Contents › Part 3: TOME III. Christian Ecclesiastics., A Christian Directory by Richard Baxter (1673) | AskReformation

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The Contents of the Ecclesiastical Cases of Conscience added to the Third Part. Q. 1. How to know which is the true Church among all pretenders, that a Christians Conscience may be quiet in his Relation and communion? p. 771 Q. 2. Whether we must esteem the Church of Rome a true Church? And in what sense some Protestant Divines affirm it, and some deny it? p. 774 Q. 3. Whether we must take the Romish Clergy for a true Ministry? p. 775 Q. 4. Whether it be necessary to believe that the Pope is the Antichrist? p. 777 Q. 5. Whether we must hold that a Papist may be saved? p. 778 Q. 6. Whether those that are in the Church of Rome are bound to separate from it? And whether it be lawful to go to their Mass or other worship? p. 779 Q. 7. Whether the true calling of the Minister▪ by Ordination or Election be necessary to the essence of the Church? ibid Q. 8. Whether sincere faith and Godliness be necessary to the being of the Ministry? And whether it be lawful to hear a wicked man, or take the Sacrament from him, or take him for a Minister? p. 780 Q. 9. Whether the people are bound to receive or consent to an ungodly intolerable heretical Pastor, (yea or one far less fit and worthy than a competitor) if the Magistrate command it, or the Bishop impose him? p. 781 Q. 10. What if the Magistrate command the people to receive one Pastor; and the Bishop or Ordainers another, which of them must be obeyed? p. 787 Q. 11. Whether an uninterrupted succession either of right Ordination or of conveyance by jurisdiction, be necessary to the being of the Ministry, or of a true Church? p. 787 Q. 12. Whether there be or ever was such a thing in the world, as one Catholic Church constituted by any head besides or under Christ? p. 789 Q 13. Whether there be such a thing as a visible Catholic Church, and what it is? ibid. Q. 14. What is it that maketh a visible member of the universal Church, and who are to be accounted such? p. 790 Q. 15. Whether besides the profession of Christianity, either testimony or evidence of conversion or practical Godliness be necessary to prove a man a member of the Universal visible Church? ibid. Q. 16. What is necessary to a mans reception into membership in a particular Church, over and above this foresaid title? Whether any other trials, or Covenant or What? p. 791 Q. 17. Wherein doth the Ministerial office Essentially consist? p. 792 Q. 18.

The Contents of the Ecclesiastical Cases of Conscience added to the Third Part. Q. 1. HOw to know which is the true Church among all pretenders, that a Christians Conscience may be quiet in his Relation and communion? p. 771 Q. 2. Whether we must esteem the Church of Rome a true Church? And in what sence some Protestant Divines affirm it, and some deny it? p. 774 Q. 3. Whether we must take the Romish Clergie for a true Ministry? p. 775 Q. 4. Whether it be necessary to believe that the Pope is the Antichrist? p. 777 Q. 5. Whether we must hold that a Papist may be saved? p. 778 Q. 6. Whether those that are in the Church of Rome are bound to separate from it? And whether it be lawful to go to their Mass or other worship? p. 779 Q. 7. Whether the true calling of the Minister▪ by Ordination or Election be necessary to the essence of the Church? ibid Q. 8. Whether sincere faith and Godliness be necessary to the being of the Ministry? And whether it be lawful to hear a wicked man, or take the Sacrament from him, or take him for a Minister? p. 780 Q. 9. Whether the people are bound to receive or consent to an ungodly intolerable heretical Pastor, (yea or one far less fit and worthy than a competitor) if the Magistrate command it, or the Bishop impose him? p. 781 Q. 10. What if the Magistrate command the people to receive one Pastor; and the Bishop or Ordainers another, which of them must be obeyed? p. 787 Q. 11. Whether an uninterrupted succession either of right Ordination or of conveyance by jurisdiction, be necessary to the being of the Ministry, or of a true Church? p. 787 Q. 12. Whether there be or ever was such a thing in the world, as one Catholick Church constituted by any head besides or under Christ? p. 789 Q 13. Whether there be such a thing as a visible Catholick Church, and what it is? ibid. Q. 14. What is it that maketh a visible member of the universal Church, and who are to be accounted such? p. 790 Q. 15. Whether besides the profession of Christianity, either testimony or evidence of conversion or practical Godliness be necessary to prove a man a member of the Universal visible Church? ibid. Q. 16. What is necessary to a mans reception into membership in a particular Church, over and above this foresaid title? Whether any other tryals, or Covenant or What? p. 791 Q. 17. Wherein doth the Ministerial office Essentially consist? p. 792 Q. 18.

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Whether the peoples choice or consent is necessary to the office •f a Minister in his first work, as he is to convert Infidels and Baptize them? And whether this be a work of office, and what call is necessary to it? p. 793 Q. 19. Wherein consisteth the power and nature of Ordination? and To whom doth it belong? and Is it an act of jurisdiction? and Is imposition of hands necessary in it? p, 794 Q. 20. Is ordination necessary to make a man a Pastor of a particular Church as such? and Is he to be made a General Minister, and a particular Church-Elder or Pastor at once, and at one Ordination? p. 795 Q. 21. May a man be oft, or twice ordained? p. 796 Q. 22. How many ordainers are necessary to the validity of Ordination by Christs Institution, Whether one or more? p. 798 Q. 23. What if one Bishop Ordain a Minister and three or many or all the rest protest against it, and declare him no Minister or degrade him, is he to be received as a true Minister or not? ibid. Q. 24. Hath a Bishop power by divine right to ordain, degrade or govern, excommunicate or absolve in another Diocese or Church, either by his consent, or against it? And doth a Minister that officiateth in another's Church, act as a Pastor; and their Pastor; or as a private man? And doth his Ministerial office cease when a man removeth from his flock? p. 799 Q. 25. Whether Canons Be Laws, and Pastors have a Legislative power? p. 800 Q. 26. Whether Church-canons or Pastors directive determinations of matters pertinent to their Office, do bind the Conscience, and what accidents will disoblige the people; you may gather before in the same case about Magistrates Laws, in the Political Directions: As also by an impartial transferring the case to the precepts of Parents and School-masters to Children without respect to their power of the Rod (or supposing that they had none such?) p. 802 Q. 27. What are Christs appointed means of the Unity and Concord of the Universal Church, and consequently of its preservation, if there be no humane Universal Head and Governor of it upon Earth? And if Christ hath instituted none such, whether prudence and the Law of Nature oblige not the Church to set up and maintain an universal Ecclesiastical Monarchy or Aristocracy; seeing that which is every mans work, is no mans, and omitted by all? p. 802 Q. 28. Who is the Judge of controversies in the Church? 1.

Whether the peoples choice or consent is necessary to the office •f a Minister in his first work, as he is to convert Insidels and Baptize them? And whether this be a work of office, and what call is necessary to it? p. 793 Q. 19. Wherein consisteth the power and nature of Ordination? and To whom doth it belong? and Is it an act of jurisdiction? and Is imposition of hands necessary in it? p, 794 Q. 20. Is ordination necessary to make a man a Pastor of a particular Church as such? and Is he to be made a General Minister, and a particular Church-Elder or Pastor at once, and at one Ordination? p. 795 Q. 21. May a man be oft, or twice ordained? p. 796 Q. 22. How many ordainers are necessary to the validity of Ordination by Christs Institution, Whether one or more? p. 798 Q. 23. What if one Bishop Ordain a Minister and three or many or all the rest protest against it, and declare him no Minister or degrade him, is he to be received as a true Minister or not? ibid. Q. 24. Hath a Bishop power by divine right to ordain, degrade or govern, excommunicate or absolve in another Diocess or Church, either by his consent, or against it? And doth a Minister that officiateth in anothers Church, act as a Pastor; and their Pastor; or as a private man? And doth his Ministerial office cease when a man removeth from his flock? p. 799 Q. 25. Whether Canons Be Laws, and Pastors have a Legislative power? p. 800 Q. 26. Whether Church-canons or Pastors directive determinations of matters pertinent to their Office, do bind the Conscience, and what accidents will disoblige the people; you may gather before in the same case about Magistrates Laws, in the Political Directions: As also by an impartial transferring the case to the precepts of Parents and School-masters to Children without respect to their power of the Rod (or supposing that they had none such?) p. 802 Q. 27. What are Christs appointed means of the Unity and Concord of the Universal Church, and consequently of its preservation, if there be no humane Universal Head and Governour of it upon Earth? And if Christ hath instituted none such, whether prudence and the Law of Nature oblige not the Church to set up and maintain an universal Ecclesiastical Monarchy or Aristocracy; seeing that which is every mans work, is no mans, and omitted by all? p. 802 Q. 28. Who is the Iudge of controversies in the Church? 1.

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About the Exposition of the Scriptures and Doctrinal points in themselves. 2. About either Heresies or wicked practices, as they are charged on the persons who are accused of them: That is, 1. Antecedently to our practice, by way of regulation. 2. Or consequently by judicial sentence (and execution) on •ffenders? p. 803 Q. 29. Whether a Parents power over his Children, or a Pastors or many Pastors or Bishops over the same Children as parts of their stocks, be greater, or more obliging in matters of Religion and public ⟨image 11⟩Worship? p. 804 Q. 30. May an office Teacher or Pastor be at once in the stated relation of a Pastor, and a Disciple to some other Pastor? ibid. Q. 31. Who hath the power of making Church-Canons? p. 805 Q. 32. Doth Baptism as such enter the Baptized into the Universal Church; or into a particular Church, or both? and is Baptism the particular-Church-Covenant as such? ibid. Q. 33. Whether Infants should be Baptized, I have answered long ago in a Treatise on that Subject? Q. What Infants should be Baptized? And who have right to Sacraments? And whether Hypocrites are univocally or equivocally Christians and Church-members, I have resolved in my disput. of Right to Sacraments. p. 806 Q. 34. Whether an unbaptized person who yet maketh a public profession of Christianity be a member of the visible Church? And so of the Infants of believers unbaptized? ibid. Q. 35. Is it certain by the word of God, that all Infants baptized, and dying before actual sin are undoubtedly saved, or what Infants may we say so of? p. 807 Q. 36. What is meant by this speech, that Believers and their seed are in the Covenant of God; which giveth them right to Baptism? p. 812 Q. 37. Are believers Children certainly in Covenant before their Baptism; and thereby in a state of salvation; or not till they are baptized. p. 813 Q. 38. Is Infants title to Baptism and the Covenant benefits given them by God in his Promises upon any proper moral condition, or only upon the condition of their natural relation: that they be the seed of the faithful? ibid. Q. 39. What is the true meaning of Sponsors, (Patrimi) or God Fathers, as we call them; and Is it lawful to make use of them? p. 814 Q. 40. On whose account or right is it that the Infant hath title to Baptism and its benefits? Is it on the Parents, Ancestors, Sponsors, the Churches, the Ministers, the Magistrates, or his own? p.

About the Exposition of the Scriptures and Doctrinal points in themselves. 2. About either Heresies or wicked practices, as they are charged on the persons who are accused of them: That is, 1. Antecedently to our practice, by way of regulation. 2. Or consequently by judicial sentence (and execution) on •ffenders? p. 803 Q. 29. Whether a Parents power over his Children, or a Pastors or many Pastors or Bishops over the same Children as parts of their stocks, be greater, or more obliging in matters of Religion and publick ⟨image 11⟩Worship? p. 804 Q. 30. May an office Teacher or Pastor be at once in the stated relation of a Pastor, and a Disciple to some other Pastor? ibid. Q. 31. Who hath the power of making Church-Canons? p. 805 Q. 32. Doth Baptism as such enter the Baptized into the Universal Church; or into a particular Church, or both? and is Baptism the particular-Church-Covenant as such? ibid. Q. 33. Whether Infants should be Baptized, I have answered long ago in a Treatise on that Subject? Q. What Infants should be Baptized? And who have right to Sacraments? And whether Hypocrites are univocally or equiv•cally Christians and Church-members, I have resolved in my disput. of Right to Sacraments. p. 806 Q. 34. Whether an unbaptized person who yet maketh a publick profession of Christianity be a member of the visible Church? And so of the Infants of believers unbaptized? ibid. Q. 35. Is it cértain by the word of God, that all Infants baptized, and dying before actual sin are undoubtedly saved, or what Infants may we say so of? p. 807 Q. 36. What is meant by this speech, that Believers and their seed are in the Covenant of God; which giveth them right to Baptism? p. 812 Q. 37. Are believers Children certainly in Covenant before their Baptism; and thereby in a state of salvation; or not till they are baptized. p. 813 Q. 38. Is Infants title to Baptism and the Covenant benefits given them by God in his Promises upon any proper moral condition, or only upon the condition of their natural relation: that they be the seed of the faithful? ibid. Q. 39. What is the true meaning of Sponsors, (Patrimi) or God Fathers, as we call them; and Is it lawful to make use of them? p. 814 Q. 40. On whose account or right is it that the Infant hath title to Baptism and its benefits? Is it on the Parents, Ancestors, Sponsors, the Churches, the Ministers, the Magistrates, or his own? p.

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815 Q. 41. Are they really baptized who are Baptized according to the English Liturgy and Canons, where the Parent seemeth excluded, and those to consent for the Infant who have no power to do it? p. 817 Q. 42. But the great question is How the Holy Ghost is given to Infants in Baptism, and whether all the Children of true Christians have inward sanctifying grace? Or whether they can be said to be justified and to be in a state of salvation, that are not inherently sanctified? and whether any fall from this Infant state of salvation? p. 817 Q. 43. Is the right of the Baptized (Infants or adult) to the sanctifying operations of the Holy Ghost now Absolute? or suspended on further conditions? And are the Parents further duty for their Children such conditions of their Children's reception of the actual assistances of the spirit? or Are Children's own actions such conditions? and May Apostate Parents forfeit the Covenant benefits to their baptized Infants or not? p. 821 Q. 44. Doth Baptism always oblige us at the present, and give grace at the present, and is the grace which is not given till long after, given by baptism, or an effect of baptism? p. 823 Q. 45. What is a proper violation of our Baptismal Covenant? p. 824 Q 46. May not baptism in some cases be repeated, And when? ibid. Quest. 47. Is baptism by Lay men or women lawful in cases of necessity? or are they nullities, and the person to be rebaptized. p. 825 Q. 48. May Anabaptists that have no other error, be permitted in Church Communion? p. 826 Q. 49. May one offer his Child to be baptized, with the sign of the Cross, or the use of Chrisms, the white garment, milk and honey or Exorcisms as among the Lutherans, who taketh these to be unlawful things? ibid. Q. 50. Whence came the ancient universal Custom of Anointing at baptism, and putting on a white garment and tasting milk and honey; and Whether they are lawful to us? p. 827 Q 51. Whether it be necessary that they that are baptized in infancy, do solemnly at age review and own their baptismal Covenant before they have right to the state and privileges of Adult members? and if they do not, Whether they are to be numbered with Christians or Apostates? p. 827 Q. 52. Whether the Universal Church consist only of particular Churches and their members? p. 828 Q. 53.

815 Q. 41. Are they really baptized who are Baptized according to the English Liturgie and Canons, where the Parent seemeth excluded, and those to consent for the Infant who have no power to do it? p. 817 Q. 42. But the great question is How the Holy Ghost is given to Infants in Baptism, and whether all the Children of true Christians have inward sanctifying grace? Or whether they can be said to be justified and to be in a state of salvation, that are not inherently sanctified? and whether any fall from this Infant state of salvation? p. 817 Q. 43. Is the right of the Baptized (Infants or adult) to the sanctifying operations of the Holy Ghost now Absolute? or suspended on further conditions? And are the Parents further duty for their Children such conditions of their Childrens reception of the actual assistances of the spirit? or Are Childrens own actions such conditions? and May Apostate Parents forfeit the C•venant benefits to their baptized Infants or not? p. 821 Q. 44. Doth Baptism always oblige us at the present, and give grace at the present, and is the grace which is not given till long after, given by baptism, or an effect of baptism? p. 823 Q. 45. What is a proper violation of our Baptismal Covenant? p. 824 Q 46. May not baptism in some cases be repeated, And when? ibid. Quest. 47. Is baptism by Lay men or women lawful in cases of necessity? or are they nullities, and the person to be rebaptized. p. 825 Q. 48. May Anabaptists that have no other errour, be permitted in Church Communion? p. 826 Q. 49. May one offer his Child to be baptized, with the sign of the Cross, or the use of Chrisms, the white garment, milk and honey or Ex•rcisms as among the Lutherans, who taketh these to be unlawful things? ibid. Q. 50. Whence came the antient universal Custome of Anointing at baptism, and putting on a white garment and tasting milk and honey; and Whether they are lawful to us? p. 827 Q 51. Whether it be necessary that they that are baptized in infancy, do solemnly at age review and own their baptismal Covenant before they have right to the state and priviledges of Adult members? and if they do not, Whether they are to be numbred with Christians or Apostates? p. 827 Q. 52. Whether the Universal Church consist only of particular Churches and their members? p. 828 Q. 53.