A76157:363
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.
5. The profiting of our people will be much greater in their own place: when those that are not yet fit for Adult-membership, and Privileges, are kept in the place of Catechumens or Expectants. Every thing doth thrive and prosper best in its own place: If you tear them not out of the Churches womb, till they are ready for the birth, they will prosper there, that else may perish. Your Corn will best prosper in the cold earth, where it seems to be dead and buried, till the Springing time shall come. And you should not violently unhose the ears, till Nature put them forth. The first digestion must be wrought, before the second, and Nature must have time allowed it, and the stomach must not too hastily let go the food, if you would have good sanguification ⟨p. 203⟩and nutrition follow. Men think they do a great kindness to grossly ignorant, or impious men, to take them into the Church before they are capable of such a station, and the work, or Privileges thereto belonging: but alas, they do but hurry them to perdition, by thrusting them out of the state, where they might have thriven in preparation to a Church-state, into a state which will set them abundance of work, which they are utterly unfit for, and under the pretence of benefits and Privileges, will occasion abundance of aggravations of their sins. A boy in his A, B, C. will learn better in his own place, among his fellows, then in a higher form, where he hath work set him, which he is uncapable of doing.
5. The profiting of our people will be much greater in their own place: when those that are not yet fit for Adult-membership, and Priviledges, are kept in the place of Catechumens or Expectants. Every thing doth thrive and prosper best in its own place: If you teare them not out of the Churches wombe, till they are ready for the birth, they will prosper there, that else may perish. Your Corne will best prosper in the cold earth, where it seems to be dead and buried, till the Springing time shall come. And you should not violently unhose the eares, till Nature put them forth. The first digestion must be wrought, before the second, and Nature must have time allowed it, and the stomack must not too hastily let go the food, if you would have good sanguification ⟨p. 203⟩and nutrition follow. Men think they do a great kindness to grosly ignorant, or impious men, to take them into the Church before they are capable of such a station, and the work, or Priviledges thereto belonging: but alas, they do but hurry them to perdition, by thrusting them out of the state, where they might have thriven in preparation to a Church-state, into a state which will set them abundance of work, which they are utterly unfit for, and under the pretence of benefits and Priviledges, will occasion abundance of aggravations of their sinnes. A boy in his A, B, C. will learne better in his own place, among his fellows, then in a higher form, where he hath work set him, which he is uncapable of doing.