A76157:610
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 saith Mr Fullwood, Append. p. 6. I conceive that such an ones personal profession in his general ow•ing the true Faith, and usual attending Gods public worship, doth superadd a kind of new right, and mingle it with such a persons former right, had by his Birth privilege. And if the [new Right] be not a necessary Right, I think it will prove no right.
And saith Mr Fullwood, Append. p. 6. I conceive that such an ones personall profession in his generall ow•ing the true Faith, and usuall attending Gods publick worship, doth superadde a kinde of new right, and mingle it with such a persons former right, had by his Birth priviledge. And if the [new Right] be not a necessary Right, I think it will prove no right.
I will contend with no man whether the approved profession which I have pleaded for in this book, be the very same thing with the Ancients confirmation. I have given you my thoughts of it, and I am sure the thing in ⟨image 199⟩question is our duty, and the name not unfit, and that its the same with the Confirmation owned by the Divines of the reformed Churches, and particularly with that established and recommended in the Book of Common-Prayer, here in England, for the substance.
I shall conclude with this serious request to my Brethren, seconded with weighty reasons. Even that they would take heed of both extremes in their judging of Church-members, and managing the Discipline and Ordinances of Christ. 1. Should we be so loose as to cast out Discipline, or settle the Churches either with such materials for quality, or quantity, as that it shall be uncapable of Discipline, we shall never be able to answer it to Christ. And should we make a new qualification of Adult Church-members, even their Infant-Title-condition alone, or the profession of a Faith that is not saving, we should come too near the making of a new Baptism, and Church. And truly if we do but slubber over the business, and to avoid offence or trouble to our selves,