A26965:311
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.
We before spake of the Schisms of Teachers, and now of Hearers. In this case men may justly ⟨p. 100⟩thus argue: [Our Necessity requireth Pastoral oversight, and Christ commandeth us to use it, when we may have it: But from this public Minister we cannot have it: Therefore we must seek it where we can. That most men have need of Pastoral oversight, is certain; else Christ would not have instituted it for them: And every man should be conscious of his own need.
We before spake of the Schisms of Teachers, and now of Hearers. In this case men may justly ⟨p. 100⟩thus argue: [Our Necessity requireth Pastoral oversight, and Christ commandeth us to use it, when we may have it: But from this publick Minister we cannot have it: Therefore we must seek it where we can. That most men have need of Pastoral oversight, is certain; else Christ would not have instituted it for them: And every man should be conscious of his own need.
That Christ hath commanded us the use of it is certain; 1. In all those Texts which command the Pastors their general and particular duties to the People, to Preach and be instant in season and out, to reprove, rebuke, exhort, to comfort the feeble minded, to visit the sick, to convince the erroneous, to administer the Sacraments, to pray and worship God publicly with them, &c. 2. In all those Texts that command the People to hear, submit to, obey, and imitate such Guides, and use such Ordinances. In several cases the People may possibly be deprived of this at home, as from the allowed Minister: 1. When public Pastors are at so great a distance from them, as that such Pastors cannot come to them, nor they and their families go so far, without such inconvenience and trouble, as will frustrate the end of their endeavours: As in France where the Protestants must go twenty miles, or ten, to a Church; which the weak, children and aged cannot do, nor the rest of the family without such cost and pains, and loss of time as will deprive them of the benefit.