A26885:255
Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…
Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.
London: printed by R. W. for Thomas Underhill and Francis Tyton, 1660
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.
9. Furthermore, it is not this mere Agreement in Profession that will satisfy Christ himself, and therefore it must not satisfy us. It is not in this that he attaineth the principal ends of his Redemption, nor seeth the travail of his Soul. Alas, the blood of Christ is lost to you, and all the Ordinances and means are lost, and all the labour of Ministers is but lost to you as to any pardon of sin, or life, or Heaven that ever you shall have by them, if you go no further. And would you have us be contented with such an Agreement as this?
9. Furthermore, it is not this meer Ageerment in Profession that will satisfie Christ himself, and therefore it must not satisfie us. It is not in this that he attaineth the principal ends of his Redemption, nor seeth the travaile of his Soul. Alas, the blood of Christ is lost to you, and all the Ordinances and means are lost, and all the labour of Ministers is but lost to you as to any pardon of sin, or life, or Heaven that ever you shall have by them, if you goe no further. And would you have us be contented with such an Agreement as this?
10. Lastly, Consider that if we Agree no further then in an outward Profession of the Christian faith, alas, it will be but a short Agreement. We may be together here a while in the Church, as fishes good and bad in one net; but ⟨p. 233⟩when it is drawn to the shore, a separation will be made. Here you may sit and kneel among us a while, and go away with the Name of Christians: But alas, it is but a little while till this Agreement will be broken, and a dreadful everlasting separation must be made. Dreadful to the unsanctified, but joyful to the Saints. And what great good will it do to you or us, to be tied together a little while, by words and shows, and then to be everlastingly separated, as far as Light from darkness, Heaven from Hell, and the Greatest Joys from the Greatest sorrows. O blame us not if we motion to you, and beg of you, a far nearer Union and Agreement then this.