A26892:6538
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.
The Institution and settlement then of particular worshipping Churches is out of doubt: And so that two Forms of Church Government are Jure Divino, the Universal Church Form, and the particular.
The Institution and setlement then of particular worshipping Churches is out of doubt: And so that two Forms of Church Government are Iure Divino, the Universal Church Form, and the particular.
4. Besides this, in the Apostles days there were under Christ in the Church Universal, many General Officers that had the care of gathering and overseeing Churches up and down, and were fixed by stated relation unto none. Such were the Apostles, Evangelists, and many of their helpers in their days. And most Christian Churches think that though the Apostolical extraordinary Gifts, privileges and Offices cease, yet Government being an Ordinary part of their work, the same form of Government which Christ and the Holy Ghost did settle, in the first age, were settled for all following ages, though not with the same extraordinary Gifts and Adjuncts. Because 1. We read of the settling of that form,1 (viz. General Officers as well as particular) but we never read of any abolition, discharge or cessation of the institution. 2. Because if we affirm a cessation without proof, we seem to accuse God of mutability, as settling one form of Government for one age only, and no longer. 3. And we leave room for audacious Wits accordingly to question other Gospel Institutions, as Pastors, Sacraments, &c. and to say that they were but for an age. 4. It was General Officers that Christ promised to be with to the end of the world, Matth. 28. 20.
4. Besides this, in the Apostles dayes there were under Christ in the Church Universal, many General Officers that had the care of gathering and overseeing Churches up and down, and were fixed by stated relation unto none. Such were the Apostles, Evangelists, and many of their helpers in their dayes. And most Christian Churches think that though the Apostolical extraordinary Gifts, priviledges and Offices cease, yet Government being an Ordinary part of their work, the same form of Government which Christ and the Holy Ghost did settle, in the first age, were setled for all following ages, though not with the same extraordinary Gifts and Adjuncts. Because 1. We read of the setling of that form,