A26892:6000
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.
Part 3 › Question 17: Quest. 17. Wherein doth the Ministerial Office essentially consist?
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.
Quest. 17. Wherein doth the Ministerial Office essentially consist?
The Office of the Sacred Ministry is a mixed Relation (not a simple) 1. As the Minister is related to Christ he is His Servant or Minister by Office, that is, one Commissioned by him for that1 sacred work, where there is, 1. The Commission it self, (which is not Particular, but General, in a General Law, applicable to each singular person when qualified,) 2. The determination of the individual person who is to receive it: which consisteth in the Call, which I have opened before, and therefore repeat not. Only note again, that by virtue of the General Commission or Institution of the Office in specie, the power is conveyed from Christ to the Individual person, and that the Church (Electors or Ordainers) are not the Donors, Authorizers or Obligers, but only instruments of designing an apt recipient, and delivering him possession. 2. That by virtue of this Institution, Charter, or Law-Commission, it is that the acts of a man seemingly or visibly called, are valid to the Church, though2 really he were not ordained, or truly called, but deceived them by hypocritical intrusion.3
THe Office of the Sacred Ministry is a mixt Relation (not a simple) 1. As the Minister is related to Christ he is His Servant or Minister by Office, that is, one Commissioned by him for that1 sacred work, where there is, 1. The Commission it self, (which is not Particular, but General, in a General Law, applicable to each singular person when qualified,) 2. The determination of the individual person who is to receive it: which consisteth in the Call, which I have opened before, and therefore repeat not. Only note again, that by virtue of the General Commission or Institution of the Office in specie, the power is conveyed from Christ to the Individual person, and that the Church (Electors or Ordainers) are not the Donors, Authorizers or Obligers, but only instruments of designing an apt recipient, and delivering him possession. 2. That by virtue of this Institution, Charter, or Law-Commission, it is that the acts of a man seemingly or visibly called, are valid to the Church, though