A26897:78
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.
Chap. I. The Necessity of Concord.
THE Judgments of all wise and sober men must needs disallow both the Practice of Division and unwarrantable Separation from the Churches of Christ, and the common Liberty for Gathering Churches out of Churches now pleaded for, and too much practised by many; and also the Occasioning of Divisions and Separations by over rigorous proceedings with tender Consciences, and imposition of unnecessary things and too much severity against those that through infirmity are guilty of some culpable Divisions and Uncharitableness: For it's not this Oil that will quench these flames.
In order to the healing of our dangerous Divisions, I think it meet to deliver my thoughts in the ensuing Method. 1. To show the Evil of our Divisions, and of the common practice of Private Separated Churches, where in Public there are able, godly, faithful Ministers, and such Public Churches as may lawfully be owned: For I meddle with no other case. 2. To show what the agreeing Public Ministers should do on their parts for the prevention and cure of these Distractions. 3. To give you the true state of the Differences that have occasioned them. 4. To propound those Terms by which a safe Reconciliation may be made. 5. To which I should add (if it were not for being thought too bold or confident) the Magistrates Duty, both in order to our Agreement, and in case we will not be agreed.
In order to the healing of our dangerous Divisions, I think it meet to deliver my thoughts in the ensuing Method. 1. To shew the Evil of our Divisions, and of the common practice of Private Separated Churches, where in Publick there are able, godly, faithful Ministers, and such Publick Churches as may lawfully be owned: For I meddle with no other case. 2. To shew what the agreeing Publick Ministers should do on their parts for the prevention and cure of these Distractions. 3. To give you the true state of the Differences that have occasioned them. 4. To propound those Terms by which a safe Reconciliation may be made. 5. To which I should add (if it were not for being thought too bold or confident) the Magistrates Duty, both in order to our Agreement, and in case we will not be agreed.