A26892:6766
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.
Quest. 76. Doth not the Calling of a Minister so consist in the exercise of his own Ministerial Gifts, that he may not officiate without them, nor make use of other mens Gifts instead of them?
Answ. 1. The Office of the Ministry is an Obligation and Authority to do the Ministerial work, by those personal competent abilities which God hath given us.
Answ. 1. THe Office of the Ministry is an Obligation and Authority to do the Ministerial work, by those personal competent abilities which God hath given us.
2. This obligation to use our own abilities, forbiddeth us not to make use of the helps, gifts and abilities of others; either to promote our own abilities and habits, or to further us in the act or the exercise of them. For, 1. There is no such prohibition in Scripture. 2. All men are insufficient for themselves; and Nature and Scripture require them to use the best help they can get from others. 3. Gods service must be done in the best manner we can. But many Ministers cannot do it so well (consideratis considerandis) without other mens help as with it.
3. We may use other mens gifts to help us, 1. For Matter, 2. Method, 3. Words, and so for a threefold form, of preaching or prayer.