A76157:508
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.
3. Our last work is to tell you, what is the Magistrates part, for the promoting of this work. And I shall urge them here to no great matters, because they shall not say, that we would either drive them in the dark upon questionable things, or put them upon that, which any reason can call persecution, or make them think, that we can do nothing but by their sword And therefore whether they should force people to be Church-members, or Christians, or to come under Discipline, are Questions that at this time I shall not meddle with; But ⟨p. 292⟩Direct. 1. It is a great part of the Magistrates Duty to cause the people that are yet unfit for Church-communion,1 to keep in their visible station, and to behave themselves as Expectants, and submit to that Instruction of their Teachers, which is necessary to prepare them for the Privileges of the Church: and to this End the Magistrate should by Laws and Proclamations, own this Ministerial Reformation. Alas how little knew they, what they did, that have so long been jealous of us, lest we would do too much, and under pretence of Discipline inflame, or abuse them by severity? When as it is a work that casteth us on so much rage and hatred, of rich and poor, and calls for such abundance of Faith and Zeal, and diligence and self-denial, when we have so little, and are commonly like other ⟨p. 293⟩men addicted too much to man-pleasing, and to save our selves, that if we had all the help that Magistrates can give us, it's ten to one but we should leave the most of this work undone. Preaching is a very cheap and easy work, in comparison of Church-Government. They have taken great pains to stop poor, lazy, short-winded men from running up the steepest hill, and carrying the heaviest burden, and passing through the greatest sufferings, that in those prosperous times we can expect. And indeed I know it to be true, that for all the countenance of Authority, he that will faithfully execute the Pastoral Oversight and Discipline, shall live a persecuted life, which by mere Preaching he might avoid.
3. OUr last work is to tell you, what is the Magistrates part, for the promoting of this work. And I shall urge them here to no great matters, because they shall not say, that we would either drive them in the darke upon questionable things, or put them upon that, which any reason can call persecution, or make them think, that we can do nothing but by their sword And therefore whether they should force people to be Church-members, or Christians, or to come under Discipline, are Questions that at this time I shall not meddle with; But