A26906:386
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.
With the Universal Church visible, you must have communion, in the same Profession of faith and repentance, and the same baptism, and the same sort of ministry and public worship, so far as they are universally determined of by Christ. And though you are absent in body, you must be as present in spirit by consent, with all the Churches of Christ on earth. You must have spiritual communion with the whole spiritual Church, and visible communion in kind (in the same Rule of faith, and kind of worship) with all the visible Church; and ⟨p. 116⟩Local-presential communion with that particular Church where you are present, and with any other where your presence afterwards may be needful; unless they hinder you by unlawful terms.
With the Universal Church visible, you must have communion, in the same Profession of faith and repentance, and the same baptism, and the same sort of ministry and publike worship, so far as they are universally determined of by Christ. And though you are absent in body, you must be as present in spirit by consent, with all the Churches of Christ on earth. You must have spiritual communion with the whole spiritual Church, and visible communion in kind (in the same Rule of faith, and kind of workship) with all the visible Church; and ⟨p. 116⟩L•cal-presential communion with that particular Church where you are present, and with any other where your presence afterwards may be needful; unless they hinder you by unlawful terms.
So that it is not the same kind nor measure of Communion which you are obliged to hold with all; But you must have Communion with all men as a man; and with neighbours as a neighbour, and with relations according to the relations civil or domestical; and with all true Christians, as a true Christian; and with all professed Christians, as a professed Christian; and with the particular Church of which you are a part, as a part of that Church. And with your bosom Friends and intimate Companions, as a Friend and Companion.