A26865:117
An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II.…
An apology for the nonconformists ministry containing I. the reasons of their preaching, II. an answer to the accusations urged as reasons for the silencing of about 2000 by Bishop Morley ..., III. reasons proving it the duty and interest of the bishops and conformists to endeavour earnestly their restoration : with a postscript upon oral debates with Mr. H. Dodwell, against his reasons for their silence ... : written in 1668 and 1669, for the most of it, and now published as an addition to the defence against Dr. Stillingfleet, and as an account to the silencers of the reasons of our practice / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for T. Parkhurst and D. Newman, 1681
AN APOLOGY FOR THE SILENCED MINISTERS, Especially for their not cea… › Part 3
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.
Obj. Men did not give the Apostles their power, and therefore men could not take it away.
Ans. 1. Men give not any Pastors their office or power, but only: 1. Design the person that shall receive it from Christ (as is aforesaid.) 2. And Ministerially invest them with it, as a servant ⟨p. 34⟩delivereth possession by a Key, or twig, or turf, who yet is none of the Giver of the Right as from himself. 3. And Magistrates give Liberty of Exercise; and so they might do to the Apostles.
2. Men gave the office to other Ministers in those times in the same improper sense as they may be said to give it now. Almost all the Princes and Rulers in the world where the Gospel came, were against the Preaching of it; and many of them forbade the Preachers. And yet the universal consent of all the Churches, and chief Martyrs hath still been, that their Prohibitions would not warrant the Pastors to give over Preaching.
2. Men gave the office to other Ministers in those times in the same improper sense as they may be said to give it now. Almost all the Princes and Rulers in the world where the Gospel came, were against the Preaching of it; and many of them forbad the Preachers. And yet the universal consent of all the Churches, and chief Martyrs hath still been, that their Prohibitions would not warrant the Pastors to give over Preaching.