A26892:6581
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.
2. Names are at mens disposal much. But confess I had rather the name had been used no otherwise, or for no other societies than Scripture useth it. My Reasons are 1. Because when Christ hath appropriated or specially applied one name to the sacred societies of his institution, it seemeth somewhat bold to make that name common to other societies. 2. Because it tendeth to confusion, misunderstanding, and to cherish errors and controversies in the Churches, when all names shall be made common or ambiguous, and holy things shall not be allowed any name proper to themselves, nor any thing can be known by a bare name without a description. If the name of Christ himself, should be used of every anointed King, it would seem not a little thus injurious to him. If the name, Bible, Scripture, Preachers. &c. be made common to all that the notation of the names may extend to, it will introduce the aforesaid inconveniences: so how shall we in common talk distinguish, between sacred societies of Divine institution and of humane, if you will allow us no peculiar name, but make that common which Christ hath chosen?
2. Names are at mens disposal much. But confess I had rather the name had been used no otherwise, or for no other societies than Scripture useth it. My Reasons are 1. Because when Christ hath appropriated or specially applyed one name to the sacred societies of his institution, it seemeth somewhat bold to make that name common to other societies. 2. Because it tendeth to confusion, misunderstanding, and to cherish errours and controversies in the Churches, when all names shall be made common or ambiguous, and holy things shall not be allowed any name proper to themselves, nor any thing can be known by a bare name without a description. If the name of Christ himself, should be used of every anointed King, it would seem not a little thus injurious to him. If the name, Bible, Scripture, Preachers. &c. be made common to all that the notation of the names may extend to, it will introduce the aforesaid inconveniences: so how shall we in common talk distinguish, between sacred societies of Divine institution and of humane, if you will allow us no peculiar name, but make that common which Christ hath chosen?
3. And that the name is here used equivocally is manifest. For the body political, is informed and denominated from the pars imperans, the Governing part or Head: Therefore as a Head of Divine institution, authorized for the spiritual or Pastoral work, denominateth the society accordingly; so a civil Head can make but a civil society, and a head of mans making, but a humane society. It is certain that Christ hath appointed the Episcopal or Pastoral office, and their work; and consequently Episcopal or Pastoral Churches: And it is certain that a King is no constitutive part of one of these Churches, but Accidental; And therefore that he is an Accidental Head to a Pastoral Church as such, to which the Pastor is essential.