A27054:640
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness of it, and the detection of false dividing terms / opened by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 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.
§. 18. III. As to the third, Election oft signifieth the first determining nomination distinct from after consent: This is not necessary to the office or power: But Consent is necessary at least to the exercise: and therefore to the office which is for that exercise. If people were as much under Princes for choosing Guides for their souls, as a daughter in her fathers house is under her father for the choice of a husband (which yet I never saw proved to be so), yet as he can be no husband to her without her consent, though she culpably deny consent, so is it here: he can be no Pastor to them till they consent.
§. 19. IV. and V. In all Societies where consent is necessary, the consent must be either of All or of the Most, or else they will divide.
§. 20. VI. To the sixth, The question of the Validity of the Ordination dependeth not on it; but on the peoples acceptance and consent: If ten Bishops ordain one man Bishop of a Church, and three ordain another to the same Church, and one a third (as sometimes there have been divers ordained Popes) that only is the true Bishop whom the Church which he is to be over, consenteth to. Other decisions will not serve.