A26892:6523
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.
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.
Therefore the Learned and Judicious Disputer of this point declareth himself for what I say, when he saith, [I engage not in the Controversie, 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 societi•s, and not de re.
- 1Dr. Stillingflects I•en. p. 154 so p. 170. By Church here I mean not a particular Congregation, &c. So h g•anteth that 1▪ the Universal Church, 2. Particular Congregations are of Divine Institution, one ex intentione primaria, and the other as he calls it accidentally, but yet of Natural necessity.
But lest any should grow to the boldness to deny that [Christ hath instituted Christian stated Societies consisting of Pastors and flocks, associate for personal Communion in public Worship and holy living.] (which is my definition of a particular Church, as not so confined to one assembly, but that it may be in divers, and yet not consisting of divers such distinct stated assemblies with their distinct Pastors, nor of such as can have no personal communion, but only by Delegates): I prove it thus from the Word of God.