A26897:255
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.
2. But differences in any Principles between the several Parties will occasion none, if we could exactly practise our own Principles.
1. That difference in Practice will is evident: 1. Because it is impossible that all men of the same Parties should have the same degrees of Prudence, Moderation, Charity, Zeal, &c. which will make some to exclude abundance of persons that others of the same Party will admit. 2. Because if the Pastor should be moderate, he cannot promise that his Congregation will be so: And if they too rigorously refuse any Members, he is not able alone to retain them. 3. And if abundance of tolerable Christians be refused, there is no reason that for the rigour of others, they should wholly be deprived of the Communion of the Church, and the Ordinances of God. I easily foresee, that whoever was first guilty of it, it is the more Charitable Churches that will be put most upon the receiving of Members out of other Parishes: For the uncharitable will take perhaps an Hundred, and leave out and reject two Hundred of their Parishioners that should be accepted: And then the next adjoining Church cannot conscionably refuse their Entertainment.
1. That difference in Practice will is evident: 1. Because it is impossible that all men of the same Parties should have the same degrees of Prudence, Moderation, Charity, Zeal, &c. which will make some to exclude abundance of persons that others of the same Party will admit. 2. Because if the Pastor should be moderate, he cannot promise that his Congregation will be so: And if they too rigorously refuse any Members, he is not able alone to retain them. 3. And if abundance of tolerable Christians be refused, there is no reason that for the rigour of others, they should wholly be deprived of the Communion of the Church, and the Ordinances of God. I easily foresee, that whoever was first guilty of it, it is the more Charitable Churches that will be put most upon the receiving of Members out of other Parishes: For the uncharitable will take perhaps an Hundred, and leave out and reject two Hundred of their Parishioners that should be accepted: And then the next adjoyning Church cannot conscionably refuse their Entertainment.