nor will I think that able and faithful ministers need my counsel. But all that I will now say, is, humbly to entreat those who take no great pains with the young persons in their parishes, and who will not be admonished by such as me, to read the works of Martin Bucer, who had so great a hand in counselling our Reformers in framing the Liturgy, especially his book "de Regno Dei, his Censure of the Liturgy," of Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and Discipline, and his vehement pressing of the necessity of Congregational Discipline, of denying the sacrament to the unmeet, and of keeping baptized youths among the Catechumens, till at a proper age they come to true understanding of the covenant, which they made and must renew, and till they give credible signs of real godliness by a godly life. He also shews what mischievous effects ensue from confirming them and admitting them to the Lord's-supper, on their barely saying the words of the Catechism, the Creeds, the Lord's-prayer, and the Decalogue, without tried understanding and serious piety;—what a wrong is thus done to the Christian church and religion, by confounding and corrupting our communion for want of parish discipline and distinctions; and what little good all canons or laws for reformation or religious duty will do, if the ministry be ignorant, worldly and ungodly, and if the churches be not taught and guided by able, godly, humble, self-denying and loving pastors. Read him diligently, I beseech you, for he was no violent man, and his books here mentioned were purposely written for King Edward, and for the Bishops and the Church of England, and were by them kindly accepted. His burnt bones were honourably vindicated by the public praise, and his memory was by many in Cambridge solemnly commended to posterity. Let, I beseech you, his counsel in these books be revived, and let true reformation be tried by their light. I hope those who will not hear me, or such as I am, will hear that great and moderate reformer. And if you will add the reading of old Salvian, and of Nic. Clemangis, it may do you good, by exciting you to do good to others, and thus effectually promoting the ends of this AD VICE TO YOUTH. March 25, 1681. A Moral Prognostication, FIRST, WHAT SHALL BEFAL THE CHURCHES ON EARTH, TILL THEIR CONCORD, BY THE RESTITUTION OF THEIR PRIMITIVE PURITY, SIMPLICITY AND CHARITY: SECONDLY, HOW THAT RESTITUTION IS LIKELY TO BE MADE, (IF EVER,) AND WHAT SHALL BEFAL THEM THENCEFORTH UNTO THE END, IN THAT GOLDEN AGE OF LOVE. WRITTEN BY RICHARD BAXTER; WHEN BY THE KING'S COMMISSION, WE (IN VAIN) TREATED FOR CONcord, 1661. AND NOW Published, NOT TO INSTRUCT THE PROUD, THAT SCORN TO TELL POSTERITY, THAT THE THINGS WHICH BEFAL THEM WERE FORETOLD; AND THAT THE EVIL MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, AND BLESSED LIGHT AND LOVE. TO THE READER. READER, It is many years, since this Prognostication was written, (1661, except the thirteen last lines); but it was cast by, lest it should offend the guilty. But the author now thinketh, that the monitory usefulness, may overweigh the inconveniences of men's displeasure; at least, to posterity, if not for the present age; of which he is taking his farewel*. His suppositions are such as cannot be denied: viz. 1. Eccles. i. 9. "The thing that hath been, is that which shall be; and that which is done, is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” 2. The same causes, with the same circumstances, will have the same effects on recipients, equally disposed. 3. Operari sequitur esse:' as natures are, so they act; except where overpowered. 4. The appetite, sensitive and rational, is the principle of motion; and what any love, they will desire and seek. 5. Therefore, interest will turn the affairs of the world; and he that can best understand all interests, will be the best moral prognosticator; so far as men are causes of the events. 6. The pleasing of God, and the happiness of their own and others' souls, being the interest of true believers; and temporal life, pleasure, and prosperity, being the seeming and esteemed interest of unbelievers cross interests, will carry them contrary ways. 7. Contraries, when near and militant, will be troublesome to each other, and seek each others' destruction or debilitation. VOL. XV. * This Tract was first printed in 1680. EDITOR. D D 8. The senses and experience of all men, in all ages, are to be believed about their proper objects. 9. Men of activity, power, and great numbers, will have advantage for observance and success, above those that are modest, obscure, and few. 10. Yet men will still be men; and the rational nature will yield some friendly aspect towards the truth. 11. Those that are ignorant, and misled by passion, and carried down the stream, by men of malignity or faction, may come to themselves, when affliction, experience, and considerateness have had time to work; and may repent, and undo somewhat that they have done. 12. As sense will be sense, when faith hath done its best; so faith will be faith, when flesh or sense hath done its worst. 13. Men that fix on a heavenly, everlasting interest, will not be temporisers, and changed by the worldly mens' wills or cruelties. 14. When all men have tired themselves with their contrivances and stirs, moderation and peace must be the quiet state. 15. When all worldly wisdom hath done its utmost, and mens' endeavours are wringed with the greatest expectations; God will be God, and blast what he nilleth; and will overrule all things, to the accomplishment of his most blessed will. Amen. On these suppositions it is, that the following Prognostications are founded; which I must admonish the reader, not to mistake for historical narratives: but, I exhort him to know what hath been, and what is, if he would know what will be; and to make sure of everlasting rest with Christ, when he must leave a sinful, restless world. |