A26892:5945
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.
2. But as they say that Christ only Efficiently giveth the Power to the Pope, so say we to the Bishops or Pastors of the Church. For there is no act of Christs Collation to be proved, but the Scripture Law or Grant: And if that standing Law give Power to the Pope, when men have but designed the Person, the same Law will do the same to Bishops or Pastors: For it establisheth their Office in the same sort. Or rather in truth there is no word, that giveth power to any such Officer as an Universal Head or Pope, but the Law for the Pastoral Office is uncontrovertible.
And what the Spanish Bishops at Trent thought of the Divine Right of the Bishops Office, I need not mention.
I shall therefore thus truly resolve the question.
1. In all Ordinations and Elections man doth but first choose the Recipient person: 2. And Ceremoniously and Ministerially Invest him in the Possession when God hath given him the power: But the efficient Collation or Grant of the Power is done only by Christ, by the Instrumentality of his Law or Institution. As when the King by a Charter saith, Whoever the City shall choose, shall be their Mayor, and have such and such power, and be Invested in it by the Recorder or Steward: Here the person elected receiveth all his Power from the King by his Charter, (which is a standing Efficient, conveying it to the Capable Chosen person,) and not from the Choosers or Recorder; only the last is as a servant to deliver possession. So is it in this case.