A26892:7047
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.
Part 3 › Question 107: Quest. 107. Who is to Call Synods, Princes, Pastors or People?
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.
3. Synods themselves are not ordinarily necessary, by Nature or Institution (Let him that affirmeth it, prove it) But that which is statedly necessary is, The Concord of the Churches as the End, and a necessary correspondency of the Churches as the Means, and Synods when they may well be had, as a convenient sort of means.
4. When Synods cannot be had, or are needless, Messengers and Letters from Church to Church may keep up the Correspondency and Concord.
5. In cases of real necessity (which are very rare, though usefulness be more frequent) the Bishops and people should first petition the King for his consent: And if that cannot be had, they may meet secretly and in small numbers for mutual consultation and advice about the work of God; and not by keeping up the formality of their set numbers, times, and places, and orders, provoke the King against them.
6. The contempt of Synods by the separatists, and the placing more power in Synods than ever God gave them by others, yea and the insisting on their circumstantial orders, making them like a Civil Senate or Court, have been the two extremes which have greatly injured and divided the Churches, throughout the World.