A27054:654
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.
3. In case that persecutors banish or destroy all ordained men, and will suffer no other to come among them, or them to fetch ordination.
4. In case that all the Bishops or Ordainers turn either heretics or tyrants, and will ordain none but on some sinful terms.
4. In case that all the Bishops or Ordainers turn either hereticks or tyrants, and will ordain none but on some sinful terms.
5. In case that men living under Bishops do forge Orders and pretend that they are ordained when they are not, and the people know it not: Their acts now are of full authority or validity to the innocent people, though God will condemn the pretender for his sin. This case I have oft known my self, and in my youth lived under such as was after discovered. And the opponents themselves here confess that Presumption may serve turn to the people, when they cannot detect it. And indeed few people in England know any otherwise than by presumption that their Bishops or Pastors are ordained. And if it were true that Presbyters Ordination were null, yet when the ordained after great study believeth it valid, and the people cannot know the contrary, here is a Presumed title both to the ordained and the people; that is, valid administrations and receptions without ordination.