A76157:515
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.
Direct. 6. It is one of the chief and unquestionable parts of the Magistrates duty, in order to the Reformation and Peace of the Churches, and the saving of mens Souls,1 to see that dangerous Seducers be restrained, from infecting and carrying away the ignorant, ungodly, discontented people, that are kept under Ministerial Teaching, as Expectants. I do not move to have men driven into our Churches: Nor do I move to have an unnecessary restraint laid upon mens tongues or pens, in case of tolerable differences, among the Servants of Christ. In this case I only desire now, that the Dissenting Godly Brethren, would agree together, to meddle with their differences no ⟨p. 301⟩more then needs, and to manage their Disagreements with such Cautions, and in such manner, and season, and measure, as may least hinder their success in the common work, viz. the promoting of the common Fundamental Verities, and the converting and saving of the Ignorant and ungodly, and getting down the reigning sins of the world. And then they will find, 1. That if there by any truth in the private Opinions, which they would propagate, it will far easier be received, when the minds of their brethren are sedate and peaceable, then when they are alarmed to the conflict, by unseasonable preaching for the said Opinions. 2. And that the Errors (of this lower nature among Brethren) which some fear a toleration of, will sooner die of themselves for want of fuel in such Peaceable deportment, then when the bellows of opposition, contradiction, reproach, and violence are blowing them up, and putting life continually into them. For most Dividers are proud and selfish, and must needs be noted, for somewhat extraordinary: And you take the principal way to animate them, when you make so much ado with them: Whereas a few years neglect, and not observing them, as if there were no such men in the world, (unless ⟨p. 302⟩when they impose a Necessity on us) would more happily extinguish them. I speak but what I have seen and tried. This therefore is not the matter of my present request, that Magistrates would use rigour and violence with godly men, about tolerable differences; which the Power of greater Light and Love in the contrary minded, is the principal means to reconcile.
Direct. 6. It is one of the chief and unquestionable parts of the Magistrats duty, in order to the Reformation and Peace of the Churches, and the saving of mens Souls,