A27068:156
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly…
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholic communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholick communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Gods Word is a sufficient rule, keep to that, and fear not breaking any self-made laws.
XLVII. Obj. But by this latitude you may join with Papists, and say, you judg of them according to Christs description.
Ans. I answered this in the former book: When I join with any church as a church, I join with them as meeting to profess and practice christian faith and worship, their by faults I own not: But if they openly profess Idolatry or Heresy, instead of Worship and Faith, or if they meet to practice any sin which renders the whole church or worship rejected by God, I must not assemble with them, but avoid them; which I must not do for tolerable failings, lest I avoid all the world: I say again, I will cast away my Wine or Broth for Poison in it, which I will not do for a fly: If the church renounce Christs description in the essentials, notoriously, I will not call it a church against their own consent: But if they do it only in some Accident or Integrals, I will only disown those faults.
Ans. I answered this in the former book: When I joyn with any church as a church, I join with them as meeting to profess and practice christian faith and worship, their by faults I own not: But if they openly profess Idolatry or Heresie, instead of Worship and Faith, or if they meet to practice any sin which renders the whole church or worship rejected by God, I must not assemble with them, but avoid them; which I must not do for tolerable failings, lest I avoid all the world: I say again, I will cast away my Wine or Broth for Poyson in it, which I will not do for a fly: If the church renounce Christs description in the essentials, notoriously, I will not call it a church against their own consent: But if they do it only in some Accident or Integrals, I will only disown those faults.