A26906:343
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.
Obj. Who then shall cast out an Heretic or pernicious Pastor, if he himself must be rejected?
Obj. Who then shall cast out an Heretick or pernicious Pastor, if he himself must be rejected?
Answ. 1. The Neighbour Pastors shall renounce Communion with him, and reject him from their neighbour Communion. And they shall warn that people to avoid him (by virtue of the common relation which they have to the universal Church of Christ.) 2. The people (as Cyprian determineth) are bound to forsake him: not by an act of Government over him or themselves; but by an act of obedience to God, and of self-preservation; As Soldiers must forsake a traitorous General, or Seamen a perfidious or desperately unskilful Pilot that would cast them all away. As the people did always choose their Pastors to Govern them, so may they in such a case refuse them, without usurping any Government themselves.
Answ. 1. The Neighbour Pastors shall renounce Communion with him, and reject him from their neighbour Communion. And they shall warn that people to avoid him (by virtue of the common relation which they have to the universal Church of Christ.) 2. The people (as Cyprian determineth) are bound to forsake him: not by an act of Government over him or themselves; but by an act of obedience to God, and of self-preservation; As Souldiers must forsake a trayterous General, or Seamen a perfidious or desperately unskilful Pilot that would cast them all away. As the people did always choose their Pastors to Govern them, so may they in such a case refuse them, without usurping any Government themselves.
Well! Now let us see what influence this ⟨p. 97⟩truth should have upon your Church-Communion.