A26892:6522
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 56: Quest. 56. Is any Form of Church Government of Divine Institution
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.
3. I do not understand this distinction, de primaria intentione divina, and accidental, &c. The Primary Intention is properly of the Ultimate End only: And no man thinketh that a Law de mediis, of the means, is no Law, or that God hath made no Laws de mediis: For Christ as a Mediator is a Means. But suppose it be limited to the Matter of Church Laws: If this be the meaning of it, that it is not the principal means, but a subordinate means, or that it is not instituted only propter finem ultimum, no more than propter se, but also in order to a higher thing as its immediate end, we make no question of that. Assemblies are not only that there may be assemblies; but for the Worship and Offices there performed: And those for Man; And all for God. But what or all this? Hath God made no Laws for subordinate means? No Christian denieth it.
3. I do not understand this distinction, de primaria intentione divina, and accidental, &c. The Primary Intention is properly of the Ultimate End only: And no man thinketh that a Law de mediis, of the means, is no Law, or that God hath made no Laws de mediis: For Christ as a Mediator is a Means. But suppose it be limited to the Matter of Church Laws: If this be the meaning of it, that it is not the principal means, but a subordinate means, or that it is not instituted only propter finem ultimum, no more than propter se, but also in order to a higher thing as its immediate end, we make no question of that. Assemblies are not only that there may be assemblies; but for the Worship and Offices there performed: And those for Man; And all for God. But what or all this? Hath God made no Laws for subordinate means? No Christian denyeth it.
Therefore the Learned and Judicious Disputer of this point declareth himself for what I say, when he saith, [I engage not in the Controversy, Whether a particular Congregation be the first political 1Church or no: It sufficeth for my purpose, that there are other Churches besides—The thing in question is, Whether there be no other Church, but such particular Congregations.] Where it seemeth granted, that such particular Churches are of Divine institution: And for other Churches I shall say more anon. In the mean time note, that the question is but de nomine here, whether the Name [Church] be fit for other societies, and not de re.