A76157:379
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.
If these men be of peaceable, moderate Spirits, and agree with us in other matters of Religion (in the substance at least) they must needs acknowledge, that in the foredescribed practice of Confirmation, we come so near them, that they cannot deny us brotherly Love and Peace. For I hope they will not think, that they may lawfully deny these (yea or their communion) to all that be not punctually of their opinion, against the Church-membership and Baptism of Infants. 3 And as for all the rest of the Anabaptists, that hold also the doctrine of Pelagianism, or Socinianism, or Libertinism, or Familism, or Quakers, or Heathenism, they are not in a capacity ⟨p. 216⟩for us, to treat with about Accommodation, or Christian Peace.
If these men be of peaceable, moderate Spirits, and agree with us in other matters of Religion (in the substance at least) they must needs acknowledg, that in the foredescribed practice of Confirmation, we come so neere them, that they cannot deny us brotherly Love and Peace. For I hope they will not think, that they may lawfully deny these (yea or their communion) to all that be not punctually of their opinion, against the Church-membership and Baptism of Infants. 3 And as for all the rest of the Anabaptists, that hold also the doctrine of Pelagianism, or Socinianism, or Libertinism, or Familism, or Quakers, or Heathenism, they are not in a capacity ⟨p. 216⟩for us, to treat with about Accomodation, or Christian Peace.
But yet, as to all the intemperate, dividing, unpeaceable Anabaptists, that will but reproach us for our drawing so near them, at least we shall have this advantage against their reasonings, that we shall be far better able to manifest the variety of them, then otherwise we could do. For whereas their common Argument against Infant Baptism is, that it defileth the Church, by letting in all the Children in the Nation, which must be cast out again, or the most will be openly vile; and that it defraudeth the Adult of the benefits of solemn Engagement to Christ; all this will be taken off by Confirmation, and will lie no more on us, then on themselves, seeing by this means, we can as faithfully hold the Church door against the Adult, that are unfit to enter into the number, as they can.