A27068:39
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.
All this is settled by Law, and all Ministers subscribe to it: And is not this enough to the essence of a Pastors office? What is the Reason? The next promise is [Reverently to obey their Ordinary, and other chief Ministers, to whom is committed the charge and government of them, following with a glad mind and will, their godly admonitions, and submitting themselves to their godly judgments.
All this is setled by Law, and all Ministers subscribe to it: And is not this enough to the essence of a Pastors office? What is the Reason? The next promise is [Reverently to obey their Ordinary, and other chief Ministers, to whom is committed the charge and government of them, following with a glad mind and will, their godly admonitions, and submitting themselves to their godly judgments.
This shows that, 1. It is not a strict Divine Right that is meant over them; for all Ordinaries, and other chief Ministers, pretend not to such right. 2. If others superiority null their office, then none is in office but the King: Was Di•trep•es no Minister, because John threatened him as his superior? It's liker he had been none for resisting John, of the two: Were all degraded that obeyed the Apostles? If it should be an error, that a Parochial Bishop is a Governor over his junior-Presbyters, or a Diocesan over both; that nulleth not the Presbyters office: The Presbyterians give a Classis or Synod as much power over particular Churches, as the Episcopal give to Diocesans; (or near): And yet few Separatists have thence concluded that they have no particular Churches, or that this nulleth them; contrarily, ab est tertii adjecti ad est secundi valet argumentum; Parish Churches are governed Churches subject to superiors; ergo, they are Churches.
This shews that, 1. It is not a strict Divine Right that is meant over them; for all Ordinaries, and other chief Ministers, pretend not to such right. 2. If others superiority null their office, then none is in office but the King: Was Di•trep•es no Minister, because John threatned him as his superior? It's liker he had been none for resisting John, of the two: Were all degraded that obeyed the Apostles? If it should be an error, that a Parochial Bishop is a Governor over his junior-Presbyters, or a Diocesan over both; that nulleth not the Presbyters office: The Presbyterians give a Classis or Synod as much power over particular Churches, as the Episcopal give to Diocesans; (or near): And yet few Separatists have thence concluded that they have no particular Churches, or that this nulleth them; contrarily, ab est tertii adjecti ad est secundi valet argumentum; Parish Churches are govern'd Churches subject to superiors; ergo, they are Churches.