A27054:302
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.
§. 1. IF it be once proved, that Christ himself hath prescribed the conditions or terms of Christian Union and Communion, what remaineth to Christians, but to enquire What are those terms? Whereas for want of that necessary supposition, while men think it is left to them, no man knoweth who should do it, and the Pope prescribeth his terms, and others prescribe their terms, and almost each Sect hath different terms.
§. 2. That Christ did prescribe them, I shall prove I. Antecedently, à Causis, II. Consequently, ab Effectis; III. By proving the necessary exclusion of any other competent prescribers.
§. 3. I. Antecedently it is proved from 1. The universal necessity of the thing, 2. And from the office of Christ to do things of such universal necessity, and his faithfulness therein.
§. 4. 1. There are few Christians so ignorant or inconsiderate, but will confess that the Union of Christians is necessary, not only to the edification and well being, but to the very being of the Church, ⟨p. 99⟩