A76157:397
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.
Lay all this together, and we may well conclude, that this Practice of Ministerial Approbation, and Confirmation, (or Restoration) of all that are admitted into the Number of Adult-Christians, or visible Church-members, and to their Privileges, is so necessary, and so admirably fitted, both for Reformation, and Reconciliation, of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Independents, Erastian and moderate Anabaptists, and to stop the mouths of the Intemperate, and of the Papists, that all Magistrates, Ministers and People, that love the Churches Purity and Peace, and long to see it cleansed and healed, should gladly embrace it, and vigorously promote it it.
Lay all this together, and we may well conclude, that this Practice of Ministerial Approbation, and Confirmation, (or Restoration) of all that are admitted into the Number of Adult-Christians, or visible Church-members, and to their Priviledges, is so necessary, and so admirably fitted, both for Reformation, and Reconciliation, of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Independants, Erastian and moderate Anabaptists, and to stop the mouths of the Intemperate, and of the Papists, that all Magistra•es, Ministers and People, that love the Churches Purity and Peace, and long to see it clensed and healed, should gladly embrace it, and vigorously promote it it.
I Have two things yet more to do upon this Subject. 1. To answer some Objections, and 2 To give some Directions to all sorts, for the effectual putting it in execution. The Objections are these.
Object. 1. You will tempt the Anabaptists to say, that this is but a shift of our own devising, instead of Baptism, lest we should yield to them, when we are convinced of the Necessity of a personal Covenanting by the Adult.