A26906:482
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.
Answ. All this may be, without any of Gods ⟨p. 156⟩approbation of the conclusion which you think is his answer to your prayers. For whilst you prayed that God would turn your mind from it, if it were not right; yet at that time your judgement was inclined to it; or your affections at least: And it is an easier thing to speak impartial words in prayer than to get an impartial unprejudiced mind. And when you think that your mind is brought to an impartiality, alas, there may be many deep roots of prejudice which you observe not: And there is scarce one of a thousand who thinketh that he prayeth with a pure impartiality, but his opinion, disposition, inclination, interest, or secret affection, doth bias and ponderate his mind, more to one side than to the other.
Answ. All this may be, without any of Gods ⟨p. 156⟩approbation of the conclusion which you think is his answer to your prayers. For whilest you prayed that God would turn your mind from it, if it were not right; yet at that time your judgement was inclined to it; or your affections at least: And it is an easier thing to speak impartial words in prayer than to get an impartial unprejudiced mind. And when you think that your mind is brought to an impartiality, alas, there may be many deep roots of prejudice which you observe not: And there is scarce one of a thousand who thinketh that he prayeth with a pure impartiality, but his opinion, disposition, inclination, interest, or secret affection, doth byas and ponderate his mind, more to one side than to the other.
But if you were never so willing to know the truth, yet there are passions in you, and corruptions, and ignorance and former errors, which may all do much to hinder you from knowing it, and may breed many false apprehensions in your mind; and yet may cherish them with as dear an espousal and affection, as if they were certainly from God.
But if you were never so willing to know the truth, yet there are passions in you, and corruptions, and ignorance and former errours, which may all do much to hinder you from knowing it, and may breed many false apprehensions in your mind; and yet may cherish them with as dear an espousal and affection, as if they were certainly from God.