A26906:1067

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 12: DIRECT. XII.Directions to Pastors how to deal with those weak Christians who ar… › Direction 12: DIRECT. XII.

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:1064–1079 of 1,298

:1064p. 373–375

Though I have some where else mentioned it, I will again request the Reverend Pastors of the Church, to peruse the story of Idacius and Martin in Sulpitius Severus. The sum of it is this. Priscillian and many others (some Bishops and some Presbyters and some private persons) were zealous in religion, but heretical (Gnostics saith Sulpitius:) Ithacius and Idacius were two Orthodox Bishops who were very hot against these heretics: Both of them men of rash and haughty spirits, and one of them at least (saith ⟨p. 374⟩Sulpitius) an injurious person that scarce cared what he said or did by others (see what persons a good cause may be defended by.) These Bishops drew in the Bishops of the neighbouring Churches, & in their Synods first condemned the Priscillianists; and next provoked the Emperor against them. The Priscillianists found that if that were the way, an Emperors Court was not so Orthodox or constant, but there might be as good hopes for them: And therefore they got a powerful friend in Court to undertake their business, and got the better of the Bishops: The Bishops being born down for a time, at last Maximus was proclaimed Emperor, and came over with power and victory into Germany (such another as Cromwell, who by the Bishops was accounted a very Religious Christian, but usurped the Empire, and fought against and killed one of the Emperors, and pretended that the soldiers made him Emperor against his will.) This Maximus (whether sincerely or for his own advantage is unknown) did take part with the Orthodox and greatly honour the Bishops and promote Religion, and got a great deal of love and honour. Ithacius and Idacius and the rest of the Bishops apply themselves to Maximus against the Priscillianists; who hearkened to them, and to please them put Priscillian and some others to death, and punished others by other ways of violence. The more rude ungodly sort of Christians, so far concurred or over-went the Bishops, that they turned their fury against any that seemed more Religious than their neighbours: so that if any one did but fast and pray more, and read the Scriptures ⟨p. 375⟩more than others, he was reproached as a Heretic and favourer of the Priscillianists:

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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. XIII.

When you have thought of all the evils that will be uncured, when Love and evidence have done their part; yet reject not this way till you have found out a better; which will do the work that is to be done, and that with fewer inconveniences.

DIRECT. XIV.

DIRECT. XV.

Discourage not the Religious from so much of Religious exercises in their families, or with one another, as is meet for them in their private stations.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. XIII.

When you have thought of all the evils that will be uncured, when Love and evidence have done their part; yet reject not this way till you have found out a better; which will do the work that is to be done, and that with fewer inconveniences.

DIRECT. XIV.

DIRECT. XV.

Discourage not the Religious from so much of Religious exercises in their families, or with one another, as is meet for them in their private stations.