A76157:604
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.
and other Heresy, which raiseth up the very foundation of Religion, denying most, or the most chief, if not all of the Articles of our Christian Faith, is inconsistent therewith. I must humbly, but very confidently say, that this answer will not serve the turn. If by Fundamentals, be meant (as commonly) the Essential Articles of Christian Faith, then the absolute denying of any one Article, doth prove that person to be no Christian, nor capable ⟨image 197⟩of a Church state: For the form is wanting, where any Essential part is wanting. But if any thing else be meant by Fundamentals, no man can decide the Controversy by it, till it be known what it is: And it will be hard to fasten it on any thing, where the absolute denial of many points shall unchurch, and the absolute denial of one or two points of the same rank and kind not do it. Saith he p. 198. The Jews held that an heretical Israelite, had no communion with the Church of Israel: and why? but because Communion supposeth union; and union with Israel, or the true Church, is lost with Faith: They also held, (as Selden noteth) that an Israelite turning an Heretic i. e. denying any of the thirteen fundamental Articles, to be as an Heathen man. And a few lines before, he saith, that historical Faith, which hath the Doctrine of Faith for its Object, none do doubt to be an Essential, requisite to a true Church-member. Yet that with me is a Visible member, that hath not this much, which is said to be Essential, no man doubting of it. If they Profess true Faith, though they are stark Atheists at the heart, and have not so much as historical Faith, I shall believe them, till they nullify their own Profession: But if they profess not also to consent ⟨image 198⟩to have Christ to be their Saviour, I shall not take it for a Profession of Christianity.
and other Heresie, which raiseth up the very foundation of Religion, denying most, or the most chief, if not all of the Articles of our Christian Faith, is inconsistent therewith. I must humbly, but very confidently say, that this answer will not serve the turne. If by Fundamentals, be meant (as commonly) the Essential Articles of Christian Faith, then the absolute denying of any one Article, doth prove that person to be no Christian, nor capable ⟨image 197⟩