A26958:120
A moral prognostication I. what shall befall the churches on Earth, till their concord
A moral prognostication I. what shall befall the churches on Earth, till their concord, by the restitution of their primitive purity, simplicity, and charity, II. how that restitution is like to be made, (if ever) and what shall befall them thence-forth unto the end, in that golden-age of love / written by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Thomas Simmons, 1680
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.
Some of them will think these Passions of the People needful, to check the Fierceness of the Afflicters (which doth but Exasperate it); And therefore, will let them alone, though they will not encourage them.
Some of the younger or more injudicious hot-brained sort will put them on, and make them believe, that all Communion with any Conforming Ministers or their Parish-Churches is unlawful, and their forms of Worship, are Sinful and Anti-christian; and that they are all Temporizers, and Betrayers of Truth, and Purity, that Communicate or Assemble with them.
Some of the younger or more injudicious hot-brain'd sort will put them on, and make them believe, that all Communion with any Conforming Ministers or their Parish-Churches is unlawful, and their forms of Worship, are Sinful and Anti-christian; and that they are all Temporizers, and Betrayers of Truth, and Purity, that Communicate or Assemble with them.
The judicious, and experienced, and most patient, and self-denying sort, will themselves abstain from all that is Sin; and as far as it is in their choice and power, will join with the Churches, that Worship God most agreeably to his Word and Will; But so, as that they will not be loud in their Complaints, nor busy to draw Men to their Opinions in Controvertible Points, nor will unchurch and condemn all the Churches that have something which they dislike as Sinful; nor will Renounce the Communion of all faulty Churches, lest they Renounce the Communion of all in the World, and Teach all others to Renounce theirs: But they will sometimes Communicate with the more faulty Churches, to show that they unchurch them not (so they be not forced in it to any Sin); Though usually they will prefer the purest: yea, ordinarily they will join with the more faulty, when they can have no better, or when the public good requireth it. They will never prefer the Interest of their Nonconforming Party, before the Interest of Christianity, or the Public good: They will so defend lesser Truths, as not to neglect or