A76157:86
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.
As to those Acts. 2. 37. &c. It is plain, that they made an open Profession, if you Consider 1. That they were openly told the Doctrine which they must be baptized into, if they did consent: 2. It is said, They that gladly received that word, were baptized. 3. It is certain therefore that they first testified their glad reception of the Word. 4. We may not imagine that Peter was God, or knew the hearts of all those thousands, and therefore he must know it by their Profession, that they gladly received the Word. 5. Their own mouths cry out for advice in order to ⟨p. 26⟩their Salvation. 6. It had been absurd for the Apostles to attempt to baptize men, that had not first professed their Consent. 7. The Scripture gives us not the full historical Narration of all that was said and done in such Cases, but of so much as was Necessary. 8. The Institution and Nature of the Ordinance tells us, that Baptism could not be administered without a Profession, to the Adult: For they were to be Baptized into the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and therefore were to profess that they believed in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Yea the very receiving of Baptism was an Actual Profession. 9. The constant Practice of the Universal Church, hath given us by infallible Tradition, as full assurance of the order of Baptism, and in particular of an Express Profession and Covenant then made, as of any point that by the hands of the Church can be received by us. 10. And it was in those days a more notorious Profession to be so Baptized, and to join in the holy Assemblies then now it is. When the Profession of Christianity did hazard mens liberties, estates, and lives, to be openly then Baptized upon Covenanting with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and openly join with a hated, persecuted sort of men, was ⟨p. 27⟩an eminent sort of Profession. It being also usually Private in houses, as separated from the main body of the people, and not in public places like ours, where men are (justly) driven to come as learners for instruction.
As to those Acts. 2. 37. &c. It is plain, that they made an open Profession, if you Consider 1. That they were openly told the Doctrine which they must be baptized into, if they did consent: 2. It is said, They that gladly received that word, were baptized. 3. It is certain therefore that they first testified their glad reception of the Word. 4. We may not imagine that Peter was God, or knew the hearts of all those thousands, and therefore he must know it by their Profession, that they gladly received the Word. 5. Their own mouths cry out for advice in order to