A26892:6540
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.
Now either this will hold true or not. If not, then this General Ministry is to be numbered with ⟨p. 832⟩the humane additions to be next treated of. If it do, then here is another part of the form of Government proved to be of Divine Institution. I say not, another Church, (For I find nothing called a Church in the New Testament, but the Universal Church and the particular): But another part of the Government of both Churches, Universal and particular: Because such General Officers are so in the Universal, as to have a General Oversight of the particular: As an Army is Headed only by the General himself, and a Regiment by the Colonel, and a Troop by the Captain: But the General Officers of the Army (the Lieutenants General, the Majors General, &c.) are under the Lord General in and over the Army, and have a General oversight of the particular bodies (Regiments and Troops.) Now if this be the Instituted form of Christs Church Government, that he himself Rule absolutely as General, and that he have some General Officers under him (not any one having a charge of the whole, but in the whole unfixedly, or as they voluntarily part their Provinces,) and that each particular Church have its own proper Pastor (one or more), then who can say, that No form of Church Government is of Divine Appointment or Command?
Object. But the question is only, Whether any sole form be of Gods commanding? And whether another may not have as much said for it as this?
Answ. Either you mean [Another instead of this, as a Competitor,] or [Another part conjunct with these parts.]