A76157:597
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. We shall easily grant, that Confirmation, as it is a solemn Reception of the person by Imposition of hands, or without Imposition in a purposed solemnity, commonly known by that name, is not of necessity to the Being of our membership: and ⟨image 193⟩that all those that are received upon profession of Faith may be Church-members; and that the ordinary use of Christian Assemblies, and exercises of worship, is a Profession, though obscure; and that a baptized person that never was called to a Verbal Profession, may be taken for a Christian, or Church-member, upon such a Practical sort of Profession, joined with a not denying of Christ in word or life. But yet we are far from thinking that the Infant-Title-condition of such a one, serveth to prove his present Church-state and Title, now he is at capable age. The Infant-Title ceaseth, if he continue it not by a Personal Profession at age. And as there is no middle between Believers and unbelievers, so there is no such thing in a capable subject, as non-dissenting, in a moral sense, but true Consenting. It is not possible for the Soul to be neuter, when the thing is offered to our consent, but we must either will or nill, consent or dissent; though if it were, yet not willing, or not consenting, is Infidelity and Rebellion in such a Subject. And accordingly we maintain, and must maintain that Profession of some sort or other is a necessary Condition of the Title and Church-state of the capable Adult, and of Right to the Privileges: And as an obscure ⟨image 194⟩kind of Profession may serve (when a man is called to no more) to prove his Right, so a clearer sort of Profession is necessary to the clearer proof, and ad bene esse Ecclesiae. And I have showed what great and weighty Reasons we have, to require an open, clear, intelligible Profession: And he that is justly called to for such, giveth cause to the Church to question him of Apostasy, if he refuse without cause. So that of the three Conditions in question, the first (which is our Infant-condition) is utterly insufficient to the capable Adult: and the second (which is an obscure signification of our mind, by our Christian practises) may serve ad esse, at least when no more is required: and the third (which is an open approved Profession by word or subscription) is necessary ordinarily ad bene esse.
Answ. We shall easily grant, that Confirmation, as it is a solemn Reception of the person by Imposition of hands, or without Imposition in a purposed solemnity, commonly known by that name, is not of necessity to the Being of our membership: and