A26897:91
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.
Abundance of such passages are before us in the Word, which tell us that this Great and Necessary command of Love and Unity, is not to be dispensed with, nor Divisions among Christians to be accounted small things. And shall men professing the fear of God, go against such a stream of Holy Precepts? And be sensible of a Swearers or a Drunkards Sin, and not of so great a course of Sin of their own?
3. The Nature of Gods Graces in his Servants Souls is contrary to a way of Separation and Division: As Fire would to Fire, and Water to Water, so would Christian to Christian: Grace is sociable, and abhors Division as well ⟨p. 5⟩as Nature. Wounding is not its Delight. Love is an Essential part of the New Man. The living Members rejoice together, and suffer together, and be not easily set against each other; but it's hurt to all that's hurt to one.
3. The Nature of Gods Graces in his Servants Souls is contrary to a way of Separation and Division: As Fire would to Fire, and Water to Water, so would Christian to Christian: Grace is sociable, and abhors Division as well ⟨p. 5⟩as Nature. Wounding is not its Delight. Love is an Essential part of the New Man. The living Members rejoyce together, and suffer together, and be not easily set against each other; but it's hurt to all that's hurt to one.
4. Divided Churches are the Seminaries of Private dividing Principles; As they proceed from such Principles, so do they cherish and increase them. They espouse an Interest that's contrary to Catholicism and Christian Concord; and therefore we find that they make it much of their Business to propagate it. Whatever Opinion drew from the Communion of the Church, must be there pleaded for against the Peace of the Church. And to have a Mutineer in the Army of our Lord is bad; but to have Schools and Nurseries of Mutineers dispersed through the Land, and favoured by Godly Men, is far worse.