A26965:846
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.
3. At least we would entreat them to hate that mistake, which will pretend to do all this for charity, unity and the Churches good; and to believe that it is no sign of charity, 1. To believe that charity should not be exercised in judging that men professing saving faith do speak the truth, and have the faith that they profess: 2. Nor to teach all Christs Church, that a baptized Church member as such is to be looked on but as a man in a state of damnation; and no man is bound to love him as a true Christian with a special love: 3. And that to prove that a man is not to be taken for a true Christian, but to be admitted into Church Communion as one that shall have a greater damnation than heathens, without a further renovation, is a great act of Charity, Contrary to the uncharitable narrowness of others. These are too great recesses from Anabaptistry, but not from real Schism.
3. At least we would intreat them to hate that mistake, which will pretend to do all this for charity, unity and the Churches good; and to believe that it is no sign of charity, 1. To believe that charity should not be exercised in judging that men professing saving faith do speak the truth, and have the faith that they profess: 2. Nor to teach all Christs Church, that a baptized Church member as such is to be lookt on but as a man in a state of damnation; and no man is bound to love him as a true Christian with a special love: 3. And that to prove that a man is not to be taken for a true Christian, but to be admitted into Church Communion as one that shall have a greater damnation than heathens, without a further renovation, is a great act of Charity, Contrary to the uncharitable narrowness of others. These are too great recesses from Anabaptistry, but not from real Schism.
§ 3. As for those that will not take the intelligent serious profession of true Faith, and Covenant-Consent for a credible sign of the sincerity of the Professor, till they can sufficiently disprove it, but will be the arbitrary Judges of mens hearts, either as pretended heart-searchers, or by self-devised, or uncertain signs, not taking up with this Profession, we are no Patrons of such mens presumption and uncharitableness.