A26912:637
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. Because we shall be always at uncertainty, on what terms to go: For if once we leave Gods prescribed terms, we shall never know where to fix: But every Pastor will examine as he please, and form such Covenant-terms as are agreeable to the measure of his own private judgement and Charity: And even among Congregational men, we see already that the terms of mens Titles do vary, as the Pastors ⟨p. 166⟩(or Congregations) differ in point of strictness.
5. Because we shall be alwaies at uncertainty, on what tearms to go: For if once we leave Gods prescribed tearms, we shall never know where to fix: But every Pastor will examine as he please, and form such Covenant-tearms as are agreeable to the measure of his own private judgement and Charity: And even among Congregational men, we see already that the tearms of mens Titles do vary, as the Pastors ⟨p. 166⟩(or Congregations) differ in point of strictness.
6. And this layeth a certain foundation for perpetual dissentions and divisions; when there are no certain terms of Concord: And there is no Union when we depart from Christs authority. And it is not in vain that Christ himself prescribed a form of Baptizing; And if all his Churches since the Apostles days, have brought us down that Creed or those Articles of Faith, and form of Baptizing used universally among them, New ways, and various ways, (even as various as mens degrees of prudence and charity) will never be the terms of the Churches Unity.
6. And this layeth a certain foundation for perpetual dissentions and divisions; when there are no certain tearms of Concord: And there is no Union when we depart from Christs authority. And it is not in vain that Christ himself prescribed a form of Baptizing; And if all his Churches since the Apostles daies, have brought us down that Creed or those Articles of Faith, and form of Baptizing used universally among them, New waies, and various waies, (even as various as mens degrees of prudence and charity) will never be the tearms of the Churches Unity.