A26892:6127
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 25: Quest. 25. Whether Canons be Laws? And Pastors have a Legislative Power?
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.
11. Is Pope, Patriarchs or Pastors shall usurp any of the Kings Authority, Loyalty to Christ and him, and the Love of the Church and State, oblige us to take part with Christ and the King against such Usurpation, but only by lawful means, in the compass of our proper place and Calling.
12. The Canons made by the Councils of many Churches, have a double nature; As they are made for the people and the subjects of the Pastors, they are a sort of Laws: That is, They oblige by the derived Authority of the Pastors: Because the Pastors of several Churches do not Lose any of1 their Power by their Assembling, but exercise it with the greater advantage of Concord. But as they are made only to oblige the present or absent Pastors who separatedly are of equal Office power, so they are no Laws, except in an equivocal sense, but only Agreements or Contracts. So Bishop Usher profest his judgement to be: And before him the Council of Carthage in Cyprian's time: But it needs no proof, no more than that a Convention of Kings may make no Laws to bind the Kings of England, but Contracts only.
12. The Canons made by the Councils of many Churches, have a double nature; As they are made for the people and the subjects of the Pastors, they are a sort of Laws: That is, They oblige by the derived Authority of the Pastors: Because the Pastors of several Churches do not Lose any of1 their Power by their Assembling, but exercise it with the greater advantage of Concord. But as they are made only to oblige the present or absent Pastors who separatedly are of equal Officepower, so they are no Laws, except in an equivocal sense, but only Agreements or Contracts. So Bishop Usher profest his judgement to be: And before him the Council of Carthage in Cyprians time: But it needs no proof, no more than that a Convention of Kings may make no Laws to bind the Kings of England, but Contracts only.
- 1