A26897:347
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.
When they separate because the Church will not forbear the Singing of David's Psalms, the Baptizing of Infants, or some other such part or order of God's Worship. 15. When they separate because they will not consent to the lawful Circumstances of Time, Place, Translation, Metre, Tunes, Utensils, or Methods which the Church doth use. These all are unlawful Separations. But the great aggravations are, when they separate to set up Heretical Doctrine, and Teachers, or false Church-Orders and Worship corrupted in the Essentials; or to promote ungodliness, or to rail at others from whom they separate, and to cherish Divisions to the injury of the common Christian Cause.
17. These following are lawful Causes of Separation. 1. When the Pastors are really no Ministers of Christ, but uncapable, or uncalled Usurpers, or Heretics or Infidels; or open Enemies to Piety, who do more harm than good, and set themselves to destroy the Church of God, and the ends of their Ministry 2. When the Church maketh not Profession of the Christian Faith, or are not baptized or visible Christians. 3. When the worship of the Church is Idolatry, or such for the Substance as God will not accept, nor it is not lawful to join in. 4. When the Church renounceth, or omitteth any Ordinance of God, which the whole Church must ordinarily perform, and which all things considered, it is not lawful to omit. 5. When (after due admonition) the Church is turned into a Theatre of Contention, and a School of Malignity and reviling the Brethren, and of destroying Christian Love to others; or of promoting Schism to the intolerable wrong of the people, and of others, and of the Cause and Churches of Christ. 6. When (after due Admonition and Patience) the Church so far renounceth Discipline, as openly to own and justify such wickedness or heinous Sins, as are inconsistent with the true Profession of Christianity and Godliness.
17. These following are lawful Causes of Separation. 1. When the Pastors are really no Ministers of Christ, but uncapable, or uncalled Usurpers, or Hereticks or Infidels; or open Enemies to Piety, who do more harm than good, and set themselves to destroy the Church of God, and the ends of their Ministry 2. When the Church maketh not Profession of the Christian Faith, or are not baptized or visible Christians. 3. When the worship of the Church is Idolatry, or such for the Substance as God will not accept, nor it is not lawful to joyn in. 4. When the Church renounceth, or omitteth any Ordinance of God, which the whole Church must ordinarily perform, and which all things considered, it is not lawful to omit. 5. When (after due admonition) the Church is turned into a Theatre of Contention, and a School of Malignity and reviling the Brethren, and of destroying Christian Love to others; or of promoting Schism to the intolerable wrong of the people, and of others, and of the Cause and Churches of Christ. 6. When (after due Admonition and Patience) the Church so far renounceth Discipline, as openly to own and justifie such wickedness or heinous Sins, as are inconsistent with the true Profession of Christianity and Godliness.