A76157:378
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. And For Anabaptists, though we cannot expect their full consent, because they admit not Infants into the Visible Church, and therefore Baptise those whom we Confirm or Restore, yet doubtless they will like this as next to that which they suppose to be the right: and because we come as near to them as is fit and lawful for us to do, it is the likeliest way to abate their censures, and procure with them so much Peace,1 as in reason may be expected, with men that differ from us in the point of Infant-Baptism. Three sorts of them, I suppose we may meet with: 1. Some that grant ⟨p. 214⟩that Infants are Christs Disciples, Christian, and Visible Church-members, but yet think that Baptism is not for their admission, but only for the Adult. I confess I know of none so moderate, nor am I sure there are any such, but by hearsay, or conjecture: But if there be, our differences with these men would be most in the External sign. If they do but as much by Infants, as the express words of the Gospel do commend, and Christ chid his Disciples for opposing, that is, if they yield that they shall be offered unto Christ, and that the Minister of Christ do in his Name, Receive them, lay his hands on them, and bless them, because of such is the Kingdom of God; and then baptize them, when at age they make a personal Profession; and if we on the other side offer them to Christ, and the Minister in his Name accept them by Baptism, and at age confirm them, upon their personal Covenanting or Profession, the difference here would be most, that they change the outward sign, and they use Imposition of hands when we use Baptism, and we use Baptism when they use Imposition. And with such it were easy for moderate men to hold brotherly Love and Peace. 2. Some we shall ⟨p. 215⟩meet with, that deny Infants to be Visible Church-members, and yet think the Infants of Believers, to have some promises more then the rest of the world, or at least that they are Candidati Christianismi, Expectants of a Church-state, and are as soon as they understand any thing, to be bred up as Catechumens in the Church seminaries, and to be Baptized, as soon as they are actual Believers. And as far as I understand them, some of them will consent that they be offered and dedicated to God in Infancy, and solemnly received, by Ministerial Imposition of hands, into the state of Expectants.