A26897:237
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.
10. Lastly, If we be unjustly cast out of any Church, and persecuted by them, and have no just redress at home, no doubt but we may join with another Church. As if a Pastor that is for Rebaptizing would take none but who will be Rebaptized, or having taken some in, will cast them out: Or if a Pastor be set over us, of an uncharitable Spirit, that will take in none for Godly but those of his Opinion, or some few of a higher Form, and denieth Communion to all the rest, in this case it is he that doth the wrong, and they are necessitated to join with another Church, that will receive them; and another Church may justly receive them, if first they cannot prevail for their reception at home.
10. Lastly, If we be unjustly cast out of any Church, and persecuted by them, and have no just redress at home, no doubt but we may joyn with another Church. As if a Pastor that is for Rebaptizing would take none but who will be Rebaptized, or having taken some in, will cast them out: Or if a Pastor be set over us, of an uncharitable Spirit, that will take in none for Godly but those of his Opinion, or some few of a higher Form, and denieth Communion to all the rest, in this case it is he that doth the wrong, and they are necessitated to join with another Church, that will receive them; and another Church may justly receive them, if first they cannot prevail for their reception at home.
All this we grant for a removal from a Church without the guilt of Schism or sinful Separation. But on the other side we must needs desire, 1. That Men will not rashly and self-conceitedly judge any of these Cases to be where they are not: And therefore that they will take the advice of the next unanimous, ⟨p. 45⟩peaceable, faithful Pastors. And for this, saith Mr. Norton, p. 167. [But when this or that Congregation is to be taken for No Church, let the judgment be in the hands of a Council, or in an Ordinate state of the Churches.]