A76157:534
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.
2. And if you do not this, it's as good do nothing, but openly License Heathens, and Papists, and all Blasphemers: For they will make a fair Confession, till they have got their sealed Toleration, and then preach contrary to that profession.1 Two sorts we know this to be true by: 1▪ Papists, that are for Equivocation, and Mental Reservation, in their Professions and Oaths: or for the Popes to dispense with them. 2. Heathens and Infidels that believe not, that there is any sin, or Devil, or Hell, or Heaven, and therefore care not what they swear. And indeed ⟨p. 315⟩these are the two Sects that now are up: and all other are like to fall into these. Alas by sad experience I speak it: Those that will openly, and to my face make an Orthodox confession, do secretly harden many poor Souls, by making a scorn of Scripture, as a fable, and of the Immortality of the Soul, and of Christ and the Holy Ghost, and Heaven and Hell, and say all these are nothing, but the inventions of men, and that the Knave-Priests do persuade men that there are Devils, and Hell, as a bugbear to make them do what they would have them, and all Religion is but deceit. Such Heathens, are the predominant Sect in many places, and higher in England, then once I thought to have seen them. And if all such perfidious Infidels and Jesuits, shall have leave to Blaspheme God, Christ, and Scripture, because they once made an Orthodox Profession, then let Hell be turned loose upon our people, and the Devil that was bound up from deceiving the Nations, have a Toleration from the Magistrate to do his worst.
2. And if you do not this, it's as good do nothing, but openly License Heathens, and Papists, and all Blaspheamers: For they will make a faire Confession, till they have got their seald Toleration, and then preach contrary to that profession.1 Two sorts we know this to be true by: 1▪ Papists, that are for Equivocation, and Mental Reservation, in their Professions and Oathes: or for the Popes to dispense with them. 2. Heathens and Infidels that believe not, that there is any sinne, or Devil, or Hell, or Heaven, and therefore care not what they sweare. And indeed