A26892:6033
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. The power is no where given by Christ to Magistrates or people.
5. It hath been exercised by Pastors or Church-officers only both in, and ever since the Apostles days, in all the Churches of the World. And we have no reason to think that the Church hath been gathered ⟨p. 795⟩from the begin•••• till now, by so great an error, as a wrong conveyance of the Ministerial power.
5. It hath been exercised by Pastors or Church-officers only both in, and ever since the Apostles dayes, in all the Chu•ches of the World. And we have no reason to think that the Church hath been gathered ⟨p. 795⟩from the begin•••• till now, by so great an errour, as a wrong conveyance of the Ministerial power.
III. The word Jurisdiction as applied to the Church officers, is no Scripture Word, and in the common sense soundeth too big, as signifying more power than the servants of all must claim; For1 there is One Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy. But in a moderate sense it may be tolerated As Jurisdiction signifieth in particular, 1. Legislation, 2. Or Judicial Process or Sentence, 3. Or the Execution of such a sentence, strictly taken, so Ordination is no part of Jurisdiction. But as Jurisdiction signifieth the same with the power of Government, Jus Regendi in general, so Ordination is an Act of Jurisdiction: As the placing or choosing of Inferior officers may belong to the Steward of a Family or as the Calling or authorizing of Physicians belongeth to the College of Physicians, and the authorizing of Lawyers to the Judges or Society, or the authorizing of Doctors in Philosophy, to the Society of Philosophers or to particular rulers. Where note that in the three last instances, the Learning or Fitness of the said Persons or Societies, is but their Dispositio vel aptitudo ad potestatem exercendam; but the actual Power of conveying authority to others, or designing the Recipient person, is received from the supreme power of the Land, and so is properly an Act of Authority, here called Jurisdiction.