A26895:170
The Christian religion expressed I, briefly in the ancient creeds, the Ten commandments, and…
The Christian religion expressed I, briefly in the ancient creeds, the Ten commandments, and the Lords prayer, and, II, more largely in a profession taken out of the Holy Scriptures, containing 1, the articles of the Christian belief, 2, our consent to the gospel covenant, 3, the sum of Christian duty, according to the primitive simplicity, purity, and practice, fitted to the right instruction of the ignorant, the promoting of holiness, and the charitable concord of all true believers ... / by Richard Baxter.
London : s.n., 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.
61. The Pastors of the Churches must not only Teach the people, and guide them in the public worship: but also must faithfully Oversee them in private, endeavouring to know and watch over each member of their flock, preserving them from heresies, errors, and divisions: defending the Truth, confuting gainsayers and seducers; instructing the Ignorant, exciting the negligent; encouraging the despondent; comforting the afflicted, confirming the weak, rebuking and admonishing the disorderly and scandalous, and directing all according to their needs, in the matters of their Salvation. And the people in such needs should have ordinary recourse to them, as the Officers of Christ, for guidance and resolution of their doubts, and for assistance in making their Salvation sure, and procuring, maintaining or restoring the peace ⟨p. 64⟩of their consciences, and spiritual consolation.
61. The Pastors of the Churches must not only Teach the people, and guide them in the publike worship: but also must faithfully Oversee them in private, endeavouring to know and watch over each member of their flock, preserving them from heresies, errours, and divisions: defending the Truth, confuting gainsayers and seducers; instructing the Ignorant, exciting the negligent; encouraging the despondent; comforting the afflicted, confirming the weak, rebuking and admonishing the disorderly and scandalous, and directing all according to their needs, in the matters of their Salvation. And the people in such needs should have ordinary recourse to them, as the Officers of Christ, for guidance and resolution of their doubts, and for assistance in making their Salvation sure, and procuring, maintaining or restoring the peace ⟨p. 64⟩of their consciences, and spiritual consolation.
62. Those persons that are known to commit any gross and scandalous sin, should first by private reproof and admonition (unless where the notoriousness and heinousness of the crime doth presently call for public reproof) be called to Repentance: And if they hear not the Reprovers, or will not Reform, the Church must be told of it: and therein it is most convenient, that the Pastors be first acquainted with the case (to avoid contention and confusion,) before it be brought into the public assembly: And to that end it is convenient that there be stated meetings where the Pastors and some chosen members of the Church, (not as Officers, but the Deputies or Trustees of the rest) should in their several capacities take cognizance of such offences; that so a unity and full correspondence may be held between the Pastors and the flock, and all things may be done advisedly, orderly, and concordantly: but where this cannot well be done, the Pastor or Pastors must do their work without it.