A26897:120
Church concord
Church concord containing I. a dissuasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.Church concord containing I. a disswasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
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.
But because Heretics will subscribe to Scripture and to ancient Creeds, and simple Confessions of Faith, therefore many have thought that other kind of Confessions must be made which they cannot subscribe to: But by that course the mischief of Heresy is not so much avoided, as the mischief of Divisions caused; and all because the right way of obviating Heresies is mistaken and overlooked. Heresy in the Mind is cured only by Doctrine, and is not it that we have here to obviate; but Heresy in the Mouth must be corrected by Discipline; and it is not a better Rule or Law than Scripture for them to Subscribe that is the Remedy, but a careful Execution of that Law against them, 1. By casting them out of our Communion after a first and second admonition, when they are proved guilty, and 2. By the Magistrates restraining them according to the quality of their offence. He that hath a Conscience to Subscribe to all the ⟨p. 14⟩Scriptures, and yet contradict them by his Heresy, may do so by any Form that you can impose on him, that hath any appearance of fitness to be so imposed. We must not make new Laws, every time the old ones are misinterpreted or broken.
But because Hereticks will subscribe to Scripture and to ancient Creeds, and simple Confessions of Faith, therefore many have thought that other kind of Confessions must be made which they cannot subscribe to: But by that course the mischief of Heresie is not so much avoided, as the mischief of Divisions caused; and all because the right way of obviating Heresies is mistaken and overlookt. Heresie in the Mind is cured only by Doctrine, and is not it that we have here to obviate; but Heresie in the Mouth must be corrected by Discipline; and it is not a better Rule or Law than Scripture for them to Subscribe that is the Remedy, but a careful Execution of that Law against them, 1. By casting them out of our Communion after a first and second admonition, when they are proved guilty, and 2. By the Magistrates restraining them according to the quality of their offence. He that hath a Conscience to Subscribe to all the ⟨p. 14⟩Scriptures, and yet contradict them by his Heresie, may do so by any Form that you can impose on him, that hath any appearance of fitness to be so imposed. We must not make new Laws, every time the old ones are misinterpreted or broken.