A76157:321
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.
He that dare take on him to be an Overseer and Ruler of the Church, and not to oversee and rule it, and dare settle on such a Church-state, as is uncapable of Discipline, ⟨p. 174⟩is so perfidious to Christ, and ventureth so boldly, to make the Church another thing, that I am resolved not to be his follower.
But if we shall exercise the Discipline of Christ upon all in our ordinary Parishes, what work shall we make? I will tell you what work, from so much experience, as that no reasonings can any more persuade me to believe the contrary, then that wormwood is not bitter, or snow not cold.
But if we shall exercise the Discipline of Christ upon all in our ordinary Parishes, what work shall we make? I will tell you what work, from so much experience, as that no reasonings can any more perswade me to believe the contrary, then that wormwood is not bitter, or snow not cold.
1. We shall have such a multitude to excommunicate, or reject that it will make the sentence grow almost contemptible by the commonness. 2. We shall so extremely enrage the spirits of the people, that we shall go in continual danger of our lives: Among so many that are publicly reproved, and cast out, it's two to one, but some desperate villains will be studying revenge. But all this is nothing: but that which sticks upon my heart is this:1 3. We shall be the cruellest enemies to the Souls of our poor people in the world: and put them the very next step to Hell. For as soon as ever we have rejected them, and cast them under public