A69533:1093
Five disputations of church-government and worship
Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
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.
§. 16. Object. We do not mean too many Teachers, but too many Bishops; that is, too many Governors of the Church. Answ. 1. God knoweth no Governors Ministerial but teachers: It seems you would have somewhat that you call Government, and leave the labour of Teaching to others: As if you knew not that it is they that are especially worthy of the double honour that labour in the word and doctrine, 1 Tim. 5.17. Or as if you knew not that even the Government of Pastors is mostly by teaching. 2. Government and Teaching go together, and are both necessary to the Church; And the diminishing the number of Governors and of Teachers is all one: As a Physician doth Govern all his Patients in order to their cure, and a Schoolmaster all his scholars in order to their learning; so doth a Pastor all his flock, in order to their sanctification and salvation. And for the Government of the Ministers themselves, the number shall be increased as little as may be. Parish Bishops will Govern but a few; and therefore they can wrong but few, by their mis-government.
§. 16. Object. We do not mean too many Teachers, but too many Bishops; that is, too many Governours of the Church. Answ. 1. God knoweth no Governours Ministeriall but teachers: It seems you would have somewhat that you call Government, and leave the labour of Teaching to others: As if you knew not that it is they that are especially worthy of the double honour that labour in the word and doctrine, 1 Tim. 5.17. Or as if you knew not that even the Government of Pastors is mostly by teaching. 2. Government and Teaching go together, and are both necessary to the Church; And the diminishing the number of Governours and of Teachers is all one: As a Physitian doth Govern all his Patients in order to their cure, and a Schoolmaster all his schollars in order to their learning; so doth a Pastor all his flock, in order to their sanctification and salvation. And for the Government of the Ministers themselves, the number shall be increased as little as may be. Parish Bishops will Govern but a few; and therefore they can wrong but few, by their mis-government.