A26906:362

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 13: DIRECT. XIII.DIRECTIONS FOR VVeak Christians, How they may escape the troubling,… › Direction 13: DIRECT. XIII.

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:359–374 of 1,298

:359p. 104

DIRECT. XIII.

:360p. 104

Yet, left you run into the worse extreme, remember still that the destroying of sin, and the sanctifying of mans nature and life by recovering us to the obedience and Love of God, was the design and work of the Redeemer: And that Holiness and Peace must go together: And that the outward order and discipline of the visible Church, must be subservient to the inward spirituality and prosperity of the regenerate Church: And no such favour must be showed to sinners, as favoureth and strengtheneth their sin, and hindereth the increase of holiness.

Yet, left you run into the worse extream, remember still that the destroying of sin, and the sanctifying of mans nature and life by recovering us to the obedience and Love of God, was the design and work of the Redeemer: And that Holiness and Peace must go together: And that the outward order and discipline of the visible Church, must be subservient to the inward spirituality and prosperity of the regenerate Church: And no such favour must be shewed to sinners, as favoureth and strengthneth their sin, and hindereth the increase of holiness.

:361p. 104–106

IT is woeful work which ungodly Pastors make in the visible Church, under the name and pretence of Unity, Concord, Peace and Order; when an enemy to true holiness; hath the managing of these, you may easily imagine how they will be used: But sad experience hath told the Christian world, these 1300 years more doleful things th•n could otherwise have bin imagined. The compassion which Christ showed to sinners was to convert ⟨p. 105⟩and save them from their sin: But the compassion which ca•nal Pastors show them, is to harden them in their sin, and make them believe that repentance and holiness are but hypocrisy or needless things. The Unity and Concord which Christ intended, was a Unity in himself and Concord in holy Obedience to his Laws: But it is a Unity in the will of man and a Concord in obeying the Dictates of the proud, which Treacherous Pastors do require. It is a Peaceable progress of the Gospel, and unanimous endeavour to convert and sanctify and save the world, which Christ requireth us to promote: But it is a Peaceable enjoyment of their own prosperity, wealth and honour, and a peaceable forbearance of a holy life, which Wolvish Pastors do desire. It is an Orderly management of holy doctrine, worship and conversation, for the edification of the flock, and the increase of godliness, which Christ commandeth. But it is an absolute obedience to their wills, and an exact observance of their new-made Religions, and needless scandalous inventions, and an adoring of their titles and robes of honour, covering their ignorance, pride and sensuality, which Church-tyrants call the Order of the Church. All Christ indulgent tenderness and Discipline, are but to further his Holy design, of killing sin and sanctifying souls. But the Images of Piety, Government, Unity, Peace and Order, which Hypocrites and Pharisees set up, are devised engines to destroy the Life and serious practice of the things themselves, and are set up in enmity against spirituality and holiness, that there might be no

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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. XIII.

DIRECT. XIV.

Though your Governors and not you, must judge what persons shall be of your public Church-communion, yet it is you that must judge who are fit or unfit for your private company and familiarity. Here therefore exercise your strictness in your own part.

Though your Governours and not you, must judge what persons shall be of your publike Church-communion, yet it is you that must judge who are fit or unfit for your private company and familiarity. Here therefore exercise your strictness in your own part.

DIRECT. XV.

Understand well how much it hath pleased God, to lay all mens good or evil, happiness or misery, upon their own choice: And observe the reasons of it, that you may not oppose this order of God.

DIRECT. XVI.

Though the profession of Christianity which entitleth men to Church-communion, must be credible: yet remember that there are divers Degrees of credibility; and that every Profession which is not proved false is credible in such a degree as must be accepted by the Church.

Though the profession of Christianity which entituleth men to Church-communion, must be credible: yet remember that there are divers Degrees of credibility; and that every Profession which is not proved false is credible in such a degree as must be accepted by the Church.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. XIII.

DIRECT. XIV.

Though your Governors and not you, must judge what persons shall be of your public Church-communion, yet it is you that must judge who are fit or unfit for your private company and familiarity. Here therefore exercise your strictness in your own part.

Though your Governours and not you, must judge what persons shall be of your publike Church-communion, yet it is you that must judge who are fit or unfit for your private company and familiarity. Here therefore exercise your strictness in your own part.

DIRECT. XV.

Understand well how much it hath pleased God, to lay all mens good or evil, happiness or misery, upon their own choice: And observe the reasons of it, that you may not oppose this order of God.

DIRECT. XVI.

Though the profession of Christianity which entitleth men to Church-communion, must be credible: yet remember that there are divers Degrees of credibility; and that every Profession which is not proved false is credible in such a degree as must be accepted by the Church.

Though the profession of Christianity which entituleth men to Church-communion, must be credible: yet remember that there are divers Degrees of credibility; and that every Profession which is not proved false is credible in such a degree as must be accepted by the Church.