A26924:1012
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
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.
M. You may as well speak out and say, that Christ hath appointed such a Ministerial office as the World will never endure. Why then do they call themselves Christians? This is the proper work of a Pastor, as it is of a Physician, to look particularly to the sick, and not only to read a Physic Lecture to them. If Bishops will put in ignorant lads or unfit men, I say again we cannot help it; nor must we for that deny the Ministerial office, any more than we must put down Preaching and Praying because some are unfit. The weight of this work should rather make all careful to get only fit men into the Ministry.
M. You may as well speak out and say, that Christ hath appointed such a Ministerial office as the World will never endure. Why then do they call themselves Christians? This is the proper work of a Pastor, as it is of a Physician, to look particularly to the sick, and not only to read a Physick Lecture to them. If Bishops will put in ignorant lads or unfit men, I say again we cannot help it; nor must we for that deny the Ministerial office, any more than we must put down Preaching and Praying because some are unfit. The weight of this work should rather make all careful to get only fit men into the Ministry.
L. But shall every Priest have power to put men from the Sacrament?
M. If every Priest must administer it, he must judge to whom: It is not a common food for all, but the Children's Bread. If every Priest must judge whom to baptize, so he must whom to give this Sacrament to. 2. The Canons allow this as to the scandalous, so we do but present them to the Bishop or Chancellor; and it's less offensive to suspend them without such prosecution. If he wrong any, they have their remedy.
M. If every Priest must administer it, he must judge to whom: It is not a common food for all, but the Childrens Bread. If every Priest must judge whom to baptize, so he must whom to give this Sacrament to. 2. The Canons allow this as to the scandalous, so we do but present them to the Bishop or Chancellour; and it's less offensive to suspend them without such prosecution. If he wrong any, they have their remedy.