A69533:868
Five disputations of church-government and worship
Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
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.
Sect. 35. 29. And truly if all these evils were accomplished, the Ministers forsaken, iniquity let loose, the Ordinances profaned by unworthy men, &c. we could expect nothing but that the judgements of God should be poured out upon us for our Apostasy: and that temporal plagues involuntary should accompany the spiritual plagues that we have chosen! and that God should even forsake our land, and make us a by word and an ⟨p. 251⟩hissing to the Nations: and that his judgements should write as upon our doors, This is the people that wilfully cast out the Ministers and mercies of the Lord.
Sect. 35. 29. And truly if all these evils were accompl•shed, the Ministers forsaken, iniquity let loose, the Ordinances prophaned by unworthy men, &c. we could expect nothing but that the judgements of God should be poured out upon us for our Apostacy: and that temporal plagues involuntary should accompany the spiritual plagues that we have chosen! and that God should even forsake our land, and make us a by word and an ⟨p. 251⟩hissing to the Nations: and that his judgements should write as upon our doors, This is the people that wilfully cast out the Ministers and mercies of the Lord.
Sect. 36. 30. And if all this were but accomplished, in the Conclusion I may be bold to ask, what would the Devil himself have more, except our damnation it self? If he were to plead his own cause, and to speak for himself, would he not say the very same as these Learned, Reverend Disputers do? would he not say to all our graceless people, Hear n•t these Ministers: they are no true Ministers: Join not in Communion with their Churches, they are no true Churches? I doubt not but he would say many of the same words, if he had leave to speak. And should not a man of any fear be afraid, and a man of any piety be unwilling to plead the very cause of Satan, and say as he would have them say, by accusing so many famous Churches and Ministers, as being none indeed, and drawing the people so to censure them and forsake them; This is no work for a Minister of Christ.