A26906:47
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.
4. While I say so much in this Treatise against the rash censuring of others, I give you not the rule for mens censuring of themselves: They know more by themselves: They may search into the depth of their hearts and intentions, which we cannot do. They are allowed to be more suspicious & censorious of themselves, than of any others: It more concerneth them: And they have more to do with themselves; and may be bolder with themselves. We judg others in order to visible Church-Communion by visible and public evidence. ⟨image 20⟩But in order to their preparation for the judgment of God, we must direct them to judge themselves according to the truth in the inward parts.
4. While I say so much in this Treatise against the rash censuring of others, I give you not the rule for mens censuring of themselves: They know more by themselves: They may search into the depth of their hearts and intentions, which we cannot do. They are allowed to be more suspicious & censorious of themselves, than of any others: It more concerneth them: And they have more to do with themselves; and may be bolder with themselves. We judg others in order to visible Church-Communion by visible and publick evidence. ⟨image 20⟩But in order to their preparation for the judgment of God, we must direct them to judge themselves according to the truth in the inward parts.
5. While I draw you to peace and moderation towards others, I desire not to quench the least degree of Christian zeal. Nay I endeavour to kill that which would kill it. The purified peculiar people of the Redeemer an zealous, but of what? not to consume and destroy one another, nor to hate and fly from one another; nor to vilify and backbite one another; but they are zealous of good works: And Paul will tell you what are good works, Gal. 5. 22, 23. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: Be zealous in Loving all Christians as Christians, and all men as men: Be zealous for Peace: If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, live peaceably with all men,