A76157:559
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.
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.
3. Wickedness is either such as may consist with habitual adhering to God in Christ; or such as shows a separation or renunciation; the one being ungodliness partial, and quoad actum particularem, (as Peter's denial) and the other being ungodliness quoad statum. He that saith the former cutteth not off from the Church, will scarcely say, that it doth not meritoriously suspend the Offender from the Communion of the Church, till he appear penitent. And he that saith the latter cuts not off, from the Church meritoriously, must say that nothing doth it. For this is Apostasy, and comprehendeth the greatest Heresy. Such Heretics, hold that the pleasure of sin for a season, is to be chosen before a life ⟨image 181⟩of Holiness with the Hopes of Everlasting life; and the flesh to be pleased before the Lord: And I think this is Heresy. But whether these be cut off from the Church or not, either they bring the person under the guilt of excommunication, or else there is no excommunication to be used. And if they be excommunicated, we shall not much contend with you about their rights. As long as you grant that they have no such right as that they may have the use of Church communion, we are satisfied. And yet I must say, that it is a blind conclusion, that the excommunicate are Church-members, without distinguishing of excommunication. If a man shall openly declare that he believeth not in Jesus Christ that dyed at Jerusalem, nor that there is any life to come; but yet he believeth in a Christ within him, and a Heaven and Hell within men; (as the Ranters, Familists, &c. did) and yet this man, that he may pervert the souls of others, will hold communion with the Church, and declare, that he takes the Scripture in his sense, I doubt not but this man, though a professed Infidel and Apostate, is yet to be excommunicated, while he pretendeth to Communion; and if this excommunicate man be not out of the Catholic Church, then no man is out of it, and you may next