A27065:156
The vain religion of the formal hypocrite, and the mischief of an unbridled tongue…
The vain religion of the formal hypocrite, and the mischief of an unbridled tongue (as against religion, rulers, or dissenters) described, in several sermons, preached at the Abby in Westminster, before many members of the Honourable House of Commons, 1660 ; and The fools prosperity, the occasion of his destruction : a sermon preached at Covent-Garden / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for F. Tyton, 1660
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. You all profess to [Believe the Communion of Saints:] that is, that the true members of the Catholic Church are all Saints, that have one and the same Spirit, and walk by the same holy Law or Rule, and in holiness must converse together, and join in Church order, for the public worshipping of God, according to his own institution: and must purely and fervently love each other, with such a charity as shall make one as ready to relieve another, when ⟨p. 156⟩God calls for it, as if our riches did belong in Common to the Saints.] This is the meaning of this Article of your Creed. And do I then need to ask you Whether those that profess this, are not Hypocrites, if they hate the Saints, and their inward spiritual Communion, and if they love them but with that lifeless charity that James describeth? Jam. 2. 14, 15, &c. Or if they despise or hate the Discipline, Ordinances and Holy Communion of the Church? And if they live in Communion with drunkards, with harlots, with worldlings, or sensual, vain, or ambitious men, and fly from the Communion of Saints? what dost thou, when thou sayest [I believe the Communion of Saints] but say [I am a dissembling Hypocrite] if it he thus with thee?
5. You all profess to [Believe the Communion of Saints:] that is, that the true members of the Catholike Church are all Saints, that have one and the same Spirit, and walk by the same holy Law or Rule, and in holiness must converse together, and joyn in Church order, for the publick worshipping of God, according to his own institution: and must purely and fervently love each other, with such a charity as shall make one as ready to relieve another, when ⟨p. 156⟩God calls for it, as if our riches did belong in Common to the Saints.] This is the meaning of this Article of your Creed. And do I then need to ask you Whether those that profess this, are not Hypocrites, if they hate the Saints, and their inward spiritual Communion, and if they love them but with that lifeless charity that James describeth? Jam. 2. 14, 15, &c. Or if they despise or hate the Discipline, Ordinances and Holy Communion of the Church? And if they live in Communion with drunkards, with harlots, with worldlings, or sensual, vain, or ambitious men, and fly from the Communion of Saints? what dost thou, when thou sayst [I believe the Communion of Saints] but say [I am a dissembling Hypocrite] if it he thus with thee?