A26892:6078
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.
Quest. But if such Church Tyrants should have so great power, as that without their Repetition of Ordination on those terms, the Ministry might not be exercised, is it lawful so to take it in a case of such necessity?
Answ. 1. Every seeming necessity to you, is not a necessity to the Church: 2. Either you may publicly declare a contrary sense in your Receiving their new orders or not.
Answ. 1. Every seeming necessity to you, is not a necessity to the Church: 2. Either you may publickly declare a contrary sense in your Receiving their new orders or not.
1. If you may not as publicly declare that you renounce not your former Ministry and Dedication to God in that office, as the Ordainers declare their sense of the Nullity of it, so that your open declaration may free you from the guilt of seeming consent, I conceive it is a sinful compliance with their sin. 2. Yea if you may so declare it, yet if there be no necessity of your Ministerial liberty in that place, I think you may not take it on such terms. As, 1. If there be worthy men enough to supply the Churches wants there without you. 2. And if you may serve God successfully in a persecuted state, though to the suffering of your flesh; 3. Or if your imprisonment for Preaching be like to be as serviceable to the Church and Gospel as your continued Preaching on those scandalous terms. 4. Or if you may remove and Preach in another Country.
1. If you may not as publickly declare that you renounce not your former Ministry and Dedication to God in that office, as the Ordainers declare their sense of the Nullity of it, so that your open declaration may free you from the guilt of seeming consent, I conceive it is a sinful complyance with their sin. 2. Yea if you may so declare it, yet if there be no necessity of your Ministerial liberty in that place, I think you may not take it on such terms. As, 1. If there be worthy men enough to supply the Churches wants there without you. 2. And if you may serve God successfully in a persecuted state, though to the suffering of your flesh; 3. Or if your imprisonment for Preaching be like to be as serviceable to the Church and Gospel as your continued Preaching on those scandalous terms. 4. Or if you may remove and Preach in another Countrey.