A76157:232
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the sovereign powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and welfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the soveraigne powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and wellfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons book-seller, 1658
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. But have we any certainty, that this Ordinance shall prove effectually confirming to ⟨p. 115⟩us? If not it will be but an idle, empty Ceremony. This is our third Question: To which I Answer: 1. Ordinances are Duties, which we must use, and in which we must wait on God for his blessing, if we will have it: and therefore in the way of Duty, we must be found. 2. What if you have not a certainty that your Prayer shall be granted, will you not therefore pray? Or if you are not certain that a Sermon shall profit you, will you not hear it? Or that Reading shall profit you, will you not read? Or that the Lords Supper shall increase your Grace; will you not use it? 3. But I may say more: If you come prepared, you may be sure of a Blessing in some degree: As it is not every one that Prayeth, and heareth, and Receiveth the Lords Supper, that shall certainly have the blessing, but the prepared Soul that is the subject of the promise, which is annexed to that Ordinance; so it is not every one, that is externally Confirmed by Prayer, and Imposition of Lands, that shall be sure of the Blessing, but the Soul that is prepared, as aforedescribed. 4. But yet the several Degrees of Blessing, God hath kept in his own hand, and not affixed them by promise to any person, in any Ordinance: He may bless the Word, Prayer, the Lords Supper, &c. ⟨p. 116⟩to one true Christian more then to another, and yet perform his promise to them all: and so he may this outward Confirmation.
3. But what proof is there in Scripture of such an Ordinance, or Practice? That's our fourth Question: To which I Answer, 1. For the main Point in question, it's already proved, beyond all Controversy, viz. the Necessity of a Personal Profession, and Covenant, before men be admitted to the Church-privileges of the Adult, and that it belongeth to the Office of Christ's Ministers to judge of, and approve this Profession, &c. It is none of this that we have now to prove, but only the Manner of Admission hereupon, whether it be to be done by Prayer with Benediction, and Imposition of hands: And it is not the Lawfulness of this; for that's proved before: but whether this Manner and Solemnity be a thing which ordinarily we should observe? And that it is so, this seems to me to prove, 1. As beyond Controversy it belongeth to Spiritual Superiors, even the Ministers of Christ, to Pray for the people, and Bless them, so this must be in a special manner exercised upon great and special Occasion: But the Admission of the Adult upon their personal Covenanting and Profession, is a great and