A26892:6060
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 21: Quest. 21. May a man be oft or twice Ordained?
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. The Reasons are, 1. Because this is not a being twice ordained. For the word Ordination, signifieth a Moral action, and not a Physical only: As the word Marriage doth, &c. And it essentially includeth the new Dedication and Designation to the Sacred office; by a kind of Covenant between the Dedicated person and Christ to whom he is consecrated and devoted. And the external words are but a part, and a part only as significant of the action of the mind. Now the oft expressing of the same mental dedication doth not make it to be as many distinct dedications. For, 1. If the Liturgy or the persons words were tautological, or at the Ordination should say the same thing often over and over, or for confirmation should say often, that which else might be said but once, this doth not make it an often or multiplied Ordination: It was but one Love which Peter expressed, when Christ made him say thrice, that he Loved him▪ nor was it a threefold Ordination which Christ used, when he said thrice to him, Feed my Lambs and Sheep.
2. The Reasons are, 1. Because this is not a being twice ordained. For the word Ordination, signifieth a Moral action, and not a Physical only: As the word Marriage doth, &c. And it essentially includeth the new Dedication and Designation to the Sacred office; by a kind of Covenant between the Dedicated person and Christ to whom he is consecrated and devoted. And the external words are but a part, and a part only as significant of the action of the mind. Now the oft expressing of the same mental dedication doth not make it to be as many distinct dedications. For, 1. If the Liturgy or the persons words were tautological, or at the Ordination should say the same thing often over and over, or for confirmation should say often, that which else might be said but once, this doth not make it an often or multiplyed Ordination: It was but one Love which Peter expressed, when Christ made him say thrice, that he Loved him▪ nor was it a threefold Ordination which Christ used, when he said thrice to him, Feed my Lambs and Sheep.
2. And if thrice saying it that hour make it not three Ordinations, neither will thrice saying it, at more hours days or months (or years) distance, in some Cases. For the Time maketh not the Ordinations to be many. It is but one Moral Action. But the common error ariseth from the custom of calling the outward action alone by the name of the whole moral Action (which is ordinarily done to the like deceit in the case of the Baptismal Covenant, and the Lords Supper.)