A26892:6592
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.
4. You are now grown up from a may be, to a must be, and necessity: And a greater necessity of one National Ecclesiastical Government, than of a Particular Church Government; which being undeniably of Christs Institution (by the Holy Ghost in the Apostles) you do not make all forms to be indifferent or deny this to be jure divino. What! necessary and more necessary than that which is jure divino, and yet indifferent and not jure divino? If you say, It is necessary only on supposition that there be a national Church: I answer, But your reasons evidently infer that it is also necessary that there be such a National Church, where it may be had: Though you deny the necessity of Monarchical Government by one High Priest in it? But I know you call not this a form of Government, unless as determinately managed by one, many or most. But why a national spiritual Policy as distinct from Congregational, may not be called [a form of Government] as well as One mans distinct from two, over the same people, I see not. But this is at your liberty. But your Necessity of such a National Regiment is a matter of greater moment.
4. You are now grown up from a may be, to a must be, and necessity: And a greater necessity of one National Ecclesiastical Government, than of a Particular Church Government; which being undeniably of Christs Institution (by the Holy Ghost in the Apostles) you do not make all forms to be indifferent or deny this to be jure divino. What! necessary and more necessary than that which is jure divino, and yet indifferent and not jure divino? If you say, It is necessary only on supposition that there be a national Church: I answer, But your reasons evidently inferr that it is also necessary that there be such a National Church, where it may be had: Though you deny the necessity of Monarchical Government by one High Priest in it? But I know you call not this a form of Government, unless as determinately managed by one, many or most. But why a national spiritual Policy as distinct from Congregational, may not be called [a form of Government] as well as One mans distinct from two, over the same people, I see not. But this is at your liberty. But your Necessity of such a National Regiment is a matter of greater moment.
In these three senses I confess a National Church. 1. As all the Christians in a Nation are under one Civil Church Governor; 2. As they are Consociated for Concord and meet in Synods or hold correspondencies. 3. As they are all a part of the universal Church, cohabiting in one Nation. But all these are equivocal uses of the word Church; the denomination being taken in the first from an Accident; In the second the name of a Policy being given to a Community agreeing for Concord; In the third the name of the whole is given to a small integral part.