Baxter - HP BV4647 .S4 B39 1660

61 Thegreat Power and Prevalency of feIfilbnefs dtfcavered. Ivlinifters do not remember how ill (hrift took the firfl contend. ings among bisealciples, who fhould be the greaten ; that they do nor imprint upon their minds the image of Chrift letting a child before them, and after girding himfelf, and warning their leer. I think thole men that make a Sacrament of this, do err much lefs then thole that forget it. And I fulled that our con- trariety to this example, will tempt Lome ere long into this con- trary extream, and it may be let up as a Sacrament indeed. 0 woful cafe I to be daily lamented by all thecompanionate mem- bers of the Church that the Learned, Zealous Paflors of it, are the leaders, fomencers,and continuers of her divisions and when they have opportunity to leek for healine,,they want a will ; an fo much offal' furvivet la in them, that though God call to them for Peace and Unity, and the bleeding Church is begging it of them on her knees ; yet fell bath fuch power over them, that God is not heard, and the Church cannot be regarded ; but Peace, and Piety, and all muff be facrificed to the Will and In- . tereft of/elf : As if they were the Priens of felf, and the honour of God, and Peace of theChurch were the daily facriace which they have to offer ! Nor a motion can be made for Reformation or Unity but form.. felfi,11 ivlinifters rife up to firangle under pretence of mending the terms. Nor a confultation can be held, butfelfcreeps in, yea openly appears,- and ravels the work, and will needs be the doer ofall chats done, or nothing mutt go on thats don infl it. 0&etre(' Nation, iffelf-denialwere more eminent and predo- minant therein ! 0 precious Minifiry, and Great, and Honou- rable, ifvve truly fought our honour in the habit of children, and by being the fervants of all fll 0 happy Churches, abound- ing in Holinels and Peace, if once the Pallor§ and People were better skilled in the pradice offeif-denial ! I mull confels,to the praife of Gods grace, many fuch MinifIers and people I have had the happinels to converfe with and how fweet the fruit bath been both to them and me, both they and I are ready to confers. But one feif-feeking, unrnortified Minifier, is enough to diflurb a whole fociety, and break the good endeavours of Tnalay And alas !owmany Inch are abroad, that talk of almoft nothing but their opinions, or parties, or carnal intcreffs.; and are

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=