A76157:547
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. If the mere Title-Condition of Infants will serve in foro Ecclesiae, for the Adult▪ then it will serve also in foro Dei: For the Church looks but to the outward appearance, or visibility of that, whose Reality and sincerity God expecteth. And it is Gods Covenant that giveth us our Right: and therefore if the Church fin• us to have true Right, it must find us receiving it from Gods Covenant; and therefore find us the heirs of takes promise: The Reason why the Church takes our Birth Privileges for a sufficient Title-Condition, is because God is supposed ⟨image 177⟩so to take it. But that this will not serve the Adult in foro Dei is manifest; because God will not own such Infidels, as neither have Faith, nor a Profession of it.
3. If the meer Title-Condition of Infants will serve in foro Ecclesiae, for the Adult▪ then it will serve also in foro Dei: For the Church looks but to the outward appearance, or visibility of that, whose Reality and sincerity God expecteth. And it is Gods Covenant that giveth us our Right: and therefore if the Churh fin• us to have true Right, it must find us receiving it from Gods Covenant; and therefore find us the heires of takes prom•se: The Reason why the Church takes our Birth Priviledges for a sufficient Title-Condition, is because God is supposed ⟨image 177⟩so to take it. But that this will not serve the Adult in foro Dei is manifest; because God will not own such Infidels, as neither have Faith, nor a Profession of it.
4. If the little-Condition of Infidels may serve them when Adult, then is there no personal difference in acts, or qualities; no not so much as in Profession, required on our part, to distinguish Christians from Infidels and Atheists: (required I mean as necessary Conditions) But the Consequent is absurd: therefore so is the Antecedent. If no diferencing character between Actual Believers and Infidels or Atheists, be made thus necessary, then the Church and the Infidel world, are laid together; and the Body of Christ, and consequently Christ himself is dishonoured, and blasphemed, as common and unclean. But if any personal difference be necessary, it must be the personal Profession of Christianity, or nothing less then this can be it. For our Birth-Privilege cannot be it. Atheists and Infidels are borne of Christian Parents. Much of the Turkish Army of Janissaries, have their Birth-Privileges to show, as well as we It is a probable Argument: Such an Infant is horn of Christian Parents: therefore he will be an Actual Believer. But it is not a probable