A76157:313
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 why then may not those be Christians and Church-members, that never heard of the Name of Christ, as well as many of these?
2. By this untried Entrance of all sorts into our Churches, we bring a dishonour on the very Christian Name, and so on the Lord Jesus himself, and on his Gospel and holy ways. Christianity is not a matter of mere Opinion: Christ came not into the world only to persuade men to have high thoughts of him, but to save his people from their sins, and to destroy the works of the Devil. And when the Church of Christ shall be turned into a den of thieves, or a sty of swine, what a great dishonour is it to the Lord? As if we would persuade the world, that his servants are no holier then others, and differ but in an Opinion from the world. Christ needeth not Disciples, and therefore will not take in all that refuse to come upon his terms; but hath fixed his terms, and will have only those that will yield to them. Though I abhor the rigour of the contrary extreme, that would make the Church narrower then it is, and pin it up in so small a number, as would tempt men to doubt of Christianity it self; and teacheth men to exclude their brethren, merely because they are themselves uncharitable Judges, when they are not able to disprove their Profession; yet must I also detest this horrible dishonouring of the Lord, as if his Body ⟨p. 167⟩were no better than the army of the Devil.
2. By this untried Entrance of all sorts into our Churches, we bring a dishonour on the very Christian Name, and so on the Lord Jesus himself, and on his Gospel and holy waies. Christianity is not a matter of meer Opinion: Christ came not into the world only to perswade men to have high thoughts of him, but to save his people from their sinnes, and to destroy the works of the Devil. And when the Church of Christ shall be turned into a den of thieves, or a sty of swine, what a great dishonour is it to the Lord? As if we would perswade the world, that his servants are no holier then others, and differ but in an Opinion from the world. Christ needeth not Disciples, and therefore will not take in all that refuse to come upon his terms; but hath fixed his terms, and will have only those that will yield to them. Though I abhorre the rigor of the contrary extreame, that would make the Church narrower then it is, and pinne it up in so small a number, as would tempt men to doubt of Christianity it self; and teacheth men to exclude their bretheren, meerly because they are themselves uncharitable Judges, when they are not able to disprove their Profession; yet must I also detest this horrible dishonouring of the Lord, as if his Body