A27016:674
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Francis Tyton, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
But perhaps you will say, that there are contentions and differences among them about Religion, which the world was never troubled with before. To which I answer, 1. What differences or contentions do you see among them in this Town or Parish? Among five hundred people that you count Precise, what one is there among us that is either Anabaptist, or Separatist, or Antinomian, or Arminian, or of any other sect? What one that separateth from any Ordinance of public Worship? What differences do you know among us? Is there here any more Churches then one? Do you hear any contendings? Do you see any thing like a difference among us all? For my part, I know of none: Nor but of one in the Parish (that is turned from us) which is a simple, ignorant, harmless man, that turned Anabaptist. For as for the Apostate Infidels that join with you that are ungodly, we have nothing to do with them, but lament their misery.
But perhaps you will say, that there are contentions and differences among them about Religion, which the world was never troubled with before. To which I answer, 1. What differences or contentions do you see among them in this Town or Parish? Among five hundred people that you count Precise, what one is there among us that is either Anabaptist, or Separatist, or Antinomian, or Arminian, or of any other sect? What one that separateth from any Ordinance of publick Worship? What differences do you know among us? Is there here any more Churches then one? Do you hear any contendings? Do you see any thing like a difference among us all? For my part, I know of none: Nor but of one in the Parish (that is turned from us) which is a simple, ignorant, harmless man, that turned Anabaptist. For as for the Apostate Infidels that joyn with you that are ungodly, we have nothing to do with them, but lament their misery.
14. Another thing that hindereth our Belief of you, is that we see that it is only ignorant or wicked men that are of this opinion, and say that the world is the worse for Godliness, or the Preaching of the Gospel. Not a man saith so that knoweth what he saith, and that ever felt the power and sweetness of the Gospel upon his soul: But only those that are blinded by the world, and serve the flesh, and are drowned in lust, and know not what they speak against. And shall we regard the judgement of such men?