A26912:222
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and concord of Christians and are delivered in a book called The cure of church-divisions ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
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.
5. But if the defects of public Worship be tolerable, and if Providence, necessity and Laws, concur to call us to use them, (when else we must use none, or do worse) here Communion doth become our duty: And a Duty must not be cast off, for fear of seeming to countenance the faults of others. We have lawful means to signify our dissent: It is not in our power to express it how we please, nor to go as far from the faulty as we can, to avoid the countenancing of their faults: But we must do Gods work in his own way: And we must disown mens sins only by prudent lawful means, and not by any that are contrary to Christian Love and Peace, or a breach of any Law of God.
5. But if the defects of publick Worship be tolerable, and if Providence, necessity and Laws, concurr to call us to use them, (when else we must use none, or do worse) here Communion doth become our duty: And a Duty must not be cast off, for fear of seeming to countenance the faults of others. We have lawful means to signifie our dissent: It is not in our power to express it how we please, nor to go as far from the faulty as we can, to avoid the countenancing of their faults: But we must do Gods work in his own way: And we must disown mens sins only by prudent lawful means, and not by any that are contrary to Christian Love and Peace, or a breach of any Law of God.
6. Paul was not for countenancing any of the falsehoods and faults which he reproveth in any of the Churches, especially partiality, sensuality, drunkenness at the very Sacrament or Love Feasts, 1 Cor. 11, &c. And yet he never bids them forsake the communion of the Church for it, till they shall reform. There were other ways of testifying dislike.
6. Paul was not for countenancing any of the falsehoods and faults which he reproveth in any of the Churches, especially partiality, sensuality, drunkenness at the very Sacrament or Love Feasts, 1 Cor. 11, &c. And yet he never bids them forsake the communion of the Church for it, till they shall reform. There were other wayes of testifying dislike.