A26860:395
An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical…An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlocke, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical…
An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical and monarchical, as church-tyranny and popery : and defending Dr. Isaac Barrow's treatise against it by Richard Baxter ; preparatory to a fuller treatise against such an universal sovereignty as contrary to reason, Christianity, the Protestant profession, and the Church of England, though the corrupters usurp that title.An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlocke, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical and monarchical, as church-tyranny and popery : and defending Dr. Isaac Barrow's treatise against it by Richard Baxter ; preparatory to a fuller treatise against such an universal soveraignty as contrary to reason, Christianity, the Protestant profession, and the Church of England, though the corrupters usurp that title.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1682
Chapter 5: Wherein Mr. Dodwell's deceits, and the danger of them do consist.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4▪ The necessary Union and Concord of Christians, is a matter of so great importance, that it cannot be supposed, that Christ is the sole Universal Lawgiver, and yet hath not ordained, or determined what shall be the terms of necessary Christian Unity and Concord: And indeed he hath determined it. Viz.
I. He hath ordained Baptism himself, to be our Christening, or our visible Investiture in the Church Universal; that is, our Relation to Christ, as the Head of his Universal Kingdom, or Body. And every rightfully baptized person (till by violating that Covenant he forfeit his benefits), is to be taken by us as a Member of Christ, a Child of God, and an Heir of Heaven; and we are bound to love him as a brother, and use him accordingly, in all due Offices of Love. And because the Church, into which Baptism entereth us, consists of Christian Pastors and People, Apostles and Prophets, having been as Foundations, infallibly delivering us, now recorded in Scripture the Word of Life; and ordinary Pastors being appointed to teach, and guide the people in holy Doctrine, Worship, and Conversation; therefore it is implied, that the baptized person at Age, ⟨p. 124⟩understandeth this, and consenteth thereunto; that is, to receive, as infallible, the recorded sacred Doctrine of the infallible persons, Apostles and Prophets, and the ordinary Ministry of such ordinary Pastors and Teachers, as he shall discern to be set over him by the Word and Spirit of Christ. Whether this consent to the Pastoral-Office, be necessary to the Being of a Christian, or only to the Well-being, is a controversy with which I need not stop, or lengthen in this account. But Baptism, as such, doth not enter us into any particular Church.
I. He hath ordained Baptism himself, to be our Christning, or our visible Investiture in the Church Universal; that is, our Relation to Christ, as the Head of his Universal Kingdom, or Body. And every rightfully baptized person (till by violating that Covenant he forfeit his benefits), is to be taken by us as a Member of Christ, a Child of God, and an Heir of Heaven; and we are bound to love him as a brother, and use him accordingly, in all due Offices of Love. And because the Church, into which Baptism entereth us, consists of Christian Pastors and People, Apostles and Prophets, having been as Foundations, infallibly delivering us, now recorded in Scripture the Word of Life; and ordinary Pastors being appointed to teach, and guide the people in holy Doctrine, Worship, and Conversation; therefore it is implied, that the baptized person at Age,