A26924:742
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
Chapter 46: Point III. Of forcing Men to Schism, by renouncing Communion with true Churches and Mem…
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.
L. How prove you that it's their Duty to have any such Communion with Nonconformists Conventicles? If you are Schismatics, it's a Sin to Communicate with you.
L. How prove you that it's their Duty to have any such Communion with Nonconformists Conventicles? If you are Scismaticks, it's a Sin to Communicate with you.
M. 1. I prove Communion with us a Duty; (Tho' it be not every Man's Duty to be Locally present with us, it is every Man's Duty not to avoid it as an unlawful thing, but to be willing of it as he hath occasion). 2. It is a Duty for all Christians to own Communion with all true Members of the Body of Christ. But Nonconformists and their Assemblies for Worship, are true Members of the Body of Christ. Ergo— The major is most fully proved by Christ, Joh. 17. 24. and Paul 1 Cor. 12. throughout, and Eph. 4. 1, 2, 3, to the 17. and Rom. 14. and 15. and many other Scriptures. The minor I prove. All those are true Members of the Body of Christ, who have all the Essentials necessary to the Constitution of such Members. But so have the Nonconformists and their Church Assemblies (as afore described:) Ergo. The major none but the ignorant of Logic will deny. As to the minor, They that have true Christian Faith, Hope, and Love, have all that is Essential to personal Members: And the Churches that have Pastors and People communicating in that Faith, Hope and Love, in Doctrine, Worship, Sacraments and tolerable Discipline, are true Churches, parts of the Universal Church. But such are many Persons and Churches of Nonconformists. Ergo. The major all sound and knowing Christians grant. For the minor no proof is necessary but our Profession, till it be disproved. And let the Accusers of the Brethren, as they love themselves, take this warning before they undertake to disprove it: Do it by no Argument that will ten times more condemn your selves and your Church, than such Nonconformists. 2. The second Argument is this: It is a Sin of Schism to refuse Communion with those that Christ receiveth, so we own not any of their sin: