A76157:506
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 seriously I must tell them, that they want humility, and in their good meanings do the Church a world of wrong. And though they may be more learned even in Theology, then we, yet it is a great matter to have or to want experience. They have not been so much in Church-administrations as we, nor had so much to do with ignorant Souls. And verily I must say again, that the bare Theory maketh but a bungler in this work: I must much suspect the Judgment of that man in matters of Church-government, or dealing with poor Souls, that wants experience. Let these Gentlemen, but turn Ministers, (be it known to their faces, there's none of them too good for it, nor too great) and let them but try our life a little while, and I shall set more by their Judgments, then now I do. I red many a Physicians writings, before I was fit to attempt a Cure. It's a raw deceitful kind of knowledge in these practical affairs, that is not furthered by experience.
But seriously I must tell them, that they want humility, and in their good meanings do the Church a world of wrong. And though they may be more learned even in Theology, then we, yet it is a great matter to have or to want experience. They have not been so much in Church-administrations as we, nor had so much to do with ignorant Souls. And verily I must say againe, that the bare Theory maketh but a bungler in this work: I must much suspect the Judgment of that man in matters of Church-government, or dealing with poor Souls, that wants experience. Let these Gentlemen, but turn Ministers, (be it known to their faces, there's none of them too good for it, nor too great) and let them but try our life a little while, and I shall set more by their Judgments, then now I do. I red many a Physicians writings, before I was fit to attempt a Cure. It's a raw deceitful kind of knowledg in these practical affaires, that is not furthered by experience.
2. And as for the duty of the ignorant, ungodly people, I shall say little of it, because I suppose they are not like to read or ⟨p. 291⟩regard what I say. Only in general, it is their first duty, to become truly godly persons, and so to live in communion with the Church. But upon supposition that they will not yet be such, their next choice should be to live in quiet submission to their Teachers, and patiently stay among the Catechumens, and Expectants, till they are fit for a higher place and Privileges. And with the reasonableness of this motion, and how it conduceth to their good, we should labour to acquaint them, and make them sensible of it, that they may be patient in their station.