Confirmation and Restoration Necessary Means, Title page – Note
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.
Iſa. 44. 3, 4, 5.
For I will pour water on him that is thirſty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit on thy ſeed, and my Bleſſing upon thine Offſpring, and they ſhall ſpring as among the graſs, as willows by the water-courſes. One ſhall ſay, I am the Lords, and another ſhall call himſelf by the name of Jacob; and another ſhall Subſcribe with his hand unto the Lord, and ſurname himſelf by the name of Iſrael.
London, Printed by A. M. for Nevil Simmons Bookſeller in Kederminſter, and are to be ſold by Joſeph Granford, at the Kings-Head in Pauls Church-yard, 1658.
TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Reader;
HAving in divers writings, moved for the Reſtitution of a ſolemn Tranſition, of all that paſs from an Infant-ſtate of Church-memberſhip, into the number of the Adult, and are admitted to their Priviledges, and the Aſſociated Miniſters of this County, having made it an Article of their Agreement, at laſt came forth an excellent Exercitation on Confirmation, written by Mr. Jonathan Hanmer, very learnedly and piouſly, endeavouring the Reſtoration of this Practice. Being very glad of ſo good a work, upon an invitation, I prefixed an Epiſtle before it; which hath occaſioned this following Diſputation. For when the Book was read, the deſigne was Generally approved, (as farre as I can learne) and very acceptable to good men of all parties. But many of them called to me, to try whether ſome more Scripture proofes might not be brought for it, that the Preceptive, as well as the Mediate Neceſsity might appeare. At the deſire of ſome Reverend Godly Brethren, I haſtily drew up this which is here offered you; 1. Partly to ſatisfie them in the point of Scripture Evidence; 2. But principally to ſatisfie my own earneſt deſires, after the Reformation, and Healing of the Churches, to which I do very confidently apprehend, this excellent work to have a ſingular tendencie. Here is a Medicine ſo effectual to Heale our Breaches, and ſet our diſordered Societies in joynt, (being owned in whole by the Epiſcopall, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Eraſtian, and in half, by the Anabaptiſts) that nothing but our own ſelf-conceitedneſs; perverſneſs, lazyneſs, or wilfull enmity to the Peace of the Churches, is able to deprive us of a bleſſed ſucceſs. But alas, our minds are the Subjects of the diſeaſe; and are ſo alienated, exulcerated, and ſo ſelfiſhly partial and uncharitable, that when the Plaſter is offered us, and Peace brought to our doors, I muſt needs expect that many ſhould pieviſhly caſt it away, and others betray it, by a lazy commendation, and ſo diſable the few that would be faithfull, practical, and induſtrious, from that General ſucceſs, which is ſo neceſſary and deſirable.
As for them that lay all our Peace on Epiſcopacy, and Liturgie, I intend if God will, to ſend them after this, ſome Healing motions on thoſe ſubjects alſo. And if they have no better ſucceſs, than preſently to ſatisfy my own Conſcience, in the faithfull performance of ſo great a duty, and to awaken the Deſires, Endeavours and Praiers of the more moderate and Impartial, I ſhall not think my labour loſt. Pray for the Peace of Jeruſalem; they ſhall proſper that love it. Let's ſeeke it of God, as well as men; which is the daily, though too defective practiſe, of
The moſt unworthy Servant of the King of Peace, R. BAXTER. April 7. 1658.
If Magiſtrates or others, who are obliged to promote the worke, which is here commended to them, do want leiſure, or patience to read the whole, I deſire them to peruſe theſe following Contents, and thoſe parts of the Work, in which they are moſt unſatisfied.