A26906:597
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.
Fifthly, And as I have said, This opinion would make it unlawful to join with any Pastor or Church on earth, because no sin must be approved of and consented to: and every one mixeth sin with their prayers.
Fifthly, And as I have said, This opinion would make it unlawful to joyn with any Pastor or Church on earth, because no sin must be approved of and consented to: and every one mixeth sin with their prayers.
Obj. But (say those on the one extreme) if I join with one that is known to be a Separatist, an Anabaptist, an Antinomian, an Arminian, &c. his own profession doth before hand bid me to expect not only that the manner but the matter of his prayer be erroneous.
Obj. But (say those on the one extream) if I joyn with one that is known to be a Separatist, an Anabaptist, an Antinomian, an Arminian, &c. his own profession doth before hand bid me to expect not only that the manner but the matter of his prayer be erroneous.
Answ. First, it is granted that no man may in his choice, prefer an erring person or mode of worship before a better. Secondly, But when the question is not, whom you should prefer but whom you may join with, it is not his errors that are yours, nor his profession that is yours. I come to join with him as a Christian Pastor whose office is to preach the Gospel: And while men are the agents I know that all that they do will be imperfect and faulty: And it is not my knowing their •aults that makes them mine, but rather may preserve me from them.
Answ. First, it is granted that no man may in his choise, prefer an erring person or mode of worship before a better. Secondly, But when the question is not, whom you should prefer but whom you may joyn with, it is not his errours that are yours, nor his profession that is yours. I come to joyn with him as a Christian Pastor whose office is to preach the Gospel: And while men are the agents I know that all that they do will be imperfect and aulty: And it is not my knowing their aults that makes them mine, but rather may preserve me from them.