A26892:6107
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.
5. No man is the Bishop of a Diocese as to the measure of ground, or the place, by divine right, that is, by any particular Law or determination of God: But only a Bishop of the Church or people: For your office essentially containeth a Relation to the People, but Accidentally only to the Place.
5. No man is the Bishop of a Diocess as to the measure of ground, or the place, by divine right, that is, by any particular Law or determination of God: But only a Bishop of the Church or people: For your office essentially containeth a Relation to the People, but Accidentally only to the Place.
6. Yet natural Convenience, and Gods General Laws of Order and Edification, do make it usually (but not always) best, and therefore a duty, to distinguish Churches by the peoples habitation: Not taking a man for a Member eo nomine, because he liveth on that ground; But for order sake taking none for members that live not on that ground; and not intruding causelessly into each others bounds.
6. Yet natural Convenience, and Gods General Laws of Order and Edification, do make it usually (but not alwayes) best, and therefore a duty, to distinguish Churches by the peoples habitation: Not taking a man for a Member eo nomine, because he liveth on that ground; But for order sake taking none for members that live not on that ground; and not intruding causelesly into each others bounds.
7. He that by the Call or Consent of a Neighbour Pastor and people doth officiate (by Preaching, Sacraments, Excommunication or Absolution) in another's special charge for a day, or week, or month, or more, without a fixed relation to that flock, doth neither officiate as a Lay-man, nor yet unlawfully or irregularly; But, 1. As a Minister of Christ in the Church Universal. 2. And as the Pastor of that Church for the present time only, though not statedly: Even as a Physician called to help another in his Hospital, or to supply his place for the time, doth perform his work, 1. As a Licensed Physician, 2. And as the Physician of that patient or Hospital for that time, though not statedly.