A26897:322
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.
I. It is to be understood that the Universal Church is considered as Spiritual or as Visible: As Spiritual, it is the Universality of true Spiritual or Regenerate Believers, as Headed by Jesus Christ. As Visible, it is the Universality of the Baptized, or Professors of true Faith, as Headed by Christ, (the Author and Object of that Faith.) And accordingly Christians are to be distinguished. And that the Question is of the Visible Church and Christians.
2. This being supposed I answer, that Catholic Visible Communion consisteth, 1. Fundamentally, in being all Baptized or entered into the same Covenant of Grace, with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and so being joined to the same Head, and entered into the same Universal Body, and professing the same Faith, and Love, and Obedience contained in that Covenant, and not falling away from that Profession, or any Essential part thereof.
2. This being supposed I answer, that Catholick Visible Communion consisteth, 1. Fundamentally, in being all Baptized or entered into the same Covenant of Grace, with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and so being joyned to the same Head, and entered into the same Universal Body, and professing the same Faith, and Love, and Obedience contained in that Covenant, and not falling away from that Profession, or any Essential part thereof.
2. And consequently that we all acknowledge the extraordinary Ministry of the Prophets and Apostles, and receive their Testimony and Doctrine recorded in the Sacred Scriptures: At least the foresaid Essentials of the Covenant; and so much more as we understand, and are convinced to be Canonical Scriptures, or written by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost.