A27054:674
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.
§. 37. When Aristotle saith that Wise men are by Nature to Rule, and fools and ignorant persons to be ruled, he meant not I suppose that this gave wise men formal Power; but that this was the materiae dispositio receptiva; as Gold and Silver are to be the Kings Coin, but are not so quâ talia: so only wise Christians are receptive matter of Ministerial power, and the wiser the better. And when one appeareth to be of eminent wisdom above all the rest, caeteris paribus, ⟨p. 220⟩the ordainers and people are directed and bound by God to choose that man. And what scruples soever rise about his Ordination, usually God worketh by excellent worthy men, and as light cannot be hid, so holy wisdom will be known and valued.
§. 37. When Aristotle saith that Wise men are by Nature to Rule, and fools and ignorant persons to be ruled, he meant not I suppose that this gave wise men formal Power; but that this was the materiae dispositio receptiva; as Gold and Silver are to be the Kings Coyn, but are not so quâ talia: so only wise Christians are receptive matter of Ministerial power, and the wiser the better. And when one appeareth to be of eminent wisdom above all the rest, caeteris paribus, ⟨p. 220⟩the ordainers and people are directed and bound by God to choose that man. And what scruples soever rise about his Ordination, usually God worketh by excellent worthy men, and as light cannot be hid, so holy wisdom will be known and valued.
§. 38. 2. But LOVE or HOLINESS is necessary ad bene esse as well as wisdom: Heat causeth heat: And we have need of sacred Heat as well as of Light. Love kindleth love: A Pastor should excel the Flock in Love to God, to Christ, to Holiness, to Gods word and work, and to all the peoples souls, and should speak all from the Zeal of Love: As the Nurses milk should have the warmth of Nature. Cold heartless preachers usually reach not the heart and have but cold• and small success. Here also God worketh usually according to the means: And how can he be taken for a sound Believer of so great over-whelming things, as we have to speak of, that speaketh only of them sleepily and coldly?