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Richard Baxter
Church concord
Text
The Sum of our Agreement reduced to Practice.
p. 56

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. The terms Necessary for Concord among all true Churches and Christians.The First Part written 1655. The Second Part 1667. And Published this 1691. To second a late Agreement of the London Protestant Nonconformists: And a former Treatise called [The true and only terms of Church-Concord.]By RICHARD BAXTER.Mat. 5. 9. Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.1 Thess. 5. 12, 13. We beseech you, Brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and esteem them very highly in Love for their Works sake; and Be at Peace among your selves.Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3. If there be any Consolation in Christ, If any Comfort of Love, If any Fellowship of the Spirit, If any Bowels and Mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of one Mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory: but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves.1 Cor. 3. 1, 2, 3. And I, Brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal; to Babes in Christ—For whereas there is among you envying and strife, are ye not carnal and walk as men?LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel. 1691.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. The terms Necessary for Concord among all true Churches and Christians.The First Part written 1655. The Second Part 1667. And Published this 1691. To second a late Agreement of the London Protestant Nonconformists: And a former Treatise called [The true and only terms of Church-Concord.]By RICHARD BAXTER.Mat. 5. 9. Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.1 Thess. 5. 12, 13. We beseech you, Brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and esteem them very highly in Love for their Works sake; and Be at Peace among your selves.Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3. If there be any Consolation in Christ, If any Comfort of Love, If any Fellowship of the Spirit, If any Bowels and Mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of one Mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory: but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves.1 Cor. 3. 1, 2, 3. And I, Brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal; to Babes in Christ—For whereas there is among you envying and strife, are ye not carnal and walk as men?LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel. 1691.Title page of Church concord, London, 1691

A26897:285

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691

[16], 76 p. · 47k words · Wing B1223 · ESTC R14982

Title page typeset from the transcription.

The Sum of our Agreement reduced to Practice.

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.

[ Earlier:282–297 of 397

:282p. 56

2. We are Agreed that Consent is necessary to Church-Membership: And that it must be a signified consent: And that the most express consent is best to the well being of the Church caeteris paribus; but yet that a darker way of signifying may serve to the Being of the Church.

:283p. 56

Let us therefore thank God that we live in days of Liberty, wherein we may all use the most edifying way, and accordingly let us Agree to call our people to an express consent. But if any deny this, let them not be thereupon disowned, but forborne, so be it they will perform the whole work of their Ministry faithfully towards all that they take for their Charge.

Let us therefore thank God that we live in days of Liberty, wherein we may all use the most edifying way, and accordingly let us Agree to call our people to an express consent. But if any deny this, let them not be thereupon disowned, but forborn, so be it they will perform the whole work of their Ministry faithfully towards all that they take for their Charge.

:284p. 56

3. We are Agreed that it's lawful for a particular Church to consist of no more than can meet in one place: And yet that it is not necessary to its Being that actually they do all meet in a place.

:285p. 56

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Cited: :285
On this page: :282–297
Section: :278–303
Whole work: 397 passages

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Richard Baxter, Church concord (London, 1691), p. 56. EEBO-TCP A26897.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Bookseller: Tho. Parkhurst
Year: 1691
Size: [16], 76 p.
Words: 46,867
Catalogue: Wing B1223 · ESTC R14982
Text: EEBO-TCP A26897

Passages: 397
Sections: 27

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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Let us therefore resolve to confine our particular Churches ordinarily to a Parish: Unless it be where Parishes are so small, or fit persons so few, that it is fit to lay divers of them together, as to Church ends. Yet so that if any refuse this Agreement, and will needs take four or five Parishes for distinct worshipping Churches, and yet but one Governing Church, (in the Officers) we bear with them, and allow them the liberty of their way, so be it they will faithfully perform the work both of Worship and Discipline to them all.

:286p. 56

4. We are Agreed that it is lawful and meet that Neighbour Pastors be advisers and helpers in the Ordinations of Presbyters; and yet that they are truly Presbyters if they be Ordained but by the Presbyters of a particular Church. (And in cases of Necessity, if unordained.)

:287p. 56

Let us therefore Agree in practice that Ordinations be ordinarily performed by the Advice and Assistance of the Synod of the Associated Pastors, or some deputed Members of it. (The case of Ordination by Bishops I handle elsewhere, and not here.) And if any refuse this, let them be forborne, so be it they be Ordained by Lawful Presbyters, of their own Church or any other with whom we be not bound to avoid Communion.

Let us therefore Agree in practice that Ordinations be ordinarily performed by the Advice and Assistance of the Synod of the Associated Pastors, or some deputed Members of it. (The case of Ordination by Bishops I handle elsewhere, and not here.) And if any refuse this, let them be forborn, so be it they be Ordained by Lawful Presbyters, of their own Church or any other with whom we be not bound to avoid Communion.

:288p. 56

And if any Congregation through Error have no true Officers (in the judgment of the Synod) for want of true Ordination, yet let us hold such Communion with that Congregation (if other things correspond) as is due to a Neighbour Community of Christians, though not as is due to a Political Society.

:289p. 56

5. We are Agreed that the Pastors are by Commission from Christ appointed to be the Rulers of the Churches, and the people commanded to obey them: And that it is they that are the Authorized Teachers of the Flocks, and are to Administer the Sacraments, and Ministerially to bind or loose: And yet that the people are to be Governed as Freemen, and are not to obey apparently unrighteous censures, and therefore are by an Obediential Judgment, to discern what is fit to be obeyed, and what not.

5. We are Agreed that the Pastors are by Commission from Christ appointed to be the Rulors of the Churches, and the people commanded to obey them: And that it is they that are the Authorized Teachers of the Flocks, and are to Administer the Sacraments, and Ministerially to bind or loose: And yet that the people are to be Governed as Freemen, and are not to obey apparently unrighteous censures, and therefore are by an Obediential Judgment, to discern what is fit to be obeyed, and what not.

:290p. 56–57

Let us therefore practise according to this Agreement; and let the Pastors Rule, and let the people Obey; but not Obey against Gods Word: And therefore let the people have so far cognizance of the Cause, and their conse ⟨p. 57⟩be required, as is necessary to their free, discerning, safe Obedience, and to the Churches Peace. And if any Pastors will make more use of the peoples consent, and others less, let us forbear each other, till some ill consequents produce an accusation at the Synod; and then let the case be heard and judged.

Let us therefore practise according to this Agreement; and let the Pastors Rule, and let the people Obey; but not Obey against Gods Word: And therefore let the people have so far cognizance of the Cause, and their conse ⟨p. 57⟩be required, as is necessary to their free, discerning, safe Obedience, and to the Churches Peace. And if any Pastors will make more use of the peoples consent, and others less, let us forbear each other, till some ill consequents produce an accusation at the Synod; and then let the case be heard and judg'd.

:291p. 57

6. We are Agreed that a Pastor of one Church may Exercise divers acts of the Pastoral Office in another if he be called to such Exercise pro tempore. We need not therefore mention this in our further Forms of Concord; but leave each Man to his Liberty. If any Pastor think he may not Exercise his Pastoral Office abroad, let him stay at home: But let them have Liberty that are otherwise minded.

:292p. 57

7. We are Agreed that a particular Church that hath a Presbytery, may Exercise all Acts of Worship and Government within it self, that are appertaining only to it self. And that Synods should be used for Communion of Churches, where things that concern the Churches in common, or their Communion with one another, should be heard and judged.

:293p. 57

Let us therefore give way to particular Churches to enjoy their Liberty; and let all the Churches be linked together, and the Pastors associate, and meet in Synods for such Communion. Yet so that if any one in weakness shall refuse to Associate, or be an Ordinary Member of such Synods, (being caetera sanus) we shall not therefore withdraw our Brotherly Love, nor that distant sort of Communion of which he is capable: Though we must disown his way, lest others be tempted to the like Division.

Let us therefore give way to particular Churches to enjoy their Liberty; and let all the Churches be link'd together, and the Pastors associate, and meet in Synods for such Communion. Yet so that if any one in weakness shall refuse to Associate, or be an Ordinary Member of such Synods, (being caetera sanus) we shall not therefore withdraw our Brotherly Love, nor that distant sort of Communion of which he is capable: Though we must disown his way, lest others be tempted to the like Division.

:294p. 57

8. We are Agreed that no Men should bury their Talents, and that the Gifts of our people that are suited to the profiting of others, should be used to as public benefit as may be, so it be orderly, regularly, in their Callings, in a due subordination to the Ministry, and under their direction, for the helping and not the hindering of their Work (according to the forementioned limitations.)

8. We are Agreed that no Men should bury their Talents, and that the Gifts of our people that are suited to the profiting of others, should be used to as publick benefit as may be, so it be orderly, regularly, in their Callings, in a due subordination to the Ministry, and under their direction, for the helping and not the hindering of their Work (according to the forementioned limitations.)

:295p. 57

There is no Difference therefore among us here that is needful to be taken notice of in our Form of Concord, it being between particular persons, and not parties that the difference lieth. And actual miscarriages are to be enquired after as other Crimes in the several Churches and Associations.

There is no Difference therefore among us here that is needful to be taken notice of in our Form of Concord, it being between particular persons, and not parties that the difference lyeth. And actual miscarriages are to be enquired after as other Crimes in the several Churches and Associations.

:296p. 57

9. We are Agreed that all Parishes that have in them a people professing Christianity, and consent to live as particular Churches in Communion for Gods Worship, are true Churches, as that word doth signify a Community of Christians: And if they have true Pastors, they are true Churches, as the word [Church] doth signify a Political Society of Christians, capable of the ordinary actual worshipping of God in the public use of all Church Ordinances.

9. We are Agreed that all Parishes that have in them a people professing Christianity, and consent to live as particular Churches in Communion for Gods Worship, are true Churches, as that word doth signifie a Community of Christians: And if they have true Pastors, they are true Churches, as the word [Church] doth signifie a Political Society of Christians, capable of the ordinary actual worshipping of God in the publick use of all Church Ordinances.

:297p. 57–58

But because it is not to be expected that we should all be acquainted with the qualifications, consent or practice of the people in all the Parishes of the Land, nor of the Ministers call; it is not therefore to be expected that we be made Judges of the state of all Parishes, nor that we put our judgment of all, or any of them by Name, into our Form of Concord. But if practically any of us shall either slander any particular Church to be No Church, or shall use ⟨p. 58⟩it as no Church, the case must be heard and judged of in our Churches and Associations.

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⟨p. 12⟩

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