A76157:567
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.
11. Faith or the profession of it in the Adult, is either necessary to Church-communion, or unnecessary; if unnecessary, then Christians have no more to do in the Church then Heathens; if necessary, then either as a mere duty, or as a condition, or other means Not as a mere duty• for then still the Infidels should be equally received, though not applauded: It must be therefore necessary as a means. And the very words of the promise tells us what sort of means it is, that makes Faith to be its condition.
11. Faith or the profession of it in the Adult, is either necessary to Church-communion, or unnecessary; if unnecessary, then Christians have no more to do in the Church then Heathens; if necessary, then either as a meer duty, or as a condition, or other means Not as a meer duty• for then still the Infidels should be equally received, though not applauded: It must be therefore necessary as a meanes. And the very words of the promise tells us what sort of meanes it is, that makes Faith to be its condition.
12. I would know of my adversary, what he would do with the Son of a Believer that were unbaptized at 40. or 50. years of age? ⟨image 184⟩would be Baptize him without a profession of actual Faith of his own, or not? if he would, then he would make new fashioned Christians and Churches; and might Baptize all the posterity of the Apostates, or the ancient Christians in the world, that would consent. Yea, he could not indeed Baptize them; for Baptism essentially containeth a profession of consent unto the Covenant▪ which therefore others make for Infants, that have the dispose of them. But if he would not Baptize such, without profession, then it seems he takes not their Birth-privileges to be a sufficient condition of their Title thereunto.