A26892:6578
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.
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.
8. At first a number of particular Churches consociated with their several Bishops, were taken to be a Community or company of true Churches prudentially cantonized or distributed and consociated for Concord. But after they grew to be esteemed proper political societies, or Churches of Divine appointment, if not the Ecclesiae minimae, having turned the particular Churches into Oratories or Chapels, destroying Ignatius his character of one Church, [To every Church there is one Altar, and one Bishop with his Presbyters and Deacons.] Abundance more such instances may be given.
8. At first a number of particular Churches consociated with their several Bishops, were taken to be a Community or company of true Churches prudentially cantonized or distributed and consociated for Concord. But after they grew to be esteemed proper political societies, or Churches of Divine appointment, if not the Ecclesiae minimae, having turned the particular Churches into Oratories or Chappels, destroying Ignatius his character of one Church, [To every Church there is one Altar, and one Bishop with his Presbyters and Deacons.] Abundance more such instances may be given.
Obj. Wherever we find the Notion of a Church particular, there must be Government in that Church: And why a national society incorporated into one civil Government, joining into the profession of Christianity, and having a right thereby to participate of Gospel Ordinances, in the convenient distributions of them in the particular Congregations, should not be called a Church, I confess I can see no reason.
Obj. Wherever we find the Notion of a Church particular, there must be Government in that Church: And why a national society incorporated into one civil Government, joyning into the profession of Christianity, and having a right thereby to participate of Gospel Ordinances, in the convenient distributions of them in the particular Congregations, should not be called a Church, I confess I can see no reason.