A76157:304
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.
And some self-conceited, half-witted Writers have taught them this lesson, and made Ministerial trial and Approbation•odious to them. But because they were once Baptized, and have since come to hear and join with us in the Assembly, therefore they think that they have right to all Ordinances, and are true Christians and Adult members of the Church; and also exempt from the Government of the Pastors, that require them to submit to the means of their own good. In the Bishops days, some few of them were Confirmed: (in the Country where I lived, about one of ten or twenty) and what that was, and how it was done I can tell you, but what I once made trial of. When I was a School-boy, about 15 years of age, the Bishop coming into the Country, many ⟨p. 155⟩went in to him to be Confirmed: we that were boys, run out to see the Bishop among the rest, not knowing any thing of the meaning of the business: when we came thither, we met about thirty or forty in all, of our own stature and temper, that had come for to be Bishopt, as then it was called: The Bishop examined us not at all in one Article of the Faith; but in a Church-yard, in hast, we were set in a rank, and he past hastily over us, laying his hands on our head, and saying a few words, which neither I nor any that I spoke with, understood; so hastily were they uttered, and a very short prayer recited, and there was an end. But whether we were Christians or Infidels, or knew so much as that there was a God, the Bishop little knew, nor enquired. And yet he was one of the best Bishops esteemed in England. And though the Canons require, that the Curate or Minister send a Certificate that children have learnt the Catechism; yet there was no such thing done, but we run of our own accord to see the Bishop only; and almost all the rest of the County, had not this much: This was the old careless practice of this Excellent Duty of Confirmation. Some few (perhaps half a Parish in the best places) will send their children to Church, to be ⟨p. 156⟩catechized yet; but even those few that learn the words for the most part understand not what they say▪ and are as ignorant of the matters, as if they never learnt the words. This is the common way, by which our Parishes come to be Churches, and our people to be Christians;