A97353:692
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their principles about civil and ecclesiastical authority and obedience ... : mostly written many years past, and now published to save our lives and the kingdoms peace, from the false and bloody plotters ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
25. And they should be such terms as the Church hath been at least in some age, if not in all, united actually in. For why should we think that the Church should now unite upon such terms, as it never united in before?
26. Christ himself who is the Centre of the Churches Union, and the great Lawgiver, and Master of our faith, hath certainly in his Laws, prescribed to his Church, the necessary and best terms of Universal concord in particulars; and of the Concord of particular Churches, at least in general Laws. If he have left out the necessary terms of Union, what are his Laws for? how is he our Head? How shall his Church be one, and what shall cement and unite the members? sure this is none of the things indifferent.
26. Christ himself who is the Center of the Churches Union, and the great Lawgiver, and Master of our faith, hath certainly in his Laws, prescribed to his Church, the necessary and best terms of Vniversal concord in particulars; and of the Concord of particular Churches, at least in general Laws. If he have left out the necessary terms of Union, what are his Laws for? how is he our Head? How shall his Church be one, and what shall cement and unite the members? sure this is none of the things indifferent.
27. The terms that Christ hath appointed for Church Union is the Baptismal Covenant, Matth. 28. 19, 20. [Whoever believeth in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as his reconciled God and father, his saviour and sanctifier, and giveth up himself faithfully to him in Covenant accordingly, shall be saved and taken into heaven, if he so continues:] And whosoever doth this Sacramentally, by the open Vow and profession of baptism, was by Christs appointment to be taken into the Church. Therefore he then wanted nothing necessary to admittance and Church Communion.