A27054:468
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.
§. 14. The same Apostle in the Epistles to the Corinthians, 1. c. 1. v. 10. &c. importuneth them to peace and unity, and sharply reprehendeth their divisions (1. c. 3.) He desireth them to be perfectly conjoined in the same mind, and in the same judgement. But what ⟨p. 153⟩are the terms and means of such a union? Is it that they all unite in Cephas (Peter) or in One Patriarch or Pope? Or that they adhere to men with greater estimation? No, but contrary. It is this that divided them, while one was for Paul, and another for Apollos, and another for Cephas: He calls them to unite in Christ alone, and not to think of men above that which is written, nor to be puffed up for one against another, nor to take any Pastors as the Lords of their faith, but as Ministers of Christ and stewards of his mysteries, given for their good, and helpers of their joy and edification: c. 3. & 4. He tells them that neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase: and he that planteth and he that watereth are one: c. 3. v. 7, 8, 9. And in case of eating things offered to Idols, as to so much as was lawful in it self, he chargeth them to deny their liberty when it will be a stumbling-block to the weak, and tells them that he will never eat flesh while the world standeth, if it make his brother to offend: c. 8. 13. Telling them that when they sin so against the brethren and wound their weak Conscience, they sin against Christ; v. 12. And he himself would labour for his bread, and not take a lawful and due maintenance from them, when he saw it would hinder his success, c. 9. and would rather dye, than any should make void this his glorying, v. 15. To the Jews he became as a Jew, to gain the Jews, and to the weak he became as weak to gain them, and was made all things to all men that he might by all means save some, v. 20, 21, 22, 23. His rule is, Give no offence to Jews, or Greeks or to the Church of God: even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved, c. 10. v. 32, 33. Their divisions at the Communion he reproveth, ch. 11. not caused by ceremonious impositions, but ⟨p. 154⟩their own partiality and selfishness. The great difference among Christians in gifts and strength he largely openeth, c. 12.
§. 14. The same Apostle in the Epistles to the Corinthians, 1. c. 1. v. 10. &c. importuneth them to peace and unity, and sharply reprehendeth their divisions (1. c. 3.) He desireth them to be perfectly conjoyned in the same mind, and in the same judgement. But what