A76157:545
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.
1. If there be no word of Promise in the Scripture, that giveth the Privilege of Adult-Communion to any, upon their Infant title-condition only, nor any example in the Gospel, or the ancient Church, that any possessed or used that Privilege upon that Title-condition only, then are we not to imagine that the Infant Title-condition alone, is sufficient to the said Privilege: But the Antecedent is true; as hath in part been manifested, and will be more, when the Dissenter shall bring forth his pretended Evidences, by which his Title should be proved.
1. If there be no word of Promise in the Scripture, that giveth the Priviledge of Adult-Communion to any, upon their Infant title-condition only, nor any example in the Gospel, or the ancient Church, that any possessed or used that Priviledg upon that Title-condition only, then are we not to imagine that the Infant Title-condition alone, is sufficient to the said Priviledge: But the Antecedent is true; as hath in part been manifested, and will be more, when the Dissenter shall bring forth his pretended Evidences, by which his Title should be proved.
2. The Title-condition of Infants is not sufficient to make any morally capable of the Ends of Adult. Communion: therefore it is ⟨image 176⟩not sufficient to make them capable of a proper, plenary Right to such Communion. For the Right and Relation are for these Ends; if a natural incapacity may consist with a Plenary Title, so cannot a Moral. No man can really possess and exercise the Communion of the Adult intrinsically without Faith, or extrinsical without Profession of Faith: therefore no man without Faith or Profession of Faith, can have a plenary Right to that Communion. For a man to have a plenary Right to praise God, and celebrate with the Church the memorial of our Redemption, and participate of the Redeemer, and his Benefits, that believeth not in him, is a palpable absurdity.
2. The Title-condition of Infants is not sufficient to make any morally capable of the Ends of Adult. Communion: therefore it is