A76157:301
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.
Prop. 19. So exceeding great and many are the mischiefs that have befallen us, by the neglect of a solemn meet Transition from an Infant, into the Adult Church state, and which undoubtedly will continue, till this be remedied, that all Magistrates, Ministers, and People, that dissemble not, in professing themselves to be Christians, should with speed and diligence attempt the Cure.
Prop. 19. So exceeding great and many are the mischiefs that have befallen us, by the neglect of a solemn meet Transition from an Infant, into the Adult Church state, and which undoubtedly will continue, till this be remedyed, that all Magistrates, Ministers, and People, that dissemble not, in professing themselves to be Christians, should with speed and diligence attempt the Cure.
Let us here take a view of the case of our Nation, and Congregations, and then consider of the effects and consequents.
LEt us here take a view of the case of our Nation, and Congregations, and then consider of the effects and consequents.
All the people of our Parishes, (except Anabaptists) do bring their Children to be Baptized; which if it were faithfully done, were a happy means of an early engagement unto Christ, and a happy entrance upon further mercy.) Multitudes of those know not what Baptism is, nor to what use and end it is appointed, nor what benefit their Children may receive by it: (I speak upon too sure and large experience) nor do they know what Christianity is, nor who Jesus Christ is, nor what it is, that they are to do in Baptism: But there they make a promise customarily, as they are bid, in words not ⟨p. 153⟩understood, that they will acquaint their children at age with the Covenant there made (which they never understood themselves) and that they will educate them in Godliness, when they hate Godliness at the heart. And when they come home, they perform their promise accordingly: They teach them nothing of the Doctrine of Christianity, and the life to come, but they give them up to the flesh and the world, which there in words they did renounce; and they teach them by their daily examples to curse, and swear, and rail, and to be proud and covetous, and voluptuous, serving their bellies in stead of God; and hateful reproaching a godly life, instead of teaching it their Children. These Children are customarily brought to the Assemblies, where they hear the plainest teaching, without understanding, or regarding it, and grow hardened under daily reproofs and exhortations; living as their Parents taught them, some in gross ignorance and worldliness, without any signs of Godliness, further then to come to Church; some in Drunkenness, some in Whoredom, abundance in a malignant hatred of a holy life, making them that use it the common scorn, and taking them for the hatefullest persons in the Parish, or Country