A27054:154
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness of it, and the detection of false dividing terms / opened by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
62. There must go very much wisdom, goodness and careful diligence, to get and keep Unity and Peace in our own souls, (it being that healthful equal temperature and harmony of all within us which few obtain) And most have a discord and War or disquiet in themselves. But to have a family of such is harder, and to have a Church of such yet harder; and much more to have a Kingdom of such, and a conjunction of such Churches; and most of all to bring all the world to such a state: And they that have a War in themselves, are not fit to be the Peace-making healers of the Church (in that degree).
62. There must go very much wisdom, goodness and careful diligence, to get and keep Vnity and Peace in our own souls, (it being that healthful equal temperature and harmony of all within us which few obtain) And most have a discord and War or disquiet in themselves. But to have a family of such is harder, and to have a Church of such yet harder; and much more to have a Kingdom of such, and a conjunction of such Churches; and most of all to bring all the world to such a state: And they that have a War in themselves, are not fit to be the Peace-making healers of the Church (in that degree).
63. Yet as every Christian hath so much concord and peace at home as is necessary to his salvation, so we may well hope that by just endeavours, the Churches may have so much, as may preserve the essentials of Christianity and Communion, and also may fortify the Integrals, and may much increase the greatness and glory of the Church, and much further holiness and righteousness in its members, and remove many of the scandals and sinful contentions, which are the great hinderers of piety, and are Satan's advantages against mans recovery and salvation: This much we may seek in hope.
63. Yet as every Christian hath so much concord and peace at home as is necessary to his salvation, so we may well hope that by just endeavours, the Churches may have so much, as may preserve the essentials of Christianity and Communion, and also may fortifie the Integrals, and may much encrease the greatness and glory of the Church, and much further holiness and righteousness in its members, and remove many of the scandals and sinful contentions, which are the great hinderers of piety, and are Satans advantages against mans recovery and salvation: This much we may seek in hope.