A27054:68
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. 4. Lowliness is a great part of Christian worthiness, and a necessary cause of Christian Unity and peace. This [Greek or Hebrew] is but the same thing which Paul elsewhere (Act. 20. 19.) tells this same Church, that he practised towards them exemplarily himself. Lowliness of mind containeth both low and humble thoughts of our selves, and low expectations as to honour and respect from others; with a submissive temper, that can stoop and yield, and a deportment liker to the lower sort of people, than to the stout and great ones of the world. As Mat. 5. to be poor in spirit is to have a spirit fit for a state of poverty, not in Love with riches, but content with little, and patient with all that poor men must endure; so Lowliness of mind, is a disposition and deportment, not like the Grandees of the world, but suited to Low persons and Low things, condescending to the lowest persons, employments and indignities or contempt that shall be cast upon us, A proud high-minded person, that is looking for preferment and must be somebody in the world, is of a spirit contrary to that of Christianity, and will never lie even in the sacred Edifice, nor be a healer, but a troubler of the Church of Christ, and must be converted and become as a little child, before he can enter into the Kingdom ⟨p. 7⟩of heaven, Mat. 18. 3. And indeed only by selfishness and pride have come the divisions and contentions in the Church, even by those that have made it the means of their domination to cry down division, because they must have all to Unite in them, in Conformity to their opinions, Interests and wills. A humble soul that can be content to follow a Crucified Christ, and to be made of no reputation (Phil. 2. 7. Heb. 12. 1, 2, 3.) and to be a servant to all, and a Lord of none, and can yield and stoop and be despised, when ever the ends of his office do require it, is a Christian indeed and fit to be a healer.
Doct. 4. Lowliness is a great part of Christian worthiness, and a necessary cause of Christian Vnity and peace. This is but the same thing which Paul elsewhere (