A26906:1217
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.
Ans. No, God forbid we should! But they are a mistaken Clergy; which showeth us that the Clergy are as liable to be dividers and troublers of the Church as the Laity are; and have done much more.
Ans. No, God forbid we should! But they are a mistaken Clergy; which sheweth us that the Clergy are as liable to be dividers and troublers of the Church as the Laity are; and have done much more.
If any hence would infer, that the Pastors must be vilified or deprived of their just liberties and power, I would more largely tell such a one, that it is also the Clergy that have opposed all these Heresies and sins; and that have maintained obedience to Princes; and that have preserved the ⟨p. 430⟩Scriptures and the Christian saith; and that have been the salt and lights of the world, without whom Christianity never long continued in any nation; And that have been the chief instruments of bringing all the souls to Heaven that have passed thither from the militant Church. (But I have done this in two sheets for the Ministry long ago.) So that our faults consist with the honour of our function, and of our necessary labours, and with the praise of the more blameless.
If any hence would infer, that the Pastors must be vilified or deprived of their just liberties and power, I would more largely tell such a one, that it is also the Clergy that have opposed all these Heresies and sins; and that have maintained obedience to Princes; and that have preserved the ⟨p. 430⟩Scriptures and the Christian saith; and that have been the salt and lights of the world, without whom Christianity never long continued in any nation; And that have been the chief instruments of bringing all the souls to Heaven that have passed thither from the militant Church. (But I have done this in two sheets for the Ministery long ago.) So that our faults consist with the honour of our function, and of our necessary labours, and with the praise of the more blameless.