A76157:598
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.
Thus far we are agreed: But what if we were not? Must we therefore refuse to agree in the practice of the aforesaid Confirmation? Will any good and peaceable man refuse to join with those that think it necessary to Adult Church-membership? If this opinion (of the said Non-necessity) had been an Article of Faith, and among the necessary Credenda of the Church, we should have had it in some Creed, or heard more of the necessity ⟨image 194⟩of it then we have done, from the Ancient Churches. If we meet about the agenda in our practice, let men take head how they divide from such as differ in the Reasons of their Practice, till they can prove that they deny some Article of the Faith, which is of necessity to be believed.
Thus farre we are agred: But what if we were not? Must we therefore refuse to agree in the practice of the aforesaid Confirmation? Will any good and peaceable man refuse to joyne with those that think it necessary to Adult Church-membership? If this opinion (of the said Non-necessity) had been an Article of Faith, and among the necess•ry Credenda of the Church, we should have had it in some Creed, or heard more of the necessity ⟨image 194⟩of it then we have done, from the Ancient Churches. If we meet about the agenda in our practice, let men take head how they divide from such as differ in the Reasons of their Practice, till they can prove that they deny some Article of the Faith, which is of necessity to be believed.
And as for the peoples unfitness, or any disturbance that will follow thereupon: 1. If there be such a thing, it will be much long of the Ministers: Let them unanimously agree, and they may do well enough with the people, or much the better. But when Ministers themselves are the bellows of faction, and think they can never sufficiently vilify dissenters, and so have themselves taught the people to take such a Practice for a Prelatical foppery, or formality, or for an Independent rigidity and extremity; no wonder, if when they come to practice their duty, they meet with such reproaches from the people, as they have taught them. 2. But suppose that people would disturb us, that may in some cases excuse us, as to the mode of Confirmation, or Profession: but no unfitness of the people can excuse us, as to the substance of the duty; the requiring and approving their Profession. We are false to our trust, and the Church of God, if to avoid disturbance,