A26965:125
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacify such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacifie such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benj. Alsop, 1679
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.
XXI. So exceeding great are the benefits and privileges of being members of Christ, and his Church universal and particular, that no unwilling person is immediately capable of it: Nor is it possible ex natura rei, for any (adult) person that consenteth not to be a Christian, or a Member of any particular Church. He cannot be a just Communicant against his will; nor pray and praise God with the Church; nor take a man for his Pastor, or use him as a Pastor, against his will: And God hath laid mens salvation or damnation on the choice or refusal of their wills. Therefore no man can be the Bishop or Pastor of a Church, either de jure, or truly de facto, against the Church or Peoples will, or without ⟨p. 26⟩their consent. And as the Nature of the thing proveth this, so doth the sacred Scripture, Act. 14. 23. & 2. 37, 38. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Mat. 28. 19.
XXI. So exceeding great are the benefits and priviledges of being members of Christ, and his Church universal and particular, that no unwilling person is immediately capable of it: Nor is it possible ex natura rei, for any (adult) person that consenteth not to be a Christian, or a Member of any particular Church. He cannot be a just Communicant against his will; nor pray and praise God with the Church; nor take a man for his Pastor, or use him as a Pastor, against his will: And God hath laid mens salvation or damnation on the choice or refusal of their wills. Therefore no man can be the Bishop or Pastor of a Church, either de jure, or truly de facto, against the Church or Peoples will, or without ⟨p. 26⟩their consent. And as the Nature of the thing proveth this, so doth the sacred Scripture, Act. 14. 23. & 2. 37, 38.