A76157:340
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 yet I yield this much to the Objectors freely, that when fit persons are taken into the Church, (yea or unfit, by negligence) we must wait with all patience that is consistent with the ends of Government, and cutting off must be the last remedy: and that when it is necessary, it must be used, though we see that it's ten to one, it will plunge the person (occasionally) into a worse condition. For the Public Ends of Discipline, (the credit of Christianity, the preservation of the Church, and abundance more) are to be preferred before the good of that mans Soul: and as paena debetur Reipublicae, and we cut not off malefactors for their own good, so much as the Commonwealths, which by their hurt must be promoted, so is it as to the Church. But this must be done but upon a few, for example: and therefore but few that will need this severity, are supposed to be in our Communion. And I cannot believe that way to be of God, that would bring such multitudes into this miserable state.
And yet I yield this much to the Objectours freely, that when fit persons are taken into the Church, (yea or unfit, by negligence) we must wait with all patience that is consistent with the ends of Government, and cutting off must be the last remedie: and that when it is necessary, it must be used, though we see that it's ten to one, it will plunge the person (occasionally) into a worse condition. For the Publike Ends of Discipline, (the credit of Christianity, the preservation of the Church, and abundance more) are to be preferred before the good of that mans Soul: and as paena debetur Reipublicae, and we cut not off malefactours for their own good, so much as the Commonwealths, which by their hurt must be promoted, so is it as to the Church. But this must be done but upon a few, for example: and therefore but few that will need this severity, are supposed to be in our Communion. And I cannot believe that way to be of God, that would bring such multitudes into this miserable state.
Object. Your very keeping them from the Communion of the Church, and not Approving or Confirming them, would ⟨p. 189⟩as much exasperate them.