A26906:109
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.
The Additional Directions to the Pastors.
1. Let it be our first care to know and do our own duty: And when we see the peoples weakness and divisions, let us first examine and judge our selves, and lament and reform our own neglects. Ministers are the Cause of most divisions.
2. It is needful to the peoples Edification and Concord, that their Pastors much excel them, in knowledge and utterance, and also in prudence, holiness, and heavenly mindedness: that the reverence of their callings and persons may be preserved; and the people taught by their Examples.
3. Inculcate still the necessary conjunction of Holiness and Peace; and of the Love of God and Man: And that Love is their Holiness it self, and the sum of their Religion; the End of faith, and the fulfilling of the Law. And that as Love to God uniteth us to Him; so Love to man must unite us to each other. And that all doctrine and practices which are against Love and Unity, are against God, against Christ, against the Spirit, against the Church, and against Mankind.