A26906:703
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.
Many who observe the grossness of their error, who would have the people have the power of the Keys, and govern▪ the Church by the major Vote, do deny the people the liberty of choosing their Pastors, and being guided in spirituals as Volunteers. And many who see this error of denying the people liberty, do give them the fore-said power of the Keys, and make them Governors of themselves by Vote.
Many who observe the grossness of their error, who would have the people have the power of the Keys, and govern▪ the Church by the major Vote, do deny the people the liberty of choosing their Pastors, and being guided in spirituals as Volunteers. And many who see this errour of denying the people liberty, do give them the fore-said power of the Keyes, and make them Governours of themselves by Vote.
Many who hear the Papists talk so much of merits and of good works, do deny our own Faith, and Love, and Repentance, the place that God hath assigned them in order to pardon and salvation, in subordination to Christ: And many who hear the presumptuous boast of being Righteous by Christs imputed Righteousness, without any fulfilling of the Conditions of the Covenant of ⟨p. 233⟩Grace on their parts, do make as a jest of imputed Righteousness▪ (as it is taken in a sound and warrantable sense) and do ascribe too much to the works of man.
Many who hear the Socinians make faith and obedience to be all one, do deny that the faith by which we are justified, is a giving up the soul in Covenant to Christ entirely in all his office, even as our Redeemer and Lord, and so an engagement to obedience by subjection. And many that hear men say, that faith justifieth us only as an instrument, apprehending Christs satisfaction and meritorious righteousness as their own, do confound our faith and obedience; and forget that the faith by which we are justified, is [our becoming Christians, or, Assent and Consent to the Covenant which we make in Baptism (nothing more or less;) and not our living as Christians in after obedience, which is the fruit or effect of faith.