A26965:848
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.
§ 4. There are various degrees of Credibility in mens professions; some give us so much as is next to certainty; some but small hopes: But yet till we can disprove them, we are to take their professions as credible in some degree. And if they prove false, it is they that will have the loss.
§ 5. II. The second case about Church Covenants deserveth no longer a discussion. He that will put any article unnecessary into any such Covenant, sinfully corrupteth the order of the Church: As if he would bind the people to be Church Governors, or never to depart from that particular Church but by the consent of the Pastor, or the flock, or any such like: And he mistaketh that will make a more explicit contract to be more necessary than it is. But it seemeth strange to us that any understanding Christian should deny, that consent is absolutely necessary to the being of an adult member both of the universal, and each particular Church respectively. What bindeth a man to consent is another question, but if he be any member of the Church till he profess consent; we know not what a Christian or Church member is. An explicit covenant is necessary to our relation to the Universal Church for it must be solemnized sacramentally: That we express it by writings or words is not of necessity to our membership of a particular Church: But consent is necessary; And mutual consent expressed satisfactorily, is a contract or Covenant: If the Pastor say all th• at consent, hold up your hand, or stand up; or stay here while the rest depart, &c. these are significations of consent: And if it be notified that all that appear at the solemn Assemblies, and attend the Pastors Ministry, shall be taken for Consenters, their presence and attendance is a profession of Consent indeed, and so a covenanting. But though the most explicit be not necessary ad esse, no man can give a reason why it should not be best ad bene esse, seeing the most intelligent and plain dealing in the great things of God, are most suitable to the work, and ⟨p. 305⟩fittest to attain the end: why should we not deal openly and above board?