A76157:558
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. Ignorance, where it proveth Infidelity, must needs prove a Cessation of the Infant Title, when they come to a capable age, and ignorance is privative. He that knoweth not, that there is a God, a Christ, or what he hath done for us, or what a Christian is, can have no Faith in God, or Christ; and therefore is an Atheist, and an Infidel privatively, if at a capable age, among means at least. It is not only he that denieth Christ, that is an Infidel, but he that never heard of him, Negatively at least; and he that having heard of him, understood not what he heard, and therefore believeth not in him, because he knoweth not.
2. Ignorance, where it proveth Infidelity, must needs prove a Cessation of the Infant Title, when they come to a capable age, and ignorance is privative. He that knoweth not, that there is a God, a Christ, or what he hath done for us, or what a Christian is, can have no Faith in God, or Christ; and therefore is an Atheist, and an Infidell privatively, if at a capable age, among meanes at least. It is not only he that denyeth Christ, that is an Infidell, but he that never heard of him, Negatively at least; and he that having heard of him, understood not what he heard, and therefore believeth not in him, because he knoweth not.
And it is not only he that denieth God, that is an Atheist, but he that knoweth not that there is a God. And therefore if ignorance cut not off, then Infidelity and Atheism cut not off. And if neither of these cut off, then no particular Heresy can: nor any such Apostasy, as men are capable of, that had but an Infant Church-state: gross ignorance at a capable age, proveth gross ungodliness, and Apostasy. For if mens hearts had been towards God, they would have sought to know him, and if they know him not, their hearts are Atheistical, and without him.
And it is not only he that denyeth God, that is an Atheist, but he that knoweth not that there is a God. And therefore if ingorance cut not off, then Infidelity and Atheism cut not off. And if neither of these cut off, then no particular Heresie can: nor any such Apostasie, as men are capable of, that had but an Infant Church-state: gross ignorance at a capable age, proveth gross ungodlinesse, and Apostasie. For if mens hearts had been towards God, they would have sought to know him, and if they know him not, their hearts are Atheisticall, and without him.