A26906:1054
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…
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.
London: printed for Nevil Symmons, 1670
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.
DIRECT. XII.
Remember that the Pastoral Government is a Work of LIGHT and LOVE: and what cannot be done by these is not at all to be done by you: And therefore you must make it your great study and employment, first to Know more than the people, and to Love them more than they Love you or one another; and then to convince them by unresistable evidence of truth, and to cause the warmth of your Love to be felt by them, in every word and act of your Ministration; As the Mi•k is warm by the natural heat of the mother, and so is fitted for the nourishment of the child.
Remember that the Pastoral Government is a Work of LIGHT and LOVE: and what cannot be done by these is not at all to be done by you: And therefore you must make it your great study and employment, first to Know more than the people, and to Love them more than they Love you or one another; and then to convince them by unresistable evidence of truth, and to cause the warmth of your Love to be felt by them, in every word and act of your Ministration; As the Mi•k is wa•m by the natural heat of the mother, and so is fitted for the nourishment of the child.
AS the Gospel is the revelation of the Love of God, and it is a message of Love which we have to bring, and a work of Love which we cooperate to effect; so it is a spirit of Love which must be our principle, and it is an office and work of Love which we are called to; and the manner must be answerable to the work. Faith is the Head, and Love is the Heart of the new Creature: And as there is no Light in our office and work, if there be no Faith and evidence of Truth, so there is no Life in it, if there be no Love. God himself in the great work of our Redemption, & Christ in his Incarnation, life and suffering, hath