A27054:388
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.
§. 11. These self-made or over-doing terms of Church-Union and Concord, will prove the certainest Engines of Schism; And none are so heinous Schismatics, as they that make unnecessary terms of Union, and then call all Schismatics that consent not to them. For 1. these are the Leaders of the disorder, when other sort of Schismatics usually are but followers: 2. These do it by Law, which is of most extensive mischief, even to all that are subject to them, when others do it but by local practice, extending but to those that are about them, or the particular assemblies which they gather. 3. These make the Schism unavoidable, when private Seducers may be resisted: For it is not in the power of good men to bring their judgements to the sentiments of every or any dictator, or yet to go contrary to their judgements. Ilicitum stat pro impossibili. 4. These aggravate the crime by pretending power from God, and fathering Schism on so good a thing as Government, and causing it as for Unity it self. 5. They condemn themselves by crying down Schism, while they unavoidably cause it.
§. 11. These self-made or over-doing terms of Church-Union and Concord, will prove the certainest Engines of Schism; And none are so heinous Schismaticks, as they that make unnecessary terms of Union, and then call all Schismaticks that consent not to them. For 1. these are the Leaders of the disorder, when other sort of Schismaticks usually are but followers: 2. These do it by Law, which is of most extensive mischief, even to all that are subject to them, when others do it but by local practice, extending but to those that are about them, or the particular assemblies which they gather. 3. These make the Schism unavoidable, when private Seducers may be resisted: For it is not in the power of good men to bring their judgements to the sentiments of every or any dictator, or yet to go contrary to their judgements. Ilicitum stat pro impossibili. 4. These aggravate the crime by pretending power from God, and fathering Schism on so good a thing as Government, and causing it as for Unity it self. 5. They condemn themselves by crying down Schism, while they unavoidably cause it.
§. 12. And this over-doing and making unnecessary terms, unavoidably involveth them in the guilt of persecution; and when they have begun it, they know not where to stop. Suppose