A26912:641
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.
8. To which may be added the sad experience of this age of the dreadful miscarriages of the more noted sort of Professors, turning Infidels, Ranters, Quakers, Socinians, Antinomians, and too many scandalous in life; and such as have destroyed Order, Government, Unity, & Reformation, when there was scarce an enemy able to hurt it much besides themselves: Which is no dishonour to the Profession of Holiness, much less to Christ and Holiness it self; But it seemeth to me a notable rebuke of our common over-valuing the mere Parts and utterance, and extemporate performances of the people, and of Ministers flattering such Professors, and over-looking all of Christ which is in many, that have had no such helps for gifts and utterance as they.
8. To which may be added the sad experience of this age of the dreadful miscarriages of the more noted sort of Professors, turning Infidels, Ranters, Quakers, Socinians, Antinomians, and too many scandalous in life; and such as have destroyed Order, Government, Unity, & Reformation, when there was scarce an enemie able to hurt it much besides themselves: Which is no dishonour to the Profession of Holyness, much less to Christ and Holyness it self; But it seemeth to me a notable rebuke of our common over-valuing the meer Parts and utterance, and extemporate performances of the people, and of Ministers flattering such Professors, and over-looking all of Christ which is in many, that have had no such helps for gifts and utterance as they.
2. The second Point in which the New-England Synod agreed was, the stated Consociation of Churches, and use of Synods, And herein, saith the Defence, p. 99. there appeared no Dissent or dissatisfaction in the Synod. Where they add also (as to the point of Separation,) [We never said nor thought, that there should be a withdrawing ⟨p. 169⟩from other Churches upon differences, errors or offences of an inferior and dubious nature, yea, though continued in: We are far enough from hastiness or harshness in that matter, being professed adversaries to a spirit of sinful and rigid separation.]