A26906:1093
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. XVIII.
Spend and be spent for your peoples good; and do all the good that possibly you can for their bodies as well as for their souls: and think nothing that you have too dear to win them: that they may see that you are truly Fathers to them, and that their well-fare is your chiefest care and business.
All men love themselves; and naturally and necessarily love those that they know do greatly love them. And all men are sensible of their bodily concernments, and consequently of that good that is done to their bodies: He that setteth himself to relieve the poor, and to put on others to relieve them, to visit the sick, and help those that are in trouble, and to comfort the afflicted, to do what good he can to all, and hurt to none, shall find that their ears will be open to his doctrine, and that they will follow him towards heaven with much less resistance, than otherwise he must expect. Few such Ministers do ever want success of their labours. And the covetous, close handed, self-seeking and cruel, are always hated. And let his money perish with him, who thinketh it better than the souls of men, and the work of God.
ALl men love themselvs; and naturally and necessarily love those that they know do greatly love them. And all men are sensible of their bodily concernments, and consequently of that good that is done to their bodies: He that setteth himself to relieve the poor, and to put on others to relieve them, to visit the sick, and help those that are in trouble, and to comfort the afflicted, to do what good he can to all, and hurt to none, shall find that their ears will be open to his doctrine, and that they will follow him towards heaven with much less resistance, than otherwise he must expect. Few such Ministers do ever want success of their labours. And the covetos, close handed, self-seeking and cruel, are alwayes hated. And let his mony perish with him, who thinketh it better than the souls of men, and the work of God.