A26948:50
Mr. Richard Baxter's last legacy in select admonitions and directions to all sober dissenters
Mr. Richard Baxter's last legacy in select admonitions and directions to all sober dissenters.
A26948:50
Mr. Richard Baxter's last legacy in select admonitions and directions to all sober dissenters.
London : Printed and are to be sold by E. Whitlock, 1697
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
§ 6. Reas. 9. By this means the Wicked that are Disobedient ⟨p. 8⟩to their Teachers, and reject the Worship of God it self, will be hardened in their Sin, and taught by Professors to defend their Ungodliness: For the very same course that you take will serve their turns. They need not deny any Duty in the Substance, but deny the Circumstance, and so put off the Substance of the Duty. If a Wicked Man will not hear the Word Preached, he may say [I am not against Preaching; but I am unsatisfied of the lawfulness of your Time or Place, I am in judgment against coming to your Steeple-house, or against the Lord's Day.] And so he shall never hear, though he say he is for Heating. If a Wicked Man will not be personally instructed, or admonished, or be accountable to the Church or Pastors for any scandals of his life, nor submit to any Discipline, he may say [I am for Discipline, I know it is my duty to be instructed: but I am not satisfied that I am bound to come to you when you send for me, or to appear at such a place as you appoint: the Word of God nameth no time or place, and you shall not deprive me of my Liberty.] If a Wicked Man would not hear or read the Scripture, or sing Psalms, he may say, that he is for the Duty, but he is only against this and that Translation and Version: And so while every Version is excepted against the Duty is as much evaded, as if it were denied it self. By this device it is that the Rebellion of unruly People is defended: They run to the Circumstances of the Duty, and ask [Where are they bound to come to a Minister? or to be examined by him, in order to a Baptism or Lord's Supper? or to speak their consent to be Church-members, or to subscribe to a Profession, or to read an English Bible, or to hear in a Steeple-house, with many such like.] Thus also it is that they put off Family-prayer, and ask, [Where are they bound to pray in their Family Morning and Evening?] and so keep no constancy in Family-prayer at all, under pretence of denying only the Circumstances.
§ 10. Reas. 7. By this Disobedience in things lawful, the Members of the Church will be involved in contentions, and so engaged in bitter Uncharitableness, and Censures, and Persecutions, and Reproaches of one another: which scandalous courses will nourish Vice, dishonour God, rejoice the Enemies, grieve the Godly that are Peaceable and Judicious, and wound the Consciences of the contenders. We see the beginning of such Fires are small, but whither they tend, and what will be the end of them, we see not.
§ 10. Reas. 7. By this Disobedience in things lawful, the Members of the Church will be involved in contentions, and so ingaged in bitter Uncharitableness, and Censures, and Persecutions, and Reproaches of one another: which scandalous courses will nourish Vice, dishonour God, rejoyce the Enemies, grieve the Godly that are Peaceable and Judicious, and wound the Consciences of the contenders. We see the beginning of such Fires are small, but whither they tend, and what will be the end of them, we see not.
§ 11. Reas. 8. By these means also Magistrates will be provoked to take Men of tender Consciences for factious, unruly, and unreasonable Men, and to turn their Enemies, and use violence against them, to the great injury of the Church: when they see them so self-conceited, and refusing Obedience in lawful Circumstances.
§ 12. Reas. 9. By this means also the Conversion and Establishment of Souls will be much hindered, and People possessed with Prejudice against the Church and Ordinances, when they take us to be but humorous People, and see us in such Contentions among our selves. To my knowledge, our late difference about some such lesser things, hath turned off, or hindered abundance of People from liking the holy Doctrine and Life which we profess.
§ 12. Reas. 9. By this means also the Conversion and Establishment of Souls will be much hindred, and People possessed with Prejudice against the Church and Ordinances, when they take us to be but humorous People, and see us in such Contentions among our selves. To my knowledge, our late difference about some such lesser things, hath turned off, or hindered abundance of People from liking the holy Doctrine and Life which we profess.
§ 13. Reas. 10. It will seem to the wisest, to savour of no small measure of Pride, when People on the account of lawful Circumstances, dare set themselves against their Governors and Teachers, and quarrel with the Ordinances of God, and with the Churches: Humble Men would sooner suspect themselves, and quarrel with their own Distempers, and submit to those that are wiser than themselves, and that are set over them for their Guidance by the Lord. There may more dangerous Pride be manifested in these matters, than in Apparel, and such lower Trifles.
§ 13. Reas. 10. It will seem to the wisest, to savour of no small measure of Pride, when People on the account of lawful Circumstances, dare set themselves against their Governours and Teachers, and quarrel with the Ordinances of God, and with the Churches: Humble Men would sooner suspect themselves, and quarrel with their own Distempers, and submit to those that are wiser than themselves, and that are set over them for their Guidance by the Lord. There may more dangerous Pride be manifested in these matters, than in Apparel, and such lower Trifles.
§ 14. Reas. 11. Consider also what yielding in things lawful the Scripture recommendeth to us? How far yielded Paul when he Circumcised Timothy? Acts 16. 3. And when he [took the men, and purified himself with them in the Temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of Purification until that an Offering should be offered for every one of them] and this for almost seven days, Acts 21. 26, 27. with the foregoing Verses.
§ 14. Reas. 11. Consider also what yielding in things lawful the Scripture recommendeth to us? How far yielded Paul when he Circumcised Timothy? Acts 16. 3. And when he [took the men, and purified himself with them in the Temple, to signifie the accomplishment of the days of Purification until that an Offering should be offered for every one of them] and this for almost seven days, Acts 21. 26, 27. with the foregoing Verses.
§ 15. So 1 Cor. 9. 19, 20. [For though I be free from all Men, yet have I made my self Servant unto all, that I might gain the more: And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might gain them that are under the Law: To them that are without Law, as without Law (being not without Law to God, but under the Law to Christ) that I might gain them that are without Law. To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all Men, that I might, by all means save ⟨p. 10⟩some, and this I do for the Gospels sake, &c.] Study this Example.
§ 16. Read also Rom. 14. and 15. Chapters, how much Condescension the Apostle requireth even among Equals, about Meats and Days. And 1 Cor. 8. 13. the Apostle would tie up himself from eating any flesh while the World standeth, rather than make a weak Brother to offend. Many other Passages of Scripture require a Condescension in things of this indifferent nature, and show that the Kingdom of God doth not consist in them.
§ 16. Read also Rom. 14. and 15. Chapters, how much Condescension the Apostle requireth even among Equals, about Meats and Days. And 1 Cor. 8. 13. the Apostle would tye up himself from eating any flesh while the World standeth, rather than make a weak Brother to offend. Many other Passages of Scripture require a Condescension in things of this indifferent nature, and shew that the Kingdom of God doth not consist in them.
§ 17. And Matthew 12. 1, 2, to 9. you find that Hunger justified the Disciples of Christ for plucking and rubbing the Ears of Corn on the Sabbath days. And Hunger justified David, and those that were with him, for entering into the House of God, and eating the Show-bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them which were with him, but only for the Priests: And the Priests in the Temple were blameless for profaning the Sabbath-day.] Now if things before accidentally evil, may by this much Necessity become lawful and a duty, then may the Commands of Magistrates or Pastors, and the Unity of the Church, and the avoiding of Contention, and Offence, and other Evils, be also sufficient to warrant us in obeying, even in convenient Circumstantials of the Worship of God, that otherwise could not be justified.
§ 17. And Matthew 12. 1, 2, to 9. you find that Hunger justified the Disciples of Christ for plucking and rubbing the Ears of Corn on the Sabbath days. And Hunger justified David, and those that were with him, for entring into the House of God, and eating the Shew-bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them which were with him, but only for the Priests: And the Priests in the Temple were blameless for prophaning the Sabbath-day.] Now if things before accidentally evil, may by this much Necessity become lawful and a duty, then may the Commands of Magistrates or Pastors, and the Unity of the Church, and the avoiding of Contention, and Offence, and other Evils, be also sufficient to warrant us in obeying, even in convenient Circumstantials of the Worship of God, that otherwise could not be justified.
§ 18. Reas. 12. Lastly consider, how much God hath expressed himself in his Word to be pleased in the Obedience of Believers. Not only in their Obedience to Christ immediately, but also to him in his Officers, 1 Sam. 15. 22. [Behold to obey is better than Sacrifice, &c.] Col. 3. 20, 22. [Children obey your Parents in all things, (that is, all lawful things) for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.] [Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh, &c.] And Obedience to Pastors is as much commanded, 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13. [We beseech you Brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and esteem them very highly, &c.] Heb. 13. 17. [Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your selves, for they watch for your Souls, as they must give account, &c.] So Verse 7. and 24. 1 Tim. 5. 17, &c.
§ 19. As the general Commission to a Parent, or Master, or Magistrate to govern their inferior Relations, doth authorize ⟨p. 11⟩them to many particular Acts belonging to their Office, that were never named in their Commission: so your general Command to obey them, obligeth you to obey them in the said particulars. And so it is also betwixt the Pastors and the Flock, in Matters belonging to the Office of a Pastor.
§ 19. As the general Commission to a Parent, or Master, or Magistrate to govern their inferiour Relations, doth authorize ⟨p. 11⟩them to many particular Acts belonging to their Office, that were never named in their Commission: so your general Command to obey them, obligeth you to obey them in the said particulars. And so it is also betwixt the Pastors and the Flock, in Matters belonging to the Office of a Pastor.
§ 20. If a Child shall ask a Parent, [Where doth God's Word allow you to command me to learn this Catechism, or read this Divine's Writings, or repeat this Sermon, or write it? &c.] doth not the question deserve to be answered with the Rod? The general Commission for Parents to govern their Children is sufficient. So if a School-master command his Scholars to come to such a place to School, and to take their places in such an order, and to learn such Books, and do such Exercises, &c. the general Commission that he hath to Teach and Govern them, will allow him to do all this. (Though it will not allow him to set his Scholars to any Artifice or Manual Operation alien to his Profession.) So if a Minister determine of the variable Circumstances of Worship, as what Place and People shall come to, and at what time, to be Catechised, Examined, Instructed, &c. what Translation or Version of Psalms to use, what Utensils to make use of about God's Service, or such like, he is warranted for this by his General Commission. And if he miss it in the Manner, by choosing inconvenient Circumstances, or by unnecessary Determination of Points that should rather be left undetermined to Liberty, thought this be his own Sin, it will not excuse the People from Obedience; unless the Error of his Directions be so great as would frustrate the Ordinance it self, or do more harm than our Disobedience would do; which in Circumstantials is rarely found.
§ 20. If a Child shall ask a Parent, [Where doth God's Word allow you to command me to learn this Catechism, or read this Divine's Writings, or repeat this Sermon, or write it? &c.] doth not the question deserve to be answered with the Rod? The general Commission for Parents to govern their Children is sufficient. So if a School-master command his Scholars to come to such a place to School, and to take their places in such an order, and to learn such Books, and do such Exercises, &c. the general Commission that he hath to Teach and Govern them, will allow him to do all this. (Though it will not allow him to set his Scholars to any Artifice or Manual Operation alien to his Profession.) So if a Minister determine of the variable Circumstances of Worship, as what Place and People shall come to, and at what time, to be Catechised, Examined, Instructed, &c. what Translation or Version of Psalms to use, what Utensils to make use of about God's Service, or such like, he is warranted for this by his General Commission. And if he miss it in the Manner, by choosing inconvenient Circumstances, or by unnecessary Determination of Points that should rather be left undetermined to Liberty, thought this be his own Sin, it will not excuse the People from Obedience; unless the Errour of his Directions be so great as would frustrate the Ordinance it self, or do more harm than our Disobedience would do; which in Circumstantials is rarely found.
By long Experience I am assured,1 that Practical Religion will afford both to Church, State, and Conscience more certain, and more solid Peace, than contending Disputers, with all their pretences of Orthodoxness, and Zeal against Errors for the Truth, will ever bring, or did ever attain to.
By long Experience I am assured,1 that Practical Religion will afford both to Church, State, and Conscience more certain, and more solid Peace, than contending Disputers, with all their pretences of Orthodoxness, and Zeal against Errours for the Truth, will ever bring, or did ever attain to.
Holy Common-wealth, p. 352. God never instituted Churches to be kept up in Disobedience to those Christian Magistrates which he Commands us to obey upon pain of Damnation. Disobedience to our Rulers is in Ministers double Treason and Wickedness.
Page 30. of the 1st Plea. Princes and Rulers may forbid all ⟨p. 12⟩that preach Rebellion and Sedition, and may punish them if they do it: and may hinder the Incorrigible, whose preaching may do more hurt than good, from exercising their Ministry, or preaching within their Dominions.
Pag. 32. They should see that their Kingdoms be well provided of Public Preachers and Catechists: And may by due means compel the Ignorant to hear and learn what Christianity is.
Pag. 32. They should see that their Kingdoms be well provided of Publick Preachers and Catechists: And may by due means compel the Ignorant to hear and learn what Christianity is.