A26912:630
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.
And the reasons why I have ever dissented from them in these points, have been these.
1. Because I find that the contrary was the way of Scripture-times and all antiquity. And that the Apostles still received members, upon a sudden and bare profession ⟨p. 163⟩of belief and consent to the Baptismal Covenant, with the penitent renunciation of the Flesh, the World, and the Devil. And all Ages since have held this course, and made Baptism the Church-door.
1. Because I find that the contrary was the way of Scripture-times and all antiquity. And that the Apostles still received members, upon a sudden and bare profession ⟨p. 163⟩of belief and consent to the Baptismal Covenant, with the penitent renunciation of the Flesh, the World, and the Devil. And all Ages since have held this course, and made Baptisme the Church-door.
But I shall heartily join with any Brethren that will endeavour herein to save the Church, from that state of Imagery and dead Formality, which Papists and all Carnal Hypocrites have mortified Gods ordinances, and unspeakably injured the Churches by, and are still working every ordinance of God that way: All good men should labour to recover Religion and Christian profession to an understanding seriousness.
But I shall heartily joyn with any Brethren that will endeavour herein to save the Church, from that state of Imagery and dead Formality, which Papists and all Carnal Hypocrites have mortified Gods ordinances, and unspeakably injured the Churches by, and are still working every ordinance of God that way: All good men should labour to recover Religion and Christian profession to an understanding seriousness.