laboureth to prove, that next Faith in God and the Redeemer, Love is the Christian Religion it self, and set up instead of Ceremonies and penal Jewish Laws, as the Great Law of Christ, and the fulfilling of all Laws, answering his own Office, and so his new and great Commandment and the Character of his people, and so the Communion of the Saints is our faith and life. And that to believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and Love him and one another, is the Gospel, and our true Religion: And that when it cometh to Ceremonies, Rituals and externals, this still is Christs voice, [Go learn what this meaneth, I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice.] But know you not that you come up to the worser part of Popery, when you imitate the bloodiest men among them in your degree, by pleading for Sacrifice against Mercy? A cruel Religion, and burning and destroying men, and setting Kingdoms on fire, on pretence of keeping out Heresie and Schism, and preserving the right Faith, and Government, and Worship, is the malignity of Popery. When either They or You grow wrathfully zealous against your Brethren on pretence of purity of Faith or