A26897:205
Church concord
Church concord containing I. a dissuasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.Church concord containing I. a disswasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
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.
Chap. X. Difference VIII.
THE Eighth supposed Difference is, about Private mens Preaching: and it hath two Parts. 1. Whether Private men, may Preach in the Church? 2. Whether the Church may send them out as private men unordained, to Preach in the Parishes of England, or to the Heathens or Unbelievers?
The Presbyterians deny not but Private men may Preach in some cases. None that fear God do desire any to bury their Talent, nor would hinder men from doing the Work of God. But they would have bona been, God's Work done in God's Order. On these Conditions we allow Private men to Preach. 1. If they do it but ex Charitate, and pretend not to the Ministerial Office. 2. And if they do it occasionally, and not as men separated to that work as their Calling (for then they become Ministers indeed while they disclaim it in Name. 3. If they do it not needlessly, to a proud ostentation of their parts; but only when Abler Men, or Ministers are not to be had, or else on some urgent weighty cause. 4. If they make not themselves the Judges of their own fitness, but expect the Approbation of the judicious, faithful, concordant Ministers that know them. 5. If they undertake no more than they can perform, and suppose not themselves fitter than they are, and so run not beyond their Knowledge, nor dishonour not the Work of God. 6. If they thrust not themselves into any Church to Preach without a Call, nor ordinarily without the Pastors consent. 7. If they do it not unseasonably when by offending they are likely to do more hurt than good. 8. If in the manner, season and continuance they submit to the Guidance of the Pastors of the Church (if it be more than ordinary Teaching, and not such as every able. Master of a Family may there do). With these Cautions we grant that Private men may Preach Many Episcopal Divines grant it: And the Presbyterians ordinarily permit it in their Expectants that are trained up for the Ministry. A Maid begun the Conversion of the Iberians by Conference; And interlocutory Preaching is truly Preaching. Edesius and Frumentius converted the Indians. Alexander Bishop of Jerusalem, and Theoctistus of Caesarea, maintained Origene's Teaching while he was a Private man: