A26897:211
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.
2. But the second seemeth the more dangerous difference: That their Churches should presume to send abroad Preachers not in Office, for the Conversion of Souls, by setting them apart to that work, and directing or allowing them to be stated Ordinary Teachers. Their excuses are, that Pastors are proper to particular Churches; and it is not into Churches but Parishes that they send them; not to Rule or Teach a Church, but to Convert Souls and gather Churches. Ans. But, 1. It is not your calling Parishes [no Churches] that makes or proves them none. You are not the Judges, when they profess themselves Churches. If others send Men to preach in your Churches, it will not excuse them with you, if they face you down that they are no Churches, and therefore they may preach in them. 2. But suppose they were all Heathens, you have never yet proved that to be a stated Preacher for their Conversion, is not to be a proper Ministerial Officer. Contrarily, 1. In the days of the Apostles and all their helpers, it was part of the Office of a Minister, (yea and of the chief Ministers) to be stated Preachers for the Conversion of unbelievers, and gathering Souls to Christ: But the Office of the Ministry is now the same as then. Therefore▪
2. To go and Teach, and Disciple the Nations is as true a part of the Ministers Commission as to teach the Church (Matth. 28. 19.) Therefore it is not common to private M•n.
3. Ordinary Baptizing is no work for private Men: Therefore not preaching. The reason of the consequence is, 1. Because they are conjoined in the Ministerial Commission, (Matth. 28. 19.) 2. Because if Pastors go not abroad the World with these private Men to preach to Infidels, then when they have converted any, they must be unbaptized till Pastors can come to them: Which is contrary to all Scripture example that Baptism should be so long delayed after Conversion ordinarily.