A26892:6606
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. If it be none of all these, what is it? I doubt it may prove some needless or rather sinful work, which God committed to none of these three sorts, and therefore unfit to make a Church-office of. Unless it be such as I before described and granted. 1. I confess that the Magistrate may make new inferior officers, to do his own part (As Church-Justices, Church-wardens. &c.) 2. I grant that the people may make an office for the better doing of some parts of their own work: They may make Collectors, Door-keepers, Artists by office, to keep the Clock, and Bells, and Church-buildings, &c. if the Magistrates leave it to them.
4. If it be none of all these, what is it? I doubt it may prove some needless or rather sinful work, which God committed to none of these three sorts, and therefore unfit to make a Church-office of. Unless it be such as I before described and granted. 1. I confess that the Magistrate may make new inferiour officers, to do his own part (As Church-Justices, Church-wardens. &c.) 2. I grant that the people may make an office for the better doing of some parts of their own work: They may make Collectors, Door-keepers, Artists by office, to keep the Clock, and Bells, and Church-buildings, &c. if the Magistrates leave it to them.
3. I grant that the Bishops or Pastors may do some circumstances of their work by humane officers: As to facilitate their concord in Synods, by choosing one to preside, to choose time and place, to send messengers to take votes, to moderate disputes, to record agreements, &c. as aforesaid: And these circumstantials are the things that officers may be made for.
But the very modes and circumstances which are part of the work to which every Bishop or Pastor is obliged, he cannot commit to another; As to choose his text, subject, method, words, &c. These are parts of his own work: Though Concord in these is the work of many.