A26897:364
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.
5. The ordinary means of these correspondencies, are Messengers and Synods, (or Councils) and Letters Testimonial or Certificates. If one Church be offended with another, upon suspicion of Heresy or scandalous Practices, they may by Messengers admonish them, and these may by Messengers make their Purgation or Confession. As also if they desire Advice or Help from one another; but if in common and weighty cases, there be need of more common and judicious consultations, or significations of Consent and Concord, Synods are the means thereto. And if one Member Travel into other parts, or remove his dwelling, or be to be received by other Churches; especially in Suspicious Times and Cases, Communicatory Letters and Certificates are the means, that Heretics and Deceivers abuse not the Churches.
5. The ordinary means of these correspondencies, are Messengers and Synods, (or Councils) and Letters Testimonial or Certificates. If one Church be offended with another, upon suspicion of Heresie or scandalous Practices, they may by Messengers admonish them, and these may by Messengers make their Purgation or Confession. As also if they desire Advice or Help from one another; but if in common and weighty cases, there be need of more common and judicious consultations, or significations of Consent and Concord, Synods are the means thereto. And if one Member Travel into other parts, or remove his dwelling, or be to be received by other Churches; especially in Suspicious Times and Cases, Communicatory Letters and Certificates are the means, that Hereticks and Deceivers abuse not the Churches.
6. Whether these Synods shall be held at certain stated times, or variously as occasions vary? And whether they shall have a President? And whether he shall be mutable or fixed? And of how many Churches they shall be composed? And how oft they shall meet, and how long they shall sit; with such like, are circumstances left to Humane Prudence, under the general Laws of Christ. But the use of Synods is so ordinary and great, that in sound and peaceable Countries, where Heresy or Church-Tyranny doth not turn them against their proper ends; and where State-Jealousies cause not Rulers to forbid them, the statedness and frequency of them will be of very great advantage to the Churches: But in the contrary cases it may be quite contrary.