A26892:5849
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
So that I see not that their Calling is a Nullity through defect of any thing of absolute necessity to its being and validity: though it be many ways irregular and sinful.
So that I see not that their Calling is a Nullity through defect of any thing of absolute necessity to its being and validity: though it be many wayes irregular and sinful.
II. We are next therefore to enquire whether any Contradicting additions make null that which else would be no nullity. And this is the great difficulty. For as we accuse not their Religion for having too little, but too much, so this is our chief doubt about their Ministry.
And. 1. It is doubted, as to the office it self, whether a Mass-Priest be a true Minister, as having another work to do, even to make his Maker, and to give Christs real flesh with his hands to the people; and to preach the unsound Doctrines of their Church: And these seem to be essential parts of his function.
The case is very bad and sad: But that which I said about the Heresies or Errors which may consist with Christianity, when they overthrow it but by an undiscerned consequence, must be here also considered. The prime part of their office is that (as to the essentials,) which Christ ordained: This they receive, and to this they sew a filthy rag of mans devising: But if they knew this to be inconsistent with Christianity or the Essentials of the Ministry, we may well presume (of many of them) they would not receive it. Therefore as an error which consequentially contradicteth some essential article of faith, nullifieth not his Christianity who first and fastest holdeth the faith, and would cast away the error if he saw the contradiction, (as Davenant, Morton and Hall have showed Epist. Conciliat.) So is it to be said as to practical error in the present case. They are their grievous errors and sins, but for ought I see, do not nullify their office to the Church. As a Mass-Priest, he is no Minister of Christ (As an Anabaptist is not as a Rebaptizer, nor a Separatist as a Separator, nor an Antinomian, or any erroneous person as a Preacher of that error;) But as a Christian Pastor ordained to preach the Gospel, baptize, administer the Lords Supper, pray, praise God, guide the Church, he may be.