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 CONSIDER-
ATION OF THE SOVEREIGN 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 WEL-
FARE OF THE NATIONS; AND AS THEY WILL
ANSWER THE NEGLECT TO CHRIST,
AT THEIR PERIL.

"For I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring, and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, I am the Lord's; 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," Isa. xliv. 3, 4, 5.

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 privileges, 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 design was generally approved, as far as I can learn, and very acceptable to good men of all parties. But many of them called to me, to try whether some more Scripture proofs might not be brought for it, that the Preceptive, as well as the Mediate necessity might appear. At the desire of some Reverend godly Brethren, I hastily drew up this which is here offered you; partly to satisfy them in the point of Scripture Evidence; but principally to satisfy 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 tendency. Here is a medicine so effectual to heal our breaches, and set our disordered societies in joint, (being owned in whole by the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Erastian, and in half, by the Anabaptists,) that nothing but our own self-conceitedness, perverseness, laziness, or wilful 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 plaister is offered us, and peace brought to our doors, I must needs expect that many should peevishly cast it away, and others betray it, by a lazy commendation, and so disable the few that would be faithful, practical and industrious, from that general success, which is so necessary and desirable.

As for them that lay all our peace on Episcopacy and Liturgy, 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 faithful performance of so great a duty, and to awaken the desires, endeavours and prayers 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 us seek it of God, as well as men; which is the daily, though too defective practice, of

The most unworthy Servant

April 7, 1658.

of the King of Peace,

RICHARD BAXTER.

If Magistrates or others, who are obliged to promote the work, which is here commended to them, do want leisure, or patience to read the whole, I desire them to peruse the Contents of this book, and those parts of the work, in which they are most unsatisfied.

CONFIRMATION AND RESTAURATION

THE NECESSARY MEANS OF

REFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION.

QUEST. Whether those that were baptized in Infancy, should be admitted to the privileges proper to adult Church-members, without Confirmation or Restauration, by an approved Profession of Personal Faith and Repentance? Neg.

THOUGH the distempers of the Churches of Christ in England, are not so great as the Popish adversaries, or some discontented brethren do pretend, nor as some inconsiderate lamenters of our condition do imagine, who observe less our enjoyments than our wants, and that have not the faculty of discerning our true agreements, where there is any difference, but think that many things are wanting that are not, because they cannot find them; yet is our discomposure such as the wisest have cause to mourn for, and all of us should contribute our endeavours to redress. For the accomplishment of this blessed work, two things must be done. The first is, to discover the principles that must reform and heal us, if ever we be healed; and to acquaint the world with the necessary means. The second is, to concur for the execution, in the application and use of the remedy, when it is discovered. The first is a work, that is usually done best by a few at first; though the more receive and approve of the discovery, the better it will be brought into use. But it is here, saith Pemble, as in discerning a thing afar off, where one clear eye will see further than many that are dim, and the greatest conjunction of unfurnished intellects,