A76157:398
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.
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.
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 Necesity of a personal Covenanting by the Adult.
Answ. There is no Ordinance or Truth of God, that will not be spoken against by mistaking men: and yet we must not therefore cast them away. Nor is it the way to vindicate a Truth or Ordinance from reproach, to disclaim it, and so to reproach it actually our selves. Nor is it the way to get advantage of an adversary, to fly from him too far into the contrary extreme, but rather to come as near him as the truth will give us leave. And to the Anabaptists Objection, we shall give them our reasons against their way, in a fitter place, and have already done it. We are most certain that the Servants of God of old (both with Circumcision and without it, Deut. 29.) did enter their children into Covenant with God, as well as themselves. And if it be the express Word of God, that both Infants and Aged should be entered and engaged to him in Covenant, we will obey his Word, and do both, though the Anabaptists will do but the one. He must have a hard face, that will deny that it was once the duty of Parents, to offer their ⟨p. 235⟩