A26897:343
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.
14. The Members of the same Church must live so near to one another, as that they may be capable of the Communion and Duties of their relation. But whether Parish-bounds shall be Church-bounds, and whether there shall be one Church only, or more in the same Parish, is a thing which God hath not directly determined, but only by general Rules to direct our Prudence, as cases are by Circumstances varied.
Where the Magistrates Laws thus bound the Churches, and the conveniences of Numbers, Maintenance, Place, and common Expectation require it; And where it is commonly taken for scandalous Disobedience, or Disorder or Schism, to do otherwise, Prudence forbiddeth us to violate these Bounds and Orders, without true necessity. Not taking all for Church-Members who are Parishioners, but taking none but Parishioners into that Church, nor setting up other Churches in that Parish. But when there are no such Laws and Reasons for it, and where there are plainly greater Reasons or necessity to do otherwise; we should not make such a Law to our selves.
15. When true sound Churches are first settled, all unnecessary and causeless Separation from them, or setting up of new Churches in the same Towns or Parishes, by way of disclaiming them, or in opposition to them, should be avoided by all Christians. Because, 1. We find not in Scripture times, that any one City had many such Churches, approved of God: (The numbers of Christians being but enow for one). 2. Because it taketh up more Ministers than the interest of the Universal Church can allow to so few. 3. Because it proceedeth from a sinful want of Love and Unity; and tendeth to the further decrease of both: Long and sad Experience having showed, that each of those Churches think it to be their Duty to stablish their several persuasions, and oppose the contrary; whereby they are carried as for the interest of the truth, to make their Adversaries be thought to be ignorant, erroneous, or bad, and so to make one another seem less amiable; to the ruin of Love and the division and danger of the Churches. And because Love and Unity are so frequently and vehemently pressed in the Scriptures: and Divisions or Schism so much forbidden.