A26897:94
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. And certainly so far to forsake the Catholic Principles and Interest, and be so void of a Catholic Spirit and Love, as to set a part against the whole, or a smaller part against the Profit of the main part of Christ's Body, is a thing much unlike the Christian Nature, and unbeseeming a sensible Member of Christ. With what hearts do such dividing Brethren read all those passages of Scripture that speak of the Unity of the Catholic Church? We have all one End, one Hope, one Law. [There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one Hope of our Calling: one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism (one Baptismal Covenanting with God) Eph. 4. 4, 5, 6. one God and Father of all; who is above all, through all, and in us all; therefore must we endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace] v. 3. [For as the Body is one and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body being many, are one Body: so also is Christ: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body—] 1 Cor. 12. 12, 13. And the Spirit and Ministry are given to this one Body [for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in Love, may grow up in him, in all things, which is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body to the edifying of it self in Love.] Eph. 4. 12, 13 14, 15. Note here the Unity of the Catholic Body, and who is the Centre of the Church, and in what way it prospereth to perfection? and all will tell you of Unity in Christ, and Communion of the several parts in Love. [God hath tempered the Body together, having given more abundant honour to that part that locked; that there should be no Schism in the Body, but that the Members should have the same care one for another:
5. And certainly so far to forsake the Catholick Principles and Interest, and be so void of a Catholick Spirit and Love, as to set a part against the whole, or a smaller part against the Profit of the main part of Christ's Body, is a thing much unlike the Christian Nature, and unbeseeming a sensible Member of Christ. With what hearts do such dividing Brethren read all those passages of Scripture that speak of the Unity of the Catholick Church? We have all one End, one Hope, one Law. [There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one Hope of our Calling: one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism (one Baptismal Coveanting with God)