A26897:258
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.
Q. But what shall the people of the Parish do that are put upon such straits, as to join with another Parish far off, because they have a Minister at home that refuseth them (as possibly an Anabaptist that requireth them to be rebaptized, or an uncharitable rejecter of all except such as have voluble Tongues, &c.)
Q. But what shall the people of the Parish do that are put upon such straits, as to joyn with another Parish far off, because they have a Minister at home that refuseth them (as possibly an Anabaptist that requireth them to be rebaptized, or an uncharitable rejecter of all except such as have voluble Tongues, &c.)
Answ. 1. He that is chosen to be the Pastor, is chosen to the Pastoral work, and therefore is trusted with the oversight and government of the Church: which must not be taken out of the Pastors hands, because of the Miscarriages of some. 2. But this must be prevented in the choice. Patrons must choose none but Prudent Pious men, that will not intolerably wrong the Church: And the Approvers must let no others in. But if Patrons or People choose such men, and the Approvers let them in, there's no Remedy, but shift for your ⟨p. 51⟩selves, unless you can get them out again. 3. If therefore they be so grossly injurious, procure the Magistrates to punish such for male-administration: For to them it doth belong: (Though it should be a very gross and proved abuse that must warrant them to punish the Pastors.) Let the Cause be heard, and the Commissioners have Power to remove them, if after warning they are uncurable. 4. And if the Magistrates will not do so, but keep them in, all that the Neighbour Churches can do, is to hear the Case, and if it be gross and intolerable, to disclaim Communion with them, and receive such Christians as the uncharitable do reject. This is all that can be done. But the best way is to be careful in the Choice. For it is an intolerable course that some are harping on, that Pastors should not be trusted with Church Guidance and Administrations (that is, to do the work of Pastors), any further than Magistrates make them Rules, because they may possibly be too imprudent, or injurious to the People. Surely as long as the Patrons or People choose, and the Magistrate Guards the Door, and also may punish or reject male-administrators as the Cause requireth, there needs no more.