A26892:5946
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.
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.
2. The regular way of entrance appointed by Christ to make a person capable, is the said Election, and Ordination. And for order sake where that may be had, the unordained are not to be received as Pastors.