A26897:245
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.
3. We crave, and expect our Brethren's consent, that we may not have the Gospel hindered through the Land, by unnecessary sinful private Antichurches: That every Town or City where are Men professing Godliness, may not be as a pitched Field; and holy Exercises turned into Contendings; nor Christian Assemblies turned into Schools of War, or scolding places. Let us not be many Masters, lest we receive the greater condemnation. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, &c. where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.] Jam. 3. Let us agree then to do what lieth in our power, that the Churches may be reduced to the Primitive patterns, that met all in One place, and there were of one Heart and Soul. Where find you in all the Scriptures, that there were two distinct Churches, (especially distinguished or divided by differences) in ⟨p. 48⟩one City; and that when for the number they might have joined in one? Where find you that the worst Church had any good men that separated from it into a distinct Church in that place? Is Scripture our common Rule? I beseech you then be able well to resolve these Questions, before you venture in your practice to contradict the word. If we drive you from our Churches causelessly, the Shame be on us! But if you causelessly depart into Antichurches, the blame shall lye on you. Do not stagger and confound our poor People, by showing them in each Town, Minister against Minister, and Church against Church; and entice not young Novices into an opinionative Religiousness, and draw not the Nation from the Power of Godliness, and Practice of Charity, into doting about Questions.
3. We crave, and expect our Brethrens consent, that we may not have the Gospel hindered through the Land, by unnecessary sinful private Antichurches: That every Town or City where are Men professing Godliness, may not be as a pitcht Field; and holy Exercises turned into Contendings; nor Christian Assemblies turned into Schools of War, or scolding places. Let us not be many Masters, lest we receive the greater condemnation. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easie to be intreated, &c. where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.]