A26897:391
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.
Question 5: Q. 5. What is the Magistrates Power and Duty about Religion, and the Churches and Minis…
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.
Yet must we take heed that we over-value not our own labours, and that we pretend not a necessity of them when there is none: And that we invade not the public Temples or Maintenance, which are at the Magistrates disposal: And that we be not too querulous under our own sufferings, to make the Rulers odious to the People; nor any way stir up Sedition under pretence of saving Souls; nor carry on any carnal interest and work of our own, under the name of the work and interest of Christ. And as to the places, seasons, numbers, and other circumstances of our Ministerial Duties, they must be fitted to the Churches good, which is their end, and varied according to the variety of Cases; and we must not expect that all men and in all cases do observe the same which some must do.
Yet must we take heed that we over-value not our own labours, and that we pretend not a necessity of them when there is none: And that we invade not the publick Temples or Maintenance, which are at the Magistrates disposal: And that we be not too querulous under our own sufferings, to make the Rulers odious to the People; nor any way stir up Sedition under pretence of saving Souls; nor carry on any carnal interest and work of our own, under the name of the work and interest of Christ. And as to the places, seasons, numbers, and other circumstances of our Ministerial Duties, they must be fitted to the Churches good, which is their end, and varied according to the variety of Cases; and we must not expect that all men and in all cases do observe the same which some must do.
14. But where we may not actively obey, we must either fly to another City, Mat. 10. 23. or patiently suffer, and not resist, Rom. 13. 3. 5. Matth. 5. 10, 11, 12. We must not revile when we are reviled, nor curse (no not in our hearts) the Rulers of our people, nor secretly or openly dishonour them; Because their honour is more necessary to the common good than our vindication is: