A27006:1488
Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…
Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his life and times faithfully published from his own original manuscript by Matthew Sylvester.Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his life and times faithfully publish'd from his own original manuscript by Matthew Sylvester.
London: printed for T. Parkhurst, 1696
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.
than which nothing is more necessary for the settling of a firm Peace in the Church.
than which nothing is more necessary for the setling of a firm Peace in the Church.
A Defence of our Proposals to his Majesty for Agreement in Matters of Religion. Concerning the Preamble. § 1. WE are not insensible of the great Danger of the Church, through the Doctrinal Errors of many of those with whom we are at difference also about the Points of Government and Worship now before us. But yet we chose to say of the Party, that we are agreed in Doctrinals, because they subscribe the same Holy Scriptures and Articles of Religion, and Books of Homilies as we do. And the Contradictions to their own Confessions, which too many are guilty of, we thought not just to charge upon the Party; because it is but Personal guilt. As to the differences (which in Charity and for Peace, we had rather extenuate than aggravate;) it is of Objective Conceptions that we speak, there being a difference in the things, as well as in our apprehensions. And we conceive that [The Ancient Form of Church-Government, and the Soundness of the Liturgy, and freedom from corrupting unlawful Ceremonies,] are Matters that are worthy a conscionable regard: and no such little inconsiderable things as to be received without sufficient trial, or used against the Dissuasions of our Consciences. No Sin should seem so small as to be wilfully committed; especially to Divines. He that will sin for little or nothing, is not to be trusted when he hath great Temptations. Whosoever shall break one of these least Commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do, and teach them the same, shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5. 19. And whether the Imposer or the Forbearers do hazard and disturb the Church, the nature of the thing declareth. To you it is indifferent before your Imposition; and therefore you may without any regret of your own Consciences forbear the Imposition, or persuade the Law-makers to forbear it. But to many of those that dissent from you, they are sinful; and therefore cannot be yielded to by them without the wilful violation of their Duty, to the absolute Sovereign of the World. If in the Church of Rome, the Conscience of a Subject forbid the use of Crucifixes, and Images, and Chrism, and Holy Water, &c. is it therefore they? or is it the Pastors that needlessly impose these Things, that are the Disturbers of the Church?