A76157:548
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.
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 di•ferencing 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 ⟨image 177⟩Argument, Such a man at age, that professeth not Christianity, had Christian Parents; therefore he is a believer: much less; therefore he had Right to the Benefits of the Covenant, whether he be an Actual Believer or not. If Christians have no visible note, by which they must be known from Infidels, then either the Church is not Visible, or Infidels may be the Visible Church, without so much as disowning their Infidelity.
4. If the litle-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 Ath•ists: (required I mean as necessary Conditions) But the Consequent is absurd: therefore so is the Antecedent. If no di•ferencing 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 blaspheamed, as common and uncleane. But if any personal difference be necess•ry, it must be the personal Profession of Christianity, or nothing lesse then this can be it. For our Birth-Priviledge cannot be it. Atheists and Infidels are borne of Christian Parents. Much of the Turkish Army of Janiaries, have their Birth-Priviledges to shew, as well as we It is a probable Argument: Such an Infant is horne of Christian Parents: therefore he will be an Actual Believer. But it is not a probable