A26906:874
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.
I shall only now propose this to the consideration of those of the first sort.
Whether they are sure that these superstitions of theirs may not run the round as other superstitions have done before them? Or some of them at least? What if the next age should turn them into a dead formality? And what if the next age after that should make Laws to enforce them? And then Godly people first scruple them, and then fly from them as discerned superstition? And then the worst men b• glad of that advantage to persecute those that would not submit to them? By this circulation, if the same men who invented un-ordained Elders, new and needless Church-Covenants, &c. could but live two or 300 years, they might come to be among the number of those who cry out of them as superstitious, and suffer persecution because they will not use them.
Whether they are sure that these superstitions of theirs may not run the round as other superstitions have done before them? Or some of them at least? What if the next age should turn them into a dead formality? And what if the next age after that should make Laws to enforce them? And then Godly people first scruple them, and then flye from them as discerned superstition? And then the worst men b• glad of that advantage to persecute those that would not submit to them? By this circulation, if the same men who invented un-ordained Elders, new and needless Church-Covenants, &c. could but live two or 300 years, they might come to be among the number of those who cry out of them as superstitious, and suffer persecution because they will not use them.
Yea there are among you now many things of a lower nature, which some dare scarce plainly say, God commandeth or forbiddeth, and yet they are censorious enough about them: As heretofore many were against wearing the hair of any considerable length; Against wearing cuffs upon a day of humiliation: Against dressing meat or feasting at least, on the Lords day (which is a day of Thanksgiving of divine institution) and held, That it is necessary to feast twice at least, upon a day of Thanksgiving (of mans appointment:) That a Minister should not life up his eyes, much less kneel down to signify his