A26951:435
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb. 11, 1, formerly preached before His Majesty, and published by his command, with another added for the fuller application : the second is instructions for confirming believers in the Christian faith : the third is directions how to live by faith, or how to exercise it upon all occasions / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1670
Part 2 › Chapter 7: The means of making known all this infallibly to us.
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.
8. Moreover, the very Office of the Pastors of the Church, and their continuance from the beginning to this day, is a great part of the certain tradition of this Religion. For it is most certain, that the Churches were constituted, and the Assemblies held, and the worship performed with them, and by their conduct, and not without: And it is certain by infallible history, that their office hath been still the same, even to teach men this Christian Religion, and to guide them in the practice of it, and to read the same Scriptures as the word of truth, and to explain it to the people. And therefore as the Judicatures and Offices of the Judges is a certain proof that there have been those Laws by which they judge (especially if they had been also the weekly public Readers and Expounders of them) and so much more is it in our case.
8. Moreover, the very Office of the Pastors of the Church, and their continuance from the beginning to this day, is a great part of the certain tradition of this Religion. For it is most certain, that the Churches were constituted, and the Assemblies held, and the worship performed with them, and by their conduct, and not without: And it is certain by infallible history, that their office hath been still the same, even to teach men this Christian Religion, and to guide them in the practice of it, and to read the same Scriptures as the word of truth, and to explain it to the people. And therefore as the Judicatures and Offices of the Judges is a certain proof that there have been those Laws by which they judge (especially if they had been also the weekly publick Readers and Expounders of them) and so much more is it in our case.
9. And the constant use of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, hath according to his appointment, been an infallible tradition of his Covenant, and a means to keep him in remembrance in the Churches. For when all the Churches in the world have made this Sacramental Commemoration, and renewed covenanting with Christ as dead and risen, to be their constant public practice here, is a tradition of that faith and Covenant which cannot be counterfeit or false.