Practical Works of Richard Baxter

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: again, it is to me the most comfortable work, except public preaching (for there I speak to more, though yet with less advantage to each one), that ever I yet did set my hand to ; and I doubt not but you will find it so to you, if you faithfully perform it. My second request to the reverend ministers in these nations is, that at last they would, without any more delay, unanimously set themselves to the practice of those parts of Christian discipline, which are unquestionably necessary, and part of their work. It is a sad case that good men under so much liberty, should settle themselves so long in the constant neglect of so great a duty. The common cry is, Our people are not ready for it; they will not bear it. But is not the meaning, that you will not bear the trouble and hatred which it will occasion? If indeed you proclaim our churches incapable of the order and government of Christ; what do you but give up the cause to them that withdraw from them, and encourage men to look out for better societies where that discipline may be had ? For though preaching and sacraments may be omitted in some cases, till a fitter season, and accordingly so may discipline be; yet is it a hard case to settle in a constant neglect, for so many years together as we have done, unless there were a flat impossibility of the work : and if it were so, because of our incapable materials, it would plainly call us to alter our constitution, that the matter may be capable. I have spoke plainly afterward to you of this, which I hope you will bear, and conscientiously consider of. I now only beseech you that would make a comfortable account to the chief Shepherd, and would not be found unfaithful in the house of God, that you do not wilfully or negligently delay it, as if it were a needless thing; nor shrin...