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.
Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed for Nevil Symmons, 1670
[48], 430, [15] p. · 130k words · Wing B1234 · ESTC R1684
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.
And because all Christians pretend to submit to the word of God, I will try whether it be not thus with you in the present case, and will cite many plain expressions of Scripture, for Christian Unity and Concord, that you may either better perceive you duty, or plainly show your great partiality.
And because all Christians pretend to s•bmit to the word of God, I will try whether it be not thus with you in the present case, and will cite many plain expressions of Scripture, for Christian Vnity and Concord, that you may either better perceive you duty, or plainly shew your great partiality.
Zech. 14. 9. In that day there shall be One Lord and his name One. Ezek. 34. 23. And I will set up One Shepherd over them. Ezek. 37. 22. I will make them One Nation—and One King shall be King to them all, and they shall be no more two Nations, nor ⟨p. 59⟩divided into two Kingdoms any more. 24. And David my servant shall be King over them, and they shall have One shepherd. Jer. 32. 39. I will give them one heart and one way. So Ezek. 11. 19. Joh. 21, 22. That they all may be One; as thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be One in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me; and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.
. They lift up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God—And the multitude of them that believed, were of one heart, and of one soul.
, &c. I the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of your vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness; with long-suffering forbearing one another in love: endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is One body, and One Spirit, Even as ye are called in One hope of your calling. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.—v. 12, 13. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying
⟨p. 60⟩
of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the Unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive:
Zech. 14. 9. In that day there shall be One Lord and his name One. Ezek. 34. 23. And I will set up One Shepherd over them. Ezek. 37. 22. I will make th•m One Nation—and One King shall be King to them all, and they shall be no more two Nations, nor ⟨p. 59⟩divided into two Kingdomes any more. 24. And David my servant shall be King over them, and they shall have One shepherd. Jer. 32. 39. I will give them one heart and one way. So Ezek. 11. 19. Joh. 21, 22. That they all may be One; as thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be One in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me; and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. Joh. 11. 52. That he should gather together in One, the children of God that are scattered abroad. Act. 1. 14. These all continued with one accord, in prayer and supplication. And chap. 2. 1. They were all with one accord in one place. Act. 4. 24, 32. They lift up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God—And the multitude of them that believed, were of one heart, and of one soul. Act. 5. 12. They were all with one accord in Solomons Porch. Act. 15. 25. It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord—2 Cor. 11. 2. I have espoused you to one husband— Eph. 4. 1, &c. I the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of your vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness; with long-suffering forbearing one another in love: endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is One body, and One Spirit, Even as ye are called in One hope of your calling. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.—v. 12, 13. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying ⟨p. 60⟩of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the Unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man: that we henceforth be no more childr•n, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cun•ing craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things who is the Head, Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, to the edifying of it self in love.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things who is the Head, Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joyned together, and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, to the edifying of it self in love.
1 Cor. 12. 3, 12, 13. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost—As the Body is One, and hath many Members, and all the members of that One body, being many are One •ody, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit, we are all baptized into One body.—v. 22, 23. Nay much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble are necessary: And those members of the body which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, h•ving given more abundant honour to that part that l••ked: that there should be no Schism in the body, […] that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all suffer with it, and if one be honoured, all rejoice—v. 15. If the foot say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the b•dy, is it therefore not of the body—(By all this you may see, that even the lowest, dishonoured, […] an• […] members, must not be denied to ⟨p. 61⟩be of the Church or body of Christ.)
1 Cor. 12. 3, 12, 13. No man can say that Iesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost—As the Body is One, and hath many Members, and all the members of that One body, being many are One •ody, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit, we are all baptized into One body.—v. 22, 23. Nay much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble are necessary: And those members of the body which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour, and our unc•mely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, h•ving given more abundant honour to that part that l••ked: that there should be no Schisme in the body, 〈…〉 that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all suffer with it, and if one be honoured, all rejoyce—v. 15. If the foot say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the b•dy, is it therefore not of the body—(By all this you may see, that even the lowest, dishonoured, 〈…〉 an•〈…〉 mem•ers, must not be denied to ⟨p. 61⟩be of the Church or body of Christ.)
1 Cor. 1. 10. Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you: but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. v. 12, 13. Every one saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollo—Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul. Ch. 3. 15. If any mans work be burnt, he shall s•ffer loss; yet he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.—Ch. 3. 3, 4. For y• are yet carnal: For whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? while one saith, I am of Paul, &c.
1 Cor. 1. 10. Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you: but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgement. v. 12, 13. Every one saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollo—Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul. Ch. 3. 15. If any mans work be burnt, he shall s•ffer loss; yet he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.—Ch. 3. 3, 4. For y• are yet carnal: For whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? while one saith, I am of Paul, &c.
Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weak in the faith receive, but not to doubtful disputations. v. 3. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and let not him which eateth not judge him which eateth: for God hath received him: who art th•u that judgest another mans servant? to his own Master he standeth or falleth. One man esteemeth one day above another: Another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind: He that regardeth a day, regardeth it to the Lord! v. •0. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why d•st thou set at nought thy brother? we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. v. 13. 14. I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of it self; but to him that esteemeth any thing unclean, to him it is unclean, v. 17. For the Kingdom of God is ⟨p. 62⟩not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost: For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men: Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace. v. 22. Hast thou faith? Have it to thy self before God. Ch. 15. 1, 2. We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves. Let us every one please his neighbour for his good, to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself—v. 5. 6. Now the God of patience and consolation, grant you to be like minded one •owards another, according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with ONE MIND, and ONE MOuTH glorify God.—wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ received us, to the glory of God.
Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weak in the faith receive, but not to doubtful disputations. v. 3. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and let not him which eateth not judge him which eateth: for God hath received him: who art th•u that judgest another mans servant? to his own Master he standeth or falleth. One man esteemeth one day above another: Another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind: He that regardeth a day, regardeth it to the Lord! v. •0. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why d•st thou set at nought thy brother? we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. v. 13. 14. I know and am p•rswaded by the Lord Iesus, that there is nothing unclean of it self; but to him that esteemeth any thing unclean, to him it is unclean, v. 17. For the Kingdom of God is ⟨p. 62⟩not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost: For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men: Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace. v. 22. Hast thou faith? Have it to thy self before God. Ch. 15. 1, 2. We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves. Let us every one please his neighbour for his good, to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself—v. 5. 6. Now the God of patience and consolation, grant you to be like minded one •owards another, according to Christ Iesus: that ye may with ONE MIND, and ONE MOuTH glorifie God.—wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ received us, to the glory of God.
Ch. 16. 17▪ 18. Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they that are such, serve not our Lord Jesus, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Ch. 16. 17▪ 18. Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they that are such, serve not our Lord Iesus, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Math. 13. 29, 30. Nay, lest while ye gather up the •ares, ye root up also the wheat with them: Let both grow together till the harvest—41. The Angels shall gather out of his Kingdom, all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into ⟨p. 63⟩a furnace of fire—Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun, in the Kingdom of their Father.
V. 47. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net, cast into the Sea; which gathered of every kind: which when it was full, they drew to the shore; and sate down and gathered the good into Vessels, and the bad they cast away: so shall it be at the end of the world.
Math. 22. 9, 10. Go into the high ways, and as many as ye find, bid to the marriage (or as Luk. 14. Compel them to come in) so those servants went unto the high ways, and gathered all as many as they found both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. And the King saw there a man that had not on a wedding garment, and said, Friend, How camest thou in hither, &c. (Mark, thus he will condemn wicked hypocrites themselves, but blameth not the Ministers that compelled them, or that let them in.) Gal. 6. 1. If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye that are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness: Considering thy self, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ, Let every man prove his own work.
Math. 22. 9, 10. Go into the high ways, and as many as ye find, bid to the marriage (or as Luk. 14. Compel them to come in) so those servants went unto the high ways, and gathered all as many as they found both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. And the King saw there a man that had not on a wedding garment, and said, Friend, How cam•st thou in hither, &c. (Mark, thus he will condemn wicked hypocrites themselves, but blameth not the Ministers that compelled them, or that let them in.) Gal. 6. 1. If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye that are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness: Considering thy self, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ, Let every man prove his own work.
Note, that Paul purified himself as having a Vow: He circumcised Timothy; He became a Jew to the Jews, and all things to all men, that he might win some.
