A26906:1001

The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

Name: The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…
Author: Richard Baxter

The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being dividers or troublers of the church with some directions to the pastors how to deal with such Christians / by Richard Baxter.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed for Nevil Symmons, 1670

[48], 430, [15] p. · 130k words · Wing B1234 · ESTC R1684

Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

Directions to Pastors how to deal with those weak Christians who are… › Direction 7: DIRECT. VII.Directions to Pastors how to deal with those weak Christians who ar… › Direction 7: DIRECT. VII.

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.

[ Earlier:999–1013 of 1,298

:999p. 343

DIRECT. VII.

:1000p. 343

Distinguish between those who hold it simply unlawful to have communion with you; and those who only hold it unlawful to prefer your assemblies before those which they judge more pure; but hold it lawful to communicate with you occasionally; yea and statedly when they can have no better.

:1001p. 343–344

I Excuse not all such from the guilt of all sin herein. For if they prefer that Church or Ministry which they should not prefer, it is their sin. But it is not that sin which of old hath been called Separation and Schism. While a man is free, if he love himself we cannot wonder if he choose that society and Ministry where he thinketh his salvation may be best furthered and secured: All sober Divines who write of the Ministry and of company, do declare that the difference between good and bad, yea good and better, in both these, is of so great importance, that all wise men should be very careful of their choice. If we may without reproach be allowed to be cautelous what wife we choose, what master or servants, what house, what neighbourhood, what soil, what air; Much more may we be allowed to be cautelous what Church and Ministers we join with; And if we are allowed to choose ⟨p. 344⟩what Physician we will commit our health and lives to, and are not constrained to use one that we judge to be ignorant or false, surely it would be no heinous schism, if the like liberty be granted and used for our souls. The very Papists give the people liberty to chose their Confessors, without removing their dwellings for it: And surely my conscience would tell me at last, that I am very selfish and proud if I thought none so fit to instruct and edify any of the people as my self? No nor tolerable in endeavouring it. Have I not heard many, do I not know many, who preach more convincingly, more plainly and more powerfully than I? And what harm is it then if the people hear them? So Christ be preached, and the people instructed, sanctified and saved, what if it be done by another rather than by me? Have not I liberty to do my best? Shall I be an envier at the Gospel and its success! God forbid that I or any faithful Minister, should ever be guilty of so odious a sin! I speak without respect of persons: It is easy and usual both in public allowed Churches, and in privater assemblies, to preach our selves while we seem to be preaching Christ; and by our perverse preaching to seek disciples and esteemers for our selves, when we are preaching up selfdenial, and seem to be most zealous for the saving of souls.

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The book

Title as printed

Author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

Place

London

Bookseller

Nevil Symmons

Year

1670

Size

[48], 430, [15] p.

Words

130,067

Catalogue

Wing B1234 · ESTC R1684

Text

EEBO-TCP A26906

Passages

1,298

Sections

105

Title page

The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

DIRECT. VII.

Distinguish between those who hold it simply unlawful to have communion with you; and those who only hold it unlawful to prefer your assemblies before those which they judge more pure; but hold it lawful to communicate with you occasionally; yea and statedly when they can have no better.

DIRECT. VIII.

Remember Christs interest in the weakest of his servants, and do nothing to them which Christ will not take well.

DIRECT. IX.

Distinguish between weakness of Gifts and of Grace, and remember that many that are weak in the understanding of matters of Church-order, may yet be stronger in grace than you.

DIRECT. X.

Remember the common calamity of the Church and of all mankind: What strange disparity there is in mens understandings! and how the Church on earth is a Hospital of diseased souls, and no one man perfectly healed in this life.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. VII.

Distinguish between those who hold it simply unlawful to have communion with you; and those who only hold it unlawful to prefer your assemblies before those which they judge more pure; but hold it lawful to communicate with you occasionally; yea and statedly when they can have no better.

DIRECT. VIII.

Remember Christs interest in the weakest of his servants, and do nothing to them which Christ will not take well.

DIRECT. IX.

Distinguish between weakness of Gifts and of Grace, and remember that many that are weak in the understanding of matters of Church-order, may yet be stronger in grace than you.

DIRECT. X.

Remember the common calamity of the Church and of all mankind: What strange disparity there is in mens understandings! and how the Church on earth is a Hospital of diseased souls, and no one man perfectly healed in this life.