A76157:361
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.
3. Moreover, this course would be an excellent help to the Labours of the Ministers of Christ, for mens Salvation. They would better understand and apply our Sermons: whereas now, they lose the benefit by misapplying them. Now we must labour all our lives, (and with most, in vain) to make unbelievers, and ungodly persons understand ⟨p. 201⟩what they are, and no means will serve to convince many people, that they are not truly Christians, that know not what it is to be a Christian, or that hate it and fight against it. When they all go together under the name of Christians, what ever comforts they hear offered to Believers, they take them to themselves, or mistake them as offered to them; and all the threatenings that are uttered against unbelievers, they put by and think it is not they that they are spoken against. But if once we could but get men to stand in their own places, and to know themselves; how easily then would our message work? Me thinks the Devil should not be able, to keep one man of an hundred in his power, if they knew themselves to be in his power: nor one of an hundred, in a state of ungodliness and condemnation if they knew that they are in such a state. At least, I am sure men will not so numerously, nor easily run into Hell, when they know they are going into it, as when they are confident that they are good Christians, and in the way to Heaven.
3. Moreover, this course would be an excellent help to the Labours of the Ministers of Christ, for mens Salvation. They would better understand and apply our Sermons: whereas now, they lose the benefit by misapplying them. Now we must labour all our lives, (and with most, in vaine) to make unbelievers, and ungodly persons understand ⟨p. 201⟩what they are, and no means will serve to convince many people, that they are not truly Christians, that know not what it is to be a Christian, or that hate it and fight against it. When they all go together under the name of Christians, what ever comforts they hear offered to Believers, they take them to themselves, or mistake them as offered to them; and all the threatnings that are uttered against unbelievers, they put by and think it is not they that they are spoken against. But if once we could but get men to stand in their own places, and to know themselves; how easily then would our message work? Me thinks the Devil should not be able, to keep one man of an hundred in his power, if they knew themselves to be in his power: nor one of an hundred, in a state of ungodliness and condemnation if they knew that they are in such a state. At least, I am sure men will not so numerously, nor easily runne into Hell, when they know they are going into it, as when they are confident that they are good Christians, and in the way to Heaven.