A27054:66
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.
Doct. 2. Beseeching is the mode and language of wise and faithful Pastors, in pleading for Unity and against Schism in the Church. For they are not Lords over the flocks, but helpers of their faith: They have no power of the sword, but of the word. They rule not by constraint, but willingly, nor such as are constrained by them, but Volunteers: It is not the way to win Love to God, to Pastors or to one another, to say, Love me or I will lay thee in a gaol: stripes are useful to cause fear and timorous obedience, but not directly to cause Love. And hated Preachers seldom prosper in Converting or Edifying souls, or healing disordered, divided Churches.
Doct. 2. Beseeching is the mode and language of wise and faithful Pastors, in pleading for Vnity and against Schism in the Church. For they are not Lords over the flocks, but helpers of their faith: They have no power of the sword, but of the word. They rule not by constraint, but willingly, nor such as are constrained by them, but Voluntiers: It is not the way to win Love to God, to Pastors or to one another, to say, Love me or I will lay thee in a gaol: stripes are useful to cause fear and timerous obedience, but not directly to cause Love. And hated Preachers seldom prosper in Converting or Edifying souls, or healing disordered, divided Churches.
Doct. 3. Though Grace find us unworthy, it maketh men such as walk worthy of their high and heavenly calling: that is, in a suitable conversation, answerable to the principles of their faith and hope. Christianity were little better than the false Religions of the world, if it made men no better. If Christ made not his disciples greatly to differ from the disciples of a mere philosopher, he would not be ⟨p. 6⟩thought greatly to differ from them himself: The fruits of his doctrine and spirit on our hearts and lives are the proofs and witness of his truth: we wrong him heinously when we live but like other men: And we weaken our own and other mens faith, by obscuring a great evidence of the Christian Verity. And those that are of eminent holiness and righteousness of life, are the great and powerful preachers of faith, and show men by proofs and not only by words that Christ is true.