Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A27044
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A sermon preached at the funeral of that faithful minister of Christ, Mr. John Corbet with his true and exemplary character / by Richard Baxter.
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Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing B1416; ESTC R17576
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26,901
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40
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a Text so suitable that I could not well spare any of them Those that well knew our Deceased friend will say that except Pauls extraordinary rapture and Apostolical priviledges in Pauls case I have been describing his I come not to gratifie the interest of any of his Relations to speak to you according to custom of a stranger whom I knew not but for the honour of Gods grace and our own edification to tell you what I knew by my most faithful and familiar friend It is almost forty years since I heard him preach in the City of Gloucester there was his enterance and there he lived under a Papist Bishop of the Protestant Church Godfry Goodman as his last Testament in Print professed there he abode during the Civil Wars and wrote the History of what happened there He was after removed to the City of Chichester and from thence to Bramshot in Hamshire and silenced with the rest he was cast out where he continued till 1662. He lived peaceably in London without gathering any Assembly for publick Preaching Dwelling in Totteridg with Alderman Web his great love drew him there to remove to me with whom a while he took up his habitation In all the time that he was with me I remember not that ever we differed once in any point of Doctrine Worship or Government Ecclesiastical or Civil or that ever we had one displeasing word The Kings Licenses encouraged his old flock at Chicestor to invite him thither though they had the help of another Nonconformist before with whom he joined with love and concord God many years afflicted him with the disease that was his death while the pain was tolerable to nature he endured it and ceased not Preaching till a fortnight before he was carried up to London to have been cut But before that could be done in about a fortnight more he died This is the short History of his course But I will next give you his true Character and then tell you how like his case was to Pauls here in my Text and then tell you to what use I do all this I. He was a man so blameless in all his Conversation that I may say as I did here lately of another Alderman Ashurst that I never heard one person accuse or blame him except for Nonconformity and that difference from others in these divided times which his Book expresses Of which more anon II. Were it not that I have said we never differed and so made my self an incompetent Judg I should have said that I thought him a man of great clearness and soundness in Religion much by the advantage of the calmness and considerateness of his mind III. He was of so great moderation and love of peace that he hated all that was against it and would have done any thing for concord in the Church except sinning against God and hazarding Salvation In the matter of the five Articles or Arminianism he went the reconciling way and I have seen a Compendium of his thoughts in a Manuscript which is but the same with what I have delivered in my Cath. Theol. but better fitted to Readers that must have much in a few words He constantly at Totteridg joined in all the Worship with the Publick Assembly and had no sinful separating Principles He was for Catholick Union and Communion of Saints and for going no further from any Churches or Christians than they force us or then they go from Christ He then Preached only to such Neighbours as came into the house between the times of the Publick Worship He was for loving and doing good to all and living peaceably with all as far as was in his power Something in Episcopacy Presbytery and Independency he liked and some things he dislikt in all but with all sorts lived in love and peace that did seek the furtherance of mens Salvation Many parts of Conformity he could have yielded to but not to all nothing less than all would satisfie IV. In all he was true to his Conscience and warpt not for a parties interest or faction If all the Nonconformists in England had refused he would have conformed alone if the terms had been reduced to what he thought lawful And he studied that with great impartiality V. He managed his Ministry with faithfulness and prudence He took it for heinous Sacriledg to alienate himself from the Sacred office to which he was devoted though men forbad it him But he thought not the same circumstances of Ministration necessary to all times and places He was not for open preaching to great numbers when it was like by accident to do more hurt than good Nor yet for forbearing it when it was like to do more good than hurt He spared not his flesh but held on from year to year under his great pain of the Stone in the bladder till within a month before he dyed Much less would the prohibition of any restrain him to whom God gave no such forbidding-power VI. He served God with self-denial not with any selfish or worldly designs He never lookt after preferment or riches or any great matters in the world He had daily bread and was therewith content VII He suffered his part in our common lot 1662. Aug. 22. ejected and silenced with about 2000 more with as little murmurring as any man that I knew I never heard him dishonour the King nor speak much against those by whom he suffered or rip up their faults unless a rare and necessary self-defence be called an accusing them I never heard him so much as complain how much Church maintenance he was deprived of nor of the difficulties of his low dejected case VIII He was great hater of that base pride and envy which possesseth too many of the sacred office who grudg if others be preferred before them and if the people go from them to others for their greater edification and think themselves wronged if they be not followed and applauded either above or equal with more worthy men He was very careful to preserve the reputation of his brethren and rejoyced in the success of their labours as well as of his own and a most careful avoider of all divisions contentions or offences And he was very free in acknowledging by whom he profited and preferring others before himself IX He was very much in the study of his own heart by strict examination as his Cabinet-papers which may come to light make known as I had also occasion otherwise to know X. By this examination he was confidently assured of his own sincerity in the true love of God and of holiness for it self and such-like evidences which he wrote down renewing his examination as occasion required And though he had known what it was to be tempted to doubt of the life to come he was fully setled against all such doubts and temptations XI But though he had a setled assurance both of the truth of the Gospel and the life to come and of his