A26924:715
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
Chapter 44: Of Lay Conformity. Point I. Whether all Men must trust their Souls only on the Pastoral…
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. 1. Do they de facto keep them out? I told you truly what a company of ignorant drunken Readers I was bred up under till I was thirteen years of Age, or fourteen, and what a sort, were round about us: And yet the Bishops were as good men as any I ⟨p. 167⟩know now. Bishop Morton was our Bishop. If we are so hardly agreed in a notorious matter of Fact, viz. what Pastors multitudes of Parishes now have, it's in vain to dispute of any thing else. 2. When we have told the Conformists what men are Instituted, their common answer is, that it's long of the Patrons, and the Law, that enableth not the Bishop to keep them out: And that if the Bishop deny Institution to any one that can but say some account of his Faith in Latin, a quare impedit will force him to Institute him. But whether you will lay it on the Bishops want of Power, or their Will, it's no relief to the miserable People. And that which the Bishop requireth more to Ordination, is but a Certificate of a good Conversation; which I never knew man so Heretical or wicked in all my Life, that could not get from three Ministers.
L. Would you have Patrons turned out of their right?
M. No, it is no right of Gods giving to be the sole Choosers of Pastors for men Souls. There is a threefold part in Ministers admittance. 1. To judge who is fit to be by them Ordained: And this is the Ordainers part. 2. To Choose or Consent who shall be the Pastor of Mens Souls: And this is the Peoples part. 3. To judge and choose who shall have the public Places, Maintenance, Countenance and Toleration: And this is the Magistrates and Patrons part.
M. No, it is no right of Gods giving to be the sole Choosers of Pastors for men Souls. There is a threefold part in Ministers admittance. 1. To judge who is fit to be by them Ordained: And this is the Ordainers part. 2. To Chuse or Consent who shall be the Pastor of Mens Souls: And this is the Peoples part. 3. To judge and chuse who shall have the publick Places, Maintenance, Countenance and Toleration: And this is the Magistrates and Patrons part.