A26958:195
A moral prognostication I. what shall befall the churches on Earth, till their concord
A moral prognostication I. what shall befall the churches on Earth, till their concord, by the restitution of their primitive purity, simplicity, and charity, II. how that restitution is like to be made, (if ever) and what shall befall them thence-forth unto the end, in that golden-age of love / written by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Thomas Simmons, 1680
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.
20. The Maintenance of the Ministry shall neither be so poor, as to discourage Men from devoting their Children to the Office, or disable them from a total Addictedness to their proper Work, by any distracting Wants or Cares; or yet wholly disable them from Works of Charity: Nor yet so Great, as may be a strong Bait to Proud, Covetous, Worldly minded Men, to intrude into the Ministry for fleshly Ends. It shall be so much, as that the Burden of their Calling may not be increased by Want: But yet not so much, but that Self-denial shall be Exercised by all that under-take the Ministry; and of the Two, the Burden of the Ministerial Labours, with its proper Sufferings, shall to Flesh and Blood, seem to ⟨p. 50⟩preponderate the worldly Advantage. So greatly needful is it to the Church, that all Ministers be Self-denying Men; that valuing Things spiritually, can practise Humility, Mortification, and Contempt of the World, as well as preach it.
20. The Maintenance of the Ministry shall neither be so poor, as to discourage Men from devoting their Children to the Office, or disable them from a total Addictedness to their proper Work, by any distracting Wants or Cares; or yet wholly disable them from Works of Charity: Nor yet so Great, as may be a strong Bait to Proud, Covetous, Worldly minded Men, to intrude into the Ministry for fleshly Ends. It shall be so much, as that the Burden of their Calling may not be increased by Want: But yet not so much, but that Self-denyal shall be Exercised by all that under-take the Ministry; and of the Two, the Burden of the Ministerial Labors, with its proper Sufferings, shall to Flesh and Blood, seem to ⟨p. 50⟩preponderate the worldly Advantage. So greatly needful is it to the Church, that all Ministers be Self-denying Men; that valuing Things spiritually, can practise Humility, Mortification, and Contempt of the World, as well as preach it.
21. There shall be a Treble-Lock upon the Door of the Ministry: 1. Whether they are fit to be Ministers in the general, the Ordainers shall judge. 2. Whether they are fit to be the Pastors of this, or that particular Church; the Members of the Church shall so far judge, as that none shall become their Pastors, without their own consent. 3. Whether they be fit for the Magistrates Countenance, Maintenance, and Protection, the Magistrate himself shall judge.