A26906:347
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.
If the Minister that doth it, must lay by the ⟨p. 98⟩business of the world, how think you that you can do the same without laying by your worldly business? If he must have so many years learning and preparation, can you do it without? Mistake not, it is not for Sermons only that Ministers need all their learning and labour; but also for the discipline and guidance of the flocks. Thirdly, and if it be your work, you must be accountable for it before God. And do you not fear such a reckoning? And if these busy people had their wish, would they not be in a worse case than the most dumb and lazy Minister?
If the Minister that doth it, must lay by the ⟨p. 98⟩business of the world, how think you that you can do the same without laying by your worldly business? If he must have so many years learning and preparation, can you do it without? Mistake not, it is not for Sermons only that Ministers need all their learning and labour; but also for the discipline and guidance of the flocks. Thirdly, and if it be your work, you must be accountable for it before God. And do you not fear such a reckoning? And if these busie people had their wish, would they not be in a worse case than the most dumb and lazy Minister?
Consider it well, and you will find that you are not at all bound to know what the spiritual state of any man is, as he is to join in Church-communion with you, but upon your Pastors trust and word. Whether their understanding be sufficient at their admittance, you are not any where called to try: but the Pastor is: And if he have admitted them, you are to rest in his judgment (unless you would undertake the office your selves) whether their profession of faith and repentance be serious and credible, you are not called to try and judge: But if your Pastor have admitted them, he hath numbered them with the visible Christians: And it is the credibility of the Pastor that you have to consider; and by him you must judge of the credibility of the professor, and not immediately by your own trial. Who are the persons that you shall meet at a Sacrament or in public Communion, you are not at all required to try; And if you never saw them before or heard them speak, you may perform your duty nevertheless: Indeed if as a neighbour you are