A76157:542
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.
By all that I have heard and read of late, concerning this Subject, I understand that the principal Objections that are likely to be used against the Doctrine of this Treatise, are these following.
Object. We were all Baptized in our Infancy, and therefore are Church-members, and have Right to the Privileges of the Adult, when we are Adult, without any new Title or Condition: Our first Right continueth, though we never make Profession of the Christian Faith, nor personally renewed the Covenant with God that we made in Baptism. And therefore though in some cases, such an approved Profession be a duty, yet is not any more Necessary to our Church-state, and Right to the Communion of the Adult, then that we were borne Church-members, and so Baptized. Nothing but Heresy, Schism, or Apostasy can cut us •ff. And therefore all that were Baptized, and are not thus cut off, ⟨image 176⟩are still Church-members, and have Right to all the Ordinances in the Church.
Object. We were all Baptized in our Infancy, and therefore are Church-members, and have Right to the Priviledges of the Adult, when we are Adult, without any new Title or Condition: Our first Right continueth, though we never make Profession of the Christian Faith, nor personally renewed the Covenant with God that we made in Baptism. And therefore though in some cases, such an approved Profession be a duty, yet is not any more Necessary to our Church-state, and Right to the Communion of the Adult, then that we were borne Church-members, and so Baptized. Nothing but Heresie, Schisme, or Apostacie can cut us •ff. And therefore all that were Baptized, and are not thus cut off, ⟨image 176⟩are still Church-members, and have Right to all the Ordinances in the Church.