A66098:266
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection…Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion…
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.
printed by James Glen for Samuel Sewall, 1682
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.
3. A spirit of boundless Toleration. I am not now speaking of the Magistrates power and duty, but of ⟨p. 102⟩that which concerns the Churches of Christ. Who can but acknowledge that times are then bad and sad, when a due and sober witness-bearing against the prevailing evils of the times and places, is stigmatized for Persecution; when men that pretend themselves to be for the Truth, yet cannot patiently bear a plain and honest discovery of errors, is not this indeed to persecute the faithful Servants of Jesus Christ? Though many disputes have been in the Christian World about that question, viz. How far the Civil Sword ought to be drawn against those who are the Publishers and Maintainers of Erroneous and Heretical Doctrines and Practices: Yet the Church of Christ ever accounted Her self engaged to condemn and suppress them, both by Preaching and Writing against the Doctrines, and sharpening the Church censures against the Persons of such as vented, & pertinaciously persisted in them; purging out such Leaven from the lump: Nor did the Professors of the Truth ever call this Persecution, till now of late. It was the commendation of the Church of Ephesus, that they could not bear with such as those who said they were Apostles, and were not, Rev. 2. 2. And it is great pity that it should now be esteemed the Glory of any Churches that they can bear with them; yea, cherish and defend them: The Covenant (I am sure) obligeth to the contrary. And this evil is the rather to be carefully resisted, because it is manifestly the present Engine which Antichrist is making use of, to undermine and bring to nothing the Protestant Churches withal.
3. A spirit of boundless Toleration. I am not now speaking of the Magistrates power and duty, but of ⟨p. 102⟩that which concerns the Churches of Christ. Who can but acknowledge that times are then bad and sad, when a due and sober witness-bearing against the prevailing evils of the times and places, is stigmatized for Persecution; when men that pretend themselves to be for the Truth, yet cannot patiently bear a plain and honest discovery of errours, is not this indeed to persecute the saithful Servants of Jesus Christ? Though many disputes have been in the Christian World about that question, viz. How far the Civil Sword ought to be drawn against those who are the Publishers and Maintainers of Erronious and Heretical Doctrines and Practices: Yet the Church of Christ ever accounted Her self engaged to condemn and suppress them, both by Preaching and Writing against the Doctrines, and sharpening the Church censures against the Persons of such as vented, & pertinaciously persisted in them; purging out such Leaven from the lump: Nor did the Professours of the Truth ever call this Persecution, till now of late. It was the commendation of the Church of Ephesus, that they could not bear with such as those who said they were Apostles, and were not,