A76157:578
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.
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. Doth give them Knowledge, or else it could not give them Faith. For it openeth their eyes and turneth them from darkness to light, &c. Act. 26. 18. And surely we are translated out of the power of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ, Col. 1. 14. Those that in time past were not a people, but now are the people of the living God, are called out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9, 10. And what Communion hath light with darkness, righteousness with unrighteousness, Christ with Belial, the Believer with the Infidel, ⟨image 188⟩2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 16.
Object. But the Scripture saith not that ignorant persons cannot be Church-members, or so much as that they ought meerly 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 essentiall to, or inseparable from Infidelity, is in Scripture made the very brand of them, that are without, excluded from the Church. If our Gospell be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ, &c.