A76157:412
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.
Answ. 1. You would think much, if at the Lords Supper we should openly call each man to a personal, explicit Profession of his Faith, and Covenanting with God: And indeed it would be a tedious, as well as unseasonable work. It is but a general or joint Profession of all together, that is there renewed: and notwithstanding that, there may for ought we know, be many a one there that is an Infidel, and knoweth not what Christianity is. 2. The Lords Supper is the food of the Soul, confirming by way of nutrition and augmentation; and therefore you must show that you are alive, before you ⟨p. 241⟩may partake of it. It is a feasting upon Christ, and with him in his family, and at his Table: It is a work of Communion with Christ and with his Saints: It is one of the highest privileges of the Church: And therefore you must produce your little, before you can lay claim to it. If a man must be admitted to the Lords Supper, without any precedent, personal Profession or Covenanting with God, upon supposition, that by the act of Receiving he doth all this; then men that know not whether there be a Christ, or what he is, may be admitted: For multitudes of such there are, that in Infancy were baptized: And I know not by seeing him receive, whether he know or believe any thing of Christianity. If a man converted at Age from Heathenism, may not be admitted to the Lords Table without a personal profession in Baptism, then neither may such as are baptized in Infancy, be admitted without a personal Profession, in Confirmation, or such as is without any other Baptism. Our Parents Profession will not serve our turn, in stead of our own when we come to age. And therefore this Objection is vain, unless Infidels may be admitted to Communion, and all be common. But I need not speak much of this, because I shall ⟨p. 242⟩have few such Objectors to deal with: Even the Papists themselves are many of them against promiscuous communion, though the Jesuits of late, have fitted almost all their work, to their man pleasing design: See Joh. Thauleri flores. cap. 23, & 24 pag. 257, &c. (An old Puritan, among the Papists) And they make confession also prerequisite.
Answ. 1. You would think much, if at the Lords Supper we should openly call each man to a personal, explicite Profession of his Faith, and Covenanting with God: And indeed it would be a tedious, as well as unseasonable work. It is but a general or joynt Profession of all together, that is there renewed: and notwithstanding that, there may for ought we know, be many a one there that is an Infidel, and knoweth not what Christianity is. 2. The Lords Supper is the food of the Soul, confirming by way of nutrition and augmentation; and therefore you must shew that you are alive, before you