A27054:289
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.
§. 33. III. And as to Practice they all agree in professing and promising obedience to Christ, according to the Law of Nature, the Decalogue and all his Written Laws, so far as they understand them, and their desire to Learn them to that end.
§. 34. All sincere Christians agree in the true and Hearty Consent to all this; And these are the true saved Church of Christ, called Invisible, because their Hearts-consent is Invisible. All other Baptized and Professing Christians with them, agree in the Profession of all this; And are called The Church-visible, their Profession being visible. And all this being truly included in Baptism, which is our entrance into the Catholic (or Universal) Church, in this before described consisteth our Catholic Communion in Christs body, as spiritual or invisible and as visible.
§. 34. All sincere Christians agree in the true and Hearty Consent to all this; And these are the true saved Church of Christ, called Invisible, because their Hearts-consent is Invisible. All other Baptized and Professing Christians with them, agree in the Profession of all this; And are called The Church-visible, their Profession being visible. And all this being truly included in Baptism, which is our entrance into the Catholick (or Universal) Church, in this before described consisteth our Catholick Communion in Christs body, as spiritual or invisible and as visible.
§. 35. II. But besides this Universal Church-Union and Communion, for ORDER and Advantage to our great end, God hath instituted the ORDER of Christian Assemblies or Particular Churches; which are to the Universal Church as Cities and Corporations to a Kingdom: Which are the noblest and most privileged parts of the Kingdom; but yet not essential parts, but eminently Integral: For it may be a Kingdom without them, and would be if they were all disfranchised and laid common. And if Apostles and Evangelists as Itinerant Preachers, convert and baptize men, they are part of the Church Universal before they are gathered into distinct societies under proper Pastors of their own. The Eunuch