A76157:566
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.
10. If Infant-conditions will suffice to the Adult for Church-membership, and common privileges, then will they serve for Justification, and Salvation, that are special privileges: But the Consequent is false: therefore so is the Antecedent. The reason of the consequence is, because though the benefits be various, yet the Covenant and Conditions are the same, by which we have right to one and to the other. It is the Appearance of the same Faith, by profession before men, that give Title, Coram ecclesiâ, whose inward sincerity giveth right Coram Deo, (as was aforesaid) And God giveth Title to all the blessings of the Covenant, Coram Deo on the same conditions. And there is also a parity of reason. For if it be enough to prove our right to Adult Communion (to praise God, and have all his Ordinances and helps in the Church, &c.) that we had Christian Parents, then must it be enough to prove our Title in ⟨image 184⟩all the rest of our benefits. The ancient Fathers and Churches thought that Baptism did as certainly give the Infant rightly Baptized, a right to pardon of Original sin, and eternal life, a• to outward Church-privileges. And if the same Covenant give both on the same condition, then he that hath the condition of one, hath of both. I have proved in another Disputation, that God hath not two Covenants of grace on his part, one of spiritual or inward mercies, and another of outward Ordinances; and that he giveth not these inward benefits and the outward signs of them, upon various conditions, but on the same.
10. If Infant-conditions will suffice to the Adult for Church-membership, and common priviledges, then will they serve for Justification, and Salvation, that are speciall priviledges: But the Consequent is false: therefore so is the Antecedent. The reason of the consequence is, because though the benefits be various, yet the Covenant and Conditions are the same, by which we have right to one and to the other. It is the Appearance of the same Faith, by profession before men, that give Title, Coram ecclesiâ, whose inward sincerity giveth right Coram Deo, (as was aforesaid) And God giveth Title to all the blessings of the Covenant, Coram Deo on the same conditions. And there is also a parity of reason. For if it be enough to prove our right to Adult Communion (to praise God, and have all his Ordinances and helps in the Church, &c.) that we had Christian Parents, then must it be enough to prove our Title in