A26965:124
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacify such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacifie such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benj. Alsop, 1679
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.
XX. Christs Laws empower and oblige the Bishops or senior Pastors to Ordain others for this Ministerial service of the Church, and so to propagate their order to the end of the world: By which Ordination, 1. They are Judges of the persons qualifications, whether he be such as Christs Laws admit into his Ministry. 2. And they solemnly invest him in the office. But the Power with which they ministerially invest him (delivering him possession as Christ appointed) resulteth directly from the Law or Donation of Christ; As the power of a Mayor from the Charter of the King, and not from the Electors or Investers. None therefore have power given them by Christ, to hinder such Ordination and Propagation of such a Ministry, Act. 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5.
XXI. So exceeding great are the benefits and privileges of being members of Christ, and his Church universal and particular, that no unwilling person is immediately capable of it: Nor is it possible ex natura rei, for any (adult) person that consenteth not to be a Christian, or a Member of any particular Church. He cannot be a just Communicant against his will; nor pray and praise God with the Church; nor take a man for his Pastor, or use him as a Pastor, against his will: And God hath laid mens salvation or damnation on the choice or refusal of their wills. Therefore no man can be the Bishop or Pastor of a Church, either de jure, or truly de facto, against the Church or Peoples will, or without ⟨p. 26⟩their consent. And as the Nature of the thing proveth this, so doth the sacred Scripture, Act. 14. 23. & 2. 37, 38. 1 Joh. 1. 7.