A27054:646
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.
4. But if the chief or only Pastor of a single Church (that hath unum altar) yea of a City Church, be to be called a Bishop, then multitudes now called mere Presbyters have been such Bishops, and have ordained.
4. But if the chief or only Pastor of a single Church (that hath unum altare) yea of a City Church, be to be called a Bishop, then multitudes now called meer Presbyters have been such Bishops, and have ordained.
And as to a Negative Vote in ordaining, that (if it were proved it self) proveth no distinct order or office, but for order-sake a prerogative in the same office. The question is yet undecided even among Schoolmen and Bishops, whether a Bishop and Presbyter differ only Grad• (as the foreman from the rest of the Jury, or a Justice of Quorum or a chief Judge or Justice, from the rest) or also Ordine or Specie, (as a Justice and a Constable.) Saith Arch-bishop Usher with Bishop Reignolds and many other Bishops, Ad ordinem pertinet ordinare; and they are ejusdem ordinis; which others deny.
And as to a Negative Vote in ordaining, that (if it were proved it self) proveth no distinct order or office, but for order-sake a prerogative in the same office. The question is yet undecided even among Schoolmen and Bishops, whether a Bishop and Presbyter differ only Grad• (as the foreman from the rest of the Jury, or a Justice of Quorum or a chief Judge or Justice, from the rest) or also Ordine or Specie, (as a Justice and a Constable.) Saith Arch-bishop Vsher with Bishop Reignolds and many other Bishops, Ad ordinem pertinet ordinare; and they are ejusdem ordinis; which others deny.
§. 22. But not to anticipate my fuller answer to this case, I briefly answer, that Gods Law or Charter giving the Ministerial power to the duly qualified receiver, no Ordination doth more than to determine (with the peoples consent) who is the qualified receiver, and for the sake of Order, and the Churches notice, to declare his right and solemnly invest him. And God hath not appropriated this declaring and investing power, so to their Prelates distinct from Presbyters (that I ever found) as that the Church should receive none but of their ordination. What men decree is one thing, and what