A26906:606
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.
For God fore-knoweth all mens sins; and God is present when they commit them; and he giveth them all that life and time and strength and breath, by which they do them: and he hath communion with all the prayers of the faithful in the world, what faults soever be in the words or forms: he doth not reject them for any such failings. Will you say therefore that God approveth or consenteth to all these sins?
I know before hand (as is said before) that every man will sin that prayeth (either by defect of desire, love, faith or fervency, or by wandering thoughts, or disordered words, &c.) And I know that every erroneous person (commonly) doth use to put his errors into his prayers and preaching. But how doth all this make it mine? I am bound to hold communion with all Gods people on earth as I have occasion; not as they are sinners, but as they are Saints: And I come as to the Communion of Saints: And though both they and I do bring our sins to that communion, and I fore-know them; yet I lament both theirs and mine; and so far am I from consenting to them, that they are my grief, and I beg forgiveness both for them and me.
I know before hand (as is said before) that every man will sin that prayeth (either by defect of desire, love, faith or fervency, or by wandering thoughts, or disordered words, &c.) And I know that every erroneous person (commonly) doth use to put his errours into his prayers and preaching. But how doth all this make it mine? I am bound to hold communion with all Gods people on earth as I have occasion; not as they are sinners, but as they are Saints: And I come as to the Communion of Saints: And though both they and I do bring our sins to that communion, and I fore-know them; yet I lament both theirs and mine; and so far am I from consenting to them, that they are my grief, and I beg forgiveness both for them and me.
Obj. But you said that it belonged to the Pastors office to word his own Sermons and Prayers: Therefore prescribed forms destroy the Pastors office: And I may not consent to such usurpations by tyrannical men.