A26906:351
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. But what if c•rn•l negligent Ministers will let in […] into the Church by Baptism and give them the Lords Supper? Shall it be thus in their power to corrupt the Church: And must we join with them and take no care of it?
Obj. But what if c•rn•l neglig•nt Ministers will let in 〈…〉 into the Church by Baptism and give them the Lords Supper? Shall it be thus in their power to corrupt the Church: And must we joyn with them and take no care of it?
Answ. There is no person in any office or trust, but may too easily abuse it: And the more noble the work and trust is, the greater is the si• and calamity of such abuse. And no doubt but a bad unfaithful Minister is one of the greatest sin•ers on earth, and one of the most pernicious plagues to the Church. Which could not be, unless ⟨p. 100⟩it were in his power to do very much hurt. But it will not follow that therefore you must take his place, and become the Church Governors, or try all the peoples fitness your selves. If a Judge be bad, you may say what an intolerable thing is it, that one man shall have power to give away mens estates, and take away the lives of the innocent, and to acquit the guilty.] But for all that you must not mend it, by stepping up into the judgement seat your self, and saying, that you or the rest of the people will do it better. Some body must be trusted with it. If you are fittest, offer your self to the office. The thing that you must do is, to do your best to deliver the Church from so bad a Pastor: Use all your wisdom and diligence to amend him: And if you cannot do that, use all your interest to get him out, and get a better: And if you cannot do that, deliver your own soul from him, by removing to a better, if you are free; But if as servants or children or wives you are under another Government which restraineth you, be patient, and use such means as God provideth for you. This is the true way of your Church-duty, and not to think that you must have a knowledge of the Godliness of all that you communicate with; or that you must refuse communion if the Pastor he remiss and negligent.