A26897:294
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.
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.
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.
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.