A76157:577
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.
Answ. Not so strange as true: supposing him an Adult Person capable of Knowledge. For he cannot be satisfied of his Faith, without being satisfied of Knowledge: nor of his Christianity without his Faith: For we are yet unacquainted with the Christian Infidels. But then Consider, what must be satisfactory to other men concerning their Brothers knowledge. It must satisfy them, that he is by the Pastors of the Church, who are to judge, approved and annumerated with Believers: and that he professeth himself to be a Believer, which cannot be without knowledge: This must satisfy them, till he nullify this evidence, by a clean bewraying of his Infidelity.
Answ. Not so strange as true: supposing him an Adult Person capable of Knowledg. For he cannot be satisfied of his Faith, without being satisfied of Knowledg: nor of his Christianity without his Faith: For we are yet unacquainted with the Christian Infidels. But then Consider, what must be satisfactory to other men concerning their Brothers knowledg. It must satisfie them, that he is by the Pastours of the Church, who are to judge, approved and annumerated with Believers: and that he professeth himself to be a Believer, which cannot be without knowledge: This must satisfie them, till he nullifie this evidence, by a clean bewraying of his Infidelity.
Object. But the Scripture saith not that ignorant persons cannot be Church-members, or so much as that they ought merely for their ignorance to be excommunicate. Answ. Doth not the Scripture exclude visible unbelievers, and take in only visible believers (of the Adult) and make the Church a society of Believers separated from unbelievers? Such ignorance therefore as is essential to, or inseparable from Infidelity, is in Scripture made the very brand of them, that are without, excluded from the Church. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, &c. 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4.That Preaching which Discipleth men, Mat. 28. 19