A26897:95
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.
and whether one Member suffer, all the Members suffer with it, or one Member be honoured, all the Members rejoice with it: Now ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular, 1 Cor. 12 24, 25, 26, 27. ⟨p. 6⟩O how much the Nature and Unity of the Church Universal, even the Body of Christ, is forgotten by most men, that withdraw into separated Assemblies upon those grounds and terms, as condemn or cost off most of the Universal Church of Christ.
and whether one Member suffer, all the Members suffer with it, or one Member be honoured, all the Members rejoyce with it: Now ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular, 1 Cor. 12 24, 25, 26, 27. ⟨p. 6⟩O how much the Nature and Unity of the Church Universal, even the Body of Christ, is forgotten by most men, that withdraw into separated Assemblies upon those grounds and terms, as condemn or cost off most of the Universal Church of Christ.
And how do they look upon the face of the World, if indeed they know what state it is in, and hath been in, when they can find in their hearts to keep up our Divisions? (of which more anon).
6. Moreover our Divisions and Separations do much destroy the Power of Godliness: partly as is said, by destroying Love and all the Operations of Love, wherein it principally consisteth: and partly by diverting Professors of Religion from Practical Doctrine, Conference and Meditation, and filling them with Fancies and Opinions and Passions. So that when once in a Town there is Church against Church, and Pastor against Pastor, almost all (or too much) of their time is taken up in wrangling and contending and making their Cause good against each other; and they strive not to overcome each other by Meekness, Patience and Love: It is the raising of an Ecclesiastic War through all the Quarters of the Land! And few thrive by these Wars above any Wars. Mark whether Holiness, Love and Heavenliness appear as much in their Families and Lives, where this War is raised, and Fire kindled, as it did before.