A76157:434
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. We shall not accept them for their Age, but for their Profession: And we can easily tell when they offer themselves to trial and Profession, and desire the Communion of the Church: As the Ancient Churches could tell when their Catechumens were to be baptized.
Answ. 1. We shall not accept them for their Age, but for their Profession: And we can easily tell when they offer themselves to tryal and Profession, and desire the Communion of the Church: As the Ancient Churches could tell when their Catechumens were to be baptized.
2. And for the time when we must judge their Infant Church-state to cease, if they own not the Covenant personally, we cannot set a certain year, nor is it necessary: but when their Infancy ceaseth, then their Infant-state ceaseth: That is, when they come to the full or competent use of Reason: But then observe, 1. That if they be called at such a time to profess their Faith, and own their Covenant, and refuse it, then we must ⟨p. 252⟩judge them refusers of Christianity unless the Reasons of the Refusal allows another judgment. 2. Or if they will fully neglect for a considerable space, to own their Baptismal Covenant, and to seek a standing among the Adult-Christians, it's a strong presumption that they are Backsliders. 3. If they only suspend their personal Profession at age, we must only suspend our Judgment, till we have some light to discern the cause: and cannot be sure that there are Deserters or Apostates. 4. But we are sure that they are nor to be numbered by the Church among Adult Christians, till they have produced the Evidence of their Title, which is no other then A Credible, Personal Profession. So that it's easy to know when any such person is to be admitted, and publicly owned as an Actual Believer, though it be not so easy to discern of all, before that time, whether they are to be reckoned as Deserters or not. He that wilfully neglecteth to come among the Adult Christians, long after he hath the full use of Reason (which is not with all at the same age) is to be much suspected, at least: And commonly about 16, or 17, or 18, years of age, is the time when we have reason to expect that they should seek the Communion and Privileges of the Adult: For