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Richard Baxter
Church concord
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Preface
img 5

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. The terms Necessary for Concord among all true Churches and Christians.The First Part written 1655. The Second Part 1667. And Published this 1691. To second a late Agreement of the London Protestant Nonconformists: And a former Treatise called [The true and only terms of Church-Concord.]By RICHARD BAXTER.Mat. 5. 9. Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.1 Thess. 5. 12, 13. We beseech you, Brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and esteem them very highly in Love for their Works sake; and Be at Peace among your selves.Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3. If there be any Consolation in Christ, If any Comfort of Love, If any Fellowship of the Spirit, If any Bowels and Mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of one Mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory: but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves.1 Cor. 3. 1, 2, 3. And I, Brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal; to Babes in Christ—For whereas there is among you envying and strife, are ye not carnal and walk as men?LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel. 1691.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. The terms Necessary for Concord among all true Churches and Christians.The First Part written 1655. The Second Part 1667. And Published this 1691. To second a late Agreement of the London Protestant Nonconformists: And a former Treatise called [The true and only terms of Church-Concord.]By RICHARD BAXTER.Mat. 5. 9. Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.1 Thess. 5. 12, 13. We beseech you, Brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and esteem them very highly in Love for their Works sake; and Be at Peace among your selves.Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3. If there be any Consolation in Christ, If any Comfort of Love, If any Fellowship of the Spirit, If any Bowels and Mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of one Mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory: but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves.1 Cor. 3. 1, 2, 3. And I, Brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal; to Babes in Christ—For whereas there is among you envying and strife, are ye not carnal and walk as men?LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel. 1691.Title page of Church concord, London, 1691

A26897:39

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691

[16], 76 p. · 47k words · Wing B1223 · ESTC R14982

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Preface: THE PREFACE.

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.

[ Earlier:36–51 of 397

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Q. 2. Could you possibly be so proud as to think your selves capable of this, if you had ever had true Humility, or knowledge of your selves?

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Q. 3. Do not you forfeit even the right of choosing your Pastors that know no better what a Pastor is, and that to be your Rulers is essential to their office?

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Q. 4. With what Eyes and Minds do you read the Scripture, that cannot there see, that you are commanded to Obey them that have the Rule over you, for they watch for your Souls, as those that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not grief, for that is unprofitable to you, Heb. 3. 17. & v. 7. Remember them which have the Rule over you; who have spoken to you the Word of God. And v. 24. Salute all them that have the Rule over you, 1 Tim. 3. 5. A Bishop must be one that Ruleth well his own House, else how shall he take care of the Church of God. And (as the Steward of God. Tit. 1. 7. To give the Children their Meat in due season, 1 Thess. 5. 12, 13. Know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, &c. 1 Cor. 4. 1, 2. Let a man so esteem of us as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God: It's required of Stewards that a man be found faithful?

Q. 4. With what Eyes and Minds do you read the Scripture, that cannot there see, that you are commanded to Obey them that have the Rule over you, for they watch for your Souls, as those that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not grief, for that is unprofitable to you,

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Cited: :39
On this page: :36–51
Section: :9–69
Whole work: 397 passages

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Richard Baxter, Church concord (London, 1691), preface, unnumbered page (image 5). EEBO-TCP A26897.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Bookseller: Tho. Parkhurst
Year: 1691
Size: [16], 76 p.
Words: 46,867
Catalogue: Wing B1223 · ESTC R14982
Text: EEBO-TCP A26897

Passages: 397
Sections: 27

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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. & v. 7. Remember them which have the Rule over you; who have spoken to you the Word of God. And v. 24. Salute all them that have the Rule over you,

. A Bishop must be one that Ruleth well his own House, else how shall he take care of the Church of God. And (as the Steward of God.

. To give the Children their Meat in due season,

1 Thess. 5. 12, 13

. Know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, &c.

. Let a man so esteem of us as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God: It's required of Stewa••s that a man be found faithful?

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Q. 5. Do you know what the word Pastor signifieth? Do the Sheep Rule the Shepherd and themselves?

Q. 5. Do you know what the word Pastor signifyeth? Do the Sheep Rule the Shepherd and themselves?

:40img 5

Q. 6. The Pastor being but one, and you, having the Major Vote, are you not his Rulers? And are you able to Rule him aright? Why do you not tell him what and whom to reprove, &c.

:41img 5

Q. 7. Is it not Sacrilege to usurp a sacred Office? Like Uzzah's incense, and C•rah's sin?

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Q. 8. Who hath required this at your hands? Who gave you Commission to Rule the Church?

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Q. 9▪ Do you not tremble to think what a charge you usurp, and what a dreadful account you undertake to give? Will you answer for all that are un•neetly Baptized, received to Communion, Excommunicated, Restored, &c. Do you not know that this is a greater and harder part of the Pastors Office, than an hours Preaching (which a well furnished man can do in the way that you like with little or no study) If he must wholly attend this work, must not you do so, if you undertake it? Do you know what it is to try so many Men and Women's Knowledge and Professions and Lives, and to hear Witnesses, and hear each person• Plea for himself, and judge? Must you not leave your Trades for it, or be treacherous? Even all of you, because the Major Vote must judge. O fearful Self-condemnation!

Q. 9▪ Do you not tremble to think what a charge you usurp, and what a dreadful account you undertake to give? Will you answer for all that are un•neetly Baptized, received to Communion, Excommunicated, Restored, &c. Do you not know that this is a greater and harder part of the Pastors Office, than an hours Preaching (which a well furnished man can do in the way that you like with little or no study) If he must wholly attend this work, must not you do so, if you undertake it? Do you know what it is to try so many Men and Womens Knowledge and Professions and Lives, and to hear Witnesses, and hear each person• Plea for himself, and judge? Must you not leave your Trades for it, or be treacherous? Even all of you, because the Major Vote must judge. O fearful Self-condemnation!

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Q. 10. Do you not know how certainly this will turn Churches into Confusion, and the scorn of the World? Will you all agree in your Trials? Or will not one think that person not holy enough, nor that profession of conversion satisfactory, which another approveth?

Q. 10. Do you not know how certainly this will turn Churches into Confusion, and the scorn of the World? Will you all agree in your Tryals? Or will not one think that person not holy enough, nor that profession of conversion satisfactory, which another approveth?

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Q. 11. And where hath God given the Major Vote the Government of the Minor? If you can rest in • wrong judgment of the Usurping Majority, why not of the lawful Pastors?

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Q. 12. Why would you choose Pastors that be not wi••r to govern than your selves?

Q. 12. Why would you chuse Pastors that be not wi••r to govern than your selves?

:47img 5

Q. 13. Do you not imitate those Diocesan• that take on them the sole Government of more Churches than they can govern: And do not you also undertake what you cannot do?

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Q. 14. Do you think it is not lawful for a great Lord like Abraham, that hath a hundred or many hundred Servants, to make a Church of his Family? And do you think his Children and Servants should rule it by Vote, and try their Lord and Ladies graces?

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Q. 15. Do you not know that Baptism entereth into the Universal Church as such, and not into any particular Church without a further contract? And who made you Rulers of the Church Universal? why you rather than another Church. Did the People try and judge by Vote the Baptizing of the three thousand, Act. 3. and of Cornelius, and the E•much, and the Jailer, or the Samaritans, or any one person? Prove it if you can, and defy not God's Word.

Q. 15. Do you not know that Baptism entereth into the Universal Church as such, and not into any particular Church without a further contract? And who made you Rulers of the Church Universal? why you rather than another Church. Did the People try and judge by Vote the Baptizing of the three thousand, Act. 3. and of Cornelius, and the E•much, and the Iailor, or the Samaritans, or any one person? Prove it if you can, and defie not God's Word.

:50img 5

Q. 16. What if the Minister that must Baptize and give the Lord's Supper be unsatisfied in your Judgment? Must he go against his Conscience in obedience to you?

Q. 16. What if the Minister that must Baptize and give the Lord's Supper be unsatisfied in your Iudgment? Must he go against his Conscience in obedience to you?

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Q. 17. Is one abused Text [Tell, and hear the Church] ignorantly repeated, enough to blind you against all this Evidence? If the King send to the City of London to cast out an ill Member, doth it follow that all the People must do it by equal Power or Vote, or some as Rulers, and others as obedient Consenters? your freedom and your choice of Rulers is not a Power to Rule. Papists and all Sects abuse this Text.

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