A26965:147
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.
XXXVIII. Christ himself hath instituted the Baptismal Covenant to be the Title of Visible Members of his Church, and the Symbol by which they shall be notified: And he hath commanded all the baptized as Christians, to Love each other as themselves; and though weak in the faith, to receive one another, as Christ receiveth us, but not to doubtful disputations; and so far as they have obtained to walk by the same rule, of Love, and Peace, and not to despise or judge each other for tolerable differences (much less to hate, revile, or destroy each other;) and it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and the Apostles, to lay no greater burden on the Churches, even of the Ceremonies which God had once commanded, but Necessary things, Act. 15. 28. And these terms of Church-Union and Concord which Christ hath made, no mortal man hath power to abrogate. All things therefore of inferior nature, though Verities and Good, must be no otherwise imposed by Rulers, than as may stand with these universal Laws of Christ, which are the true way to prevent Church-Schisms.
XXXVIII. Christ himself hath instituted the Baptismal Covenant to be the Title of Visible Members of his Church, and the Symbol by which they shall be notified: And he hath commanded all the baptized as Christians, to Love each other as themselves; and though weak in the faith, to receive one another, as Christ receiveth us, but not to doubtful disputations; and so far as they have obtained to walk by the same rule, of Love, and Peace, and not to despise or judge each other for tolerable differences (much less to hate, revile, or destroy each other;) and it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and the Apostles, to lay no greater burden on the Churches, even of the Ceremonies which God had once commanded, but Necessary things, Act. 15. 28. And these terms of Church-Union and Concord which Christ hath made, no mortal man hath power to abrogate. All things therefore of inferiour nature, though Verities and Good, must be no otherwise imposed by Rulers, than as may stand with these universal Laws of Christ, which are the true way to prevent Church-Schisms.