A26906:294

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 FOR Weak Christians, How they may escape the troubling,… › Direction 7: DIRECT. VII.DIRECTIONS FOR VVeak Christians, How they may escape the troubling,… › Direction 7: DIRECT. VII.

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:291–306 of 1,298

:291p. 77

Obj. O but those that I separate from are guilty of this and that and the other fault.

:292p. 77

Answ. Chap 6. 1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one, in the spirit of meekness, considering thy self lest thou also be tempted: Instead of censorious disdain and separation, bear ye one another's burden, and so fulfil the Law of Christ: which you think you fulfil by your unwarrantable separations, while you are but fulfilling your fleshly passions.

Answ. Chap 6. 1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one, in the spirit of meekness, considering thy self lest thou also be tempted: Instead of censorious disdain and separation, bear ye one anothers burthen, and so fulfil the Law of Christ: which you think you fulfil by your unwarrantable separations, while you are but fulfilling your fleshly passions.

:293p. 77–79

When once parties are engaged by their opinions in Anti-churches and fierce disputings, the flesh and satan will be working in them against all that is holy, sweet and safe. When united Christians are provoking one another to Love and to good works, and minding each other of their heavenly cohabitation, and harmonious praise and are delighting God and man by the melody of their concord; The contentious zealots in their separate Anti-churches, are preaching down ⟨p. 78⟩Love and preaching up hatred, and making those that differ from them seem an odious people not to be communicated with, by aggravating their different opinions or modes of worship, till they seem to be no less than Heresy or Idolatry. If many thousands yet living in England or Ireland, had not heard this with their ears, yet James may be believed, Chap. 3. 1, &c. My Brethren, be not many Teaching-Masters (for that is the word) knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation: For in many things we offend all (which he addeth because the arrogancy of Sectaries was caused by the aggravating of other mens offences.) If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man (that is, If you will show that you are perfecter & better your selves than those whom you account so bad, see that your foul back-biting, reviling, censorious contentious tongues, do not prove the contrary) 13. who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you, Let him show out of a good conversation, his works with meekness of wisdom: (that is, Let him that would be thought more knowing and religious than his neighbours, be so much more blameless and meek to all men, and excel them in good works) v. 14. But if ye have a bitter zeal: (for so is the Greek word) and strife in your hearts, glory not, (in such a zeal, or in your greater knowledge) and lie not against the truth. 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above (as you imagine who father it on Gods word and spirit) but is earthly, sensual (or natural) and devilish. (O doleful mistake, that the world, the flesh, and the Devil, should prove the cause of that conceited spiritual knowledge and excellency, which they

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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. VIII.

When any thing needeth amendment in the Church, remember that the best Christian, must be the forwardest to reformation, and •he backwardest to Division: and must search and try all means of Reforming, which make not against the concord of the Church.

DIRECT. IX.

Forget not the great difference between casting out the wicked and impenitent from the Church by discipline; and the godlies separating from the Church it self, because the wicked are not cast out. The first is a great duty: The second is ordinarily a great sin.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. VIII.

When any thing needeth amendment in the Church, remember that the best Christian, must be the forwardest to reformation, and •he backwardest to Division: and must search and try all means of Reforming, which make not against the concord of the Church.

DIRECT. IX.

Forget not the great difference between casting out the wicked and impenitent from the Church by discipline; and the godlies separating from the Church it self, because the wicked are not cast out. The first is a great duty: The second is ordinarily a great sin.