A26906:770
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.
Scripture shameth the Professors (though a David, Solomon, Peter, Noah, or Lot) that the Religion professed may not be shamed but vindicated. Satan would preserve the honour of the Professors, that the Religion professed may bear the shame; and so it may fall on God himself. When God turneth Lots wife into a Pillar of Salt, Satan is willing to seem so tender of the honour of the godly, as to take it down, that it may be forgotten. God saith to the Israelites, that when those that pass by shall ask why hath God done all this great •vil against this people, the posterity shall recount their ancestors sins, and say, Because they sinned against the Lord their God, &c. But Satan could find in his heart to pretend more tenderness of the names and honour of the Church, so he might but undo the present age by impenitency, and after ages by taking Gods public warnings from before their eyes. On these terms he will be all for the honour of professors.
Scripture shameth the Professours (though a David, Solomon, Peter, Noah, or Lot) that the Religion professed may not be shamed but vindicated. Satan would preserve the honour of the Prof•ss•urs, that the Religion prosessed may bear the shame; and so it may fall on God himself. When God turneth Lots wife into a Pillar of Salt, Satan is willing to seem so tender of the honour of the godly, as to take it down, that it may be forgotten. God saith to the Israelites, that when those that pass by shall ask why hath God done all this great •vil against this people, the posterity shall recount their ancestors sins, and say, Because they sinned against the Lord their God, &c. But Satan could find in his heart to pretend more tenderness of the names and honour of the Church, so he might but undo the present age by impeni•ency, and after ages by taking Gods publick warnings from before their eyes. On these terms he will be all for the honour of professours.
But God will make men more tender of his honour and less tender of our own, and more willing openly to take shame to our selves to vindicate the honour of Religion, before he will give us a […] discharge.