A26892:5951
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.
4. If the way of regular Ordination fail, God may otherwise (by the Churches necessity and the notorious aptitude of the person) notify his will to the Church, what person they shall receive: (As if a Lay-man were cast on the Indian shore and converted thousands, who could have no Ordination) And upon the peoples Reception or Consent, that man will be a true Pastor.
4. If the way of regular Ordination fail, God may otherwise (by the Churches necessity and the notorious aptitude of the person) notifie his will to the Church, what person they shall receive: (As if a Lay-man were cast on the Indian shoar and converted thousands, who could have no Ordination) And upon the peoples Reception or Consent, that man will be a true Pastor.
And seeing the Papists in the conclusion (as Johnson ubi supra) are fain to cast all their cause on the Churches Reception of the Pope, they cannot deny reasonably but ad esse the Churches reception may serve also for another Officer. And indeed much better than for a Pope. For 1. The Universal Church is so great, that no man can know when the Greater part Receiveth him, and when not, except in some notorious declarations. 2. And it is now known, that the far greater part of the ⟨p. 789⟩Universal Church (the Greeks, Armenians, Abassines, Copts, Protestants, &c.) do not receive the Roman Head. 3. And when one part of Europe received one Pope, and another part another Pope for above forty years together, who could tell which of the parties was to be accounted the Church? It was not then known, nor it is not known yet to this day: And no Papist can prove it, who affirmeth it.
And seeing the Papists in the conclusion (as Iohnson ubi supra) are fain to cast all their cause on the Churches Reception of the Pope, they cannot deny reasonably but ad esse the Churches reception may serve also for another Officer. And indeed much better than for a Pope. For 1. The Universal Church is so great, that no man can know when the Greater part Receiveth him, and when not, except in some notorious declarations. 2. And it is now known, that the far greater part of the