A26998:537
The Protestant religion truly stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard BaxterThe Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter
The Protestant religion truly stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Daniel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.The Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Danel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1692
Protestant Religion Truly Stated, and Justified, &c. › The Three and Fortieth accused Point.
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.
3. If we read of Multitudes of Debauched, Ignorant, Apostatical Popes and Prelates, and many Ages of Church Barbarism, and Brutishness, (even in Baroni•s, Genebrard, and the fiercest Papists;) and if we see Priests after Ordination to be Ignorant, Drunkards, Fornicators, unable and unapt to Teach, haters of a Godly Life, we cannot tell what Grace it is that these men are said to receive in Ordination: Whatever it is, it will not keep them out of Hell, as it keeps them not from serving Satan.
3. If we read of Multitudes of Debauched, Ignorant, Apostatical Popes and Prelates, and many Ages of Church Barbarism, and Bruitishness, (even in Baroni•s, Genebrard, and the fiercest Papists;) and if we see Priests after Ordination to be Ignorant, Drunkards, Fornicators, unable and unapt to Teach, haters of a Godly Life, we cannot tell what Grace it is that these men are said to receive in Ordination: Whatever it is, it will not keep them out of Hell, as it keeps them not from serving Satan.
4. We take an ordinary Calling and Mission to be ordinarily needful to the ⟨p. 150⟩Church Ministry. This Calling consisteth, 1. In necessary Abilities, without which God sendeth none. 2. In willingness and Consent. 3. In the Ordination by Senior Pastors, where it may be had. 4. And to fix them in relation to particular Congregations, the mutual consent of themselves and the Flocks.
5. But we know Rules of mere Order are for the things ordered, and the Edification of the Church, for which all Church Power is given, and God Commandeth that all be done: And we know that God who will have Mercy and not Sacrifice, would not have us destroy the substance by pretence of a Ceremony. And that in several Cases, Ministers may be lawfully called without Imposition of hands, and Canonical Ordination. As, 1. In case men be cast into Infidel Countries, where no Bishops or Pastors can be had: As by Shipwreck, or Merchants Factory, or Ambassadors, or when a Bishop with them dyeth by the way: They must not be without all public Church Worship, for want of an Imposing Bishop.