A76157:318
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.
6. By this means also the Souls of our poor people are deluded, and they are made believe that they are Christians when they ⟨p. 170⟩are not, and in a state of Salvation, when it's no such thing.1 As Mr Thorndike saith (as aforecited) No man is to be admitted to the Assemblies (or visible societies of Christians) till there be just presumption that he is of the Heavenly Jerusalem that is above:—And admitting to, and excluding from the Church is, or ought to be a just and Lawful presumption, of admitting to, or excluding from Heaven: It is morally and legally the same act that entitleth to Heaven, and to the Church, that maketh an heir of life Everlasting and a Christian:—And if so, then what greater mischief can we do the Soul of an ungodly man, then so to delude him, by our admitting him into the Church, and make him believe he is in a state of Salvation, when it's no such thing? False faith, and false hopes, are the things that fill Hell, and are the common undoing of the world: And all that ever we can do, is too little to cure it. When I bend all my studies and labours, but to make a wicked man know that he is wicked, I cannot procure it. I can make him believe that he is a sinner, but not that he is an unconverted, ungodly sinner, and in a state of ⟨p. 171⟩Condemnation. O the power of blinding self-love! that will not suffer them to see themselves miserable, when they see themselves sinful, and all because they would not have it so; when yet it's most visible to others. And shall we all join to strengthen this potent Enemy? and lay this share, and thrust men headlong into Hell, that are running down-hill so fast already: and all under pretence of Charity and Compassion?
6. By this means also the Souls of our poor people are deluded, and they are made believe that they are Christians when they ⟨p. 170⟩are not, and in a state of Salvation, when it's no such thing.1 As Mr Thorndicke saith (as aforecited) No man is to be admitted to the Assemblies (or visible societies of Christians) till there be just presumption that he is of the Heavenly Jerusalem that is above:—And admitting to, and excluding from the Church is, or ought to be a just and Lawfull presumption, of admitting to, or excluding from Heaven: It is morally and legally the same act that entitleth to Heaven, and to the Church, that maketh an heir of life Everlasting and a Christian:—And if so, then what greater mischief can we do the Soul of an ungodly man, then so to delude him, by our admitting him into the Church, and make him believe he is in a state of Salvation, when it's no such thing? False faith, and false hopes, are the things that fill Hell, and are the common undoing of the world: And all that ever we can do, is too little to cure it. When I bend all my studies and labours, but to make a wicked man know that he is wicked, I cannot procure it. I can make him believe that he is a sinner, but not that he is an unconverted, ungodly sinner, and in a state of