A27068:26
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly…
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholic communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholick communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
XV. By Christs Institution every Ministerial Elder and Pastor hath Power. 1. To Teach the People. 2. To Lead them in Worship. 3. To Receive by Baptism, and to Communion, or to refuse on just cause (tho under Government) as aforesaid: (The whole Office I have copiously described in my Universal Concord, 24. years ago.)
XVI. The Parishes that have capable Christians and Ministers consented to by their submission, are such true Churches; their Neighbourhood and Christianity making them capable matter. Not that a man is of the Church, because he is in the Parish (Atheists, Infidels, Sadducees, Heretics and Refusers, may dwell there, (Its thought that of 60000. that dwell in one London Parish, 10000 Communicate not, and so 40000 or 50000, are not of that Church) but those that are capable Consenters, and Communicants.
XVI. The Parishes that have capable Christians and Ministers consented to by their sumbmission, are such true Churches; their Neighbourhood and Christianity making them capable matter. Not that a man is of the Church, because he is in the Parish (Atheists, Infidels, Sadduces, Hereticks and Refusers, may dwell there, (Its thought that of 60000. that dwell in one London Parish, 10000 Communicate not, and so 40000 or 50000, are not of that Church) but those that are capable Consenters, and Communicants.
XVII. This sort of Churches we were in Possession of 166•, and till August 24. 1662. And of 9000 Ministers, then 2000 only were put out, the other 7000 continuing in. And of those that were put out, some few gathered part of their old Flock into private Churches, renouncing, and dissuading them from the public: Most gathered no such Churches, but help their old People as they could, not drawing them from the Parish Churches, till the time of the Kings Licences for more open Ministry. Many led them to the Parish Churches, and took themselves for fellow Pastors, with the public Ministers, and lived in Love and Communion with them. The People were not by the new Law cast out with the Ministers. Most of the people in the 2000 Parishes of the ejected, and almost all in the other 7000 who before communicated, or were caable of it, continuing the Parish Communion. And so are Churches, if they were so before.