A76157:280
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.
2. And as this proves, that the Church-members must be made known to one another, so it proves that they must have a Judgment of Discretion in receiving them: (though the Pastors have the Judgment of Governing Direction.) For 1. God hath not left the Pastors at liberty, to take in whom they Please; but hath described what Profession they shall accept, or what persons they shall admit, and whom they shall reject. If therefore the Pastors go against the Word of God, then this following is the peoples duty: 1. If they know not the error, or the case be doubtful, they are to rest in Obedience to their Pastors, (for ⟨p. 139⟩that's undoubtedly their duty) the work being the Pastors and not theirs. 2. But if the case be plainly contrary to the Scripture, (as if he would admit an Impenitent Drunkard, Fornicator, &c.) they must disown his sin, that it lie not upon them, and refuse private familiarity with that person; but not withdraw from public Ordinances, because of his presence. For when they have done their duty, and rid themselves of the guilt by a dissent, the person is to them as Morally absent, though Locally and Physically present; and the Ordinance is not defiled to them by his Corporal presence; but the guilt will lie on the Rulers of the Church: otherwise, all Churches should be broken in pieces, if the people must separate, when every one that they are confident is unworthy is Introduced: and the Governed will become the Governors. 3. But if it be not a few that the Pastors thus introduce against the certain Word of God; but so many and such as will corrupt the substance of the Church,1 and make it an uncapable matter for the form, and so to become another thing, and destroy the very Ends of Church-association, so that it is no longer a Communion of Saints; then the people fearing God, are bound to stop this ⟨p. 140⟩before it have quite corrupted the Church, by admonishing the Pastors, and advising with neighbour Churches to admonish them; and if that prevail not, by rejecting them: and if they cannot do so, by reason of a Major Vote of uncapable persons, they ought to withdraw themselves, and worship God in such a Church as is truly capable of the Name and Ends:2