A27054:455
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.
§. 5. Christ himself the Law giver and Judge doth oft in his explications lay his acceptance of men on a few great, plain, sure necessary things: He summeth up the whole Law into the two great Commands, the first and the second like unto it, even the Love of God and Man: and when he tells one that had lived soberly and justly, that yet he lacked one thing, Luke 18. it is but this plain great necessary duty, to prefer his heavenly reward, and hopes, and Christ to bring him to it, before his wealth and prosperity on earth: This was not a great Volume of hard opinions, but one plain and necessary duty, not hard to know, but hard to an unbelieving worldly heart to be willing to do. So in his great Sermon on the Mount, Matth. 5. it is not many dark opinions or ⟨p. 146⟩small ceremonious practices that he pronounceth blessedness on, but the pure in heart, the poor in spirit, the merciful, the peace-makers, and such as suffer for righteousness sake: And in all his most excellent Sermons and Prayers, John 5. & 6. & 10. & 13. & 14. & 15. & 16. & 17. what have you but our common Catechism truths? Which of the controversies of contenders, or what nice opinions are there decided or propounded?
Nay, he himself oft distinguishing tells men, that God will have mercy and not sacrifice, and reproveth the Pharisees that were strict in tithing mint, anise and cummin, and neglected the great matters of the Law, Mercy, truth and justice, and that troubled the Church with their ceremonies, and worshipped God in vain with their traditions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, Matth. 15.
Nay, he himself oft distinguishing tells men, that God will have mercy and not sacrifice, and reproveth the Pharisees that were strict in tything mint, annise and cummin, and neglected the great matters of the Law, Mercy, truth and justice, and that troubled the Church with their ceremonies, and worshipped God in vain with their traditions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,