A76157:384
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.
But now if this Principle were Practised, in which we are Agreed, about Confirmation, or at least, a Public Profession, that so our Churches might be constituted of fit materials, and not be pestered with so many Infidels, or persons so Ignorant as that they know not Christ; or persons so notoriously vicious, as that they are openly brutish and profane, and make a very scorn of Honesty and Godliness, this would do much to heal all the rest of our Divisions. The Country knows, that the reason why the multitude of Ignorant, ungodly people are for Episcopacy, is principally because they think that Government will do as it did, and rather curb the Precisians (as they call ⟨p. 220⟩them) then them, and will not trouble them with a Differencing discipline or administrations, nor urge them so hard to labour for Knowledge, and live a Godly life. Take away this conceit from them, by the faithful practice of your own Principles, and they will hate you as much as others. What great satisfaction would you give to all that fear God among us, if you would Practise but that which the Rubric of the Common-Prayer Book requireth of you, in this one point? For it requireth not only a Learning of the Catechism but also a public owning of their Baptismal Covenant in the face of the Congregation, and a solemn Promise to live a holy, obedient life: and this at full age; and after this they must be Confirmed, before they be admitted to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. That it may appear how fully we are Agreed in this point, I shall transcribe some more of the Rubric of Confirmation, which is as followeth.
But now if this Principle were Practised, in which we are Agreed, about Confirmation, or at least, a Publicke Profession, that so our Churches might be constituted of fit materials, and not be pestered with so many Infidels, or persons so Ignorant as that they know not Christ; or persons so notoriously vicious, as that they are openly bruitish and prophane, and make a very scorne of Honesty and Godliness, this would do much to heale all the rest of our Divisions. The Country knows, that the reason why the multitude of Ignorant, ungodly people are for Episcopacy, is principally because they think that Government will do as it did, and rather curbe the Precisians (as they call ⟨p. 220⟩them) then them, and will not trouble them with a Differencing discipline or administrations, nor urge them so hard to labour for Knowledg, and live a Godly life. Take away this conceit from them, by the faithfull practice of your own Principles, and they will hate you as much as others. What great satisfaction would you give to all that fear God among us, if you would Practise but that which the Rubricke of the Common-Prayer Book requireth of you, in this one point? For it requireth not only a Learning of the Catechism but also a publike owning of their Baptismal Covenant in the face of the Congregation, and a solemn Promise to live a holy, obedient life: and this at full age; and after this they must be Confirmed, before they be admitted to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. That it may appeare how fully we are Agreed in this point, I shall transcribe some more of the Rubricke of Confirmation, which is as followeth.