A69533:339
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
Whether it be Necessary or Profitable to the right order or the Pea… › Section
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.
Reason 7. There is no sufficient Reason given, 1why subject P••s•byters should not have been set up in the Scripture times▪ as well as after, if it had been the Apostles intent that such should be instituted. The Necessity pretended, was no necessity, and the Nonnecessity is but pretended. First it is pre•e••ed that there were so few fit men that there was a Necessity of forbearance. But this is not so: For, 1. The Church had larger gifts of the Spirit then, then now, and therefore proportionable to the flocks they might have had competent men, then as well as now. 2. They had men enough to make Deacons of, even seven in a […]: And who will believe then that they could find none to make such Elders of? Was not Stephen or Philip sufficiently qualified to have been a subject Elder? 3. They had many that prophesied, and interpreted, and spake with tongues in one Assembly, as appears, 1 Cor. 14. And therefore its manifest that there were enough to have made Ruled Elders: At least sure the Church at Jerusalem, where there were so many thousands, ⟨p. 72⟩would have afforded them one such, if it had been requisite.
Reason 7. There is no sufficient Reason given, 1why subject P••s•byters should not have been set up in the Scripture times▪ as well as after, if it had been the Apostles intent that such should be instituted. The Necessity pretended, was no necessi•y, and the Nonnecessity is but pre•ended. First it is pre•e••ed that there were so few fit men that there was a Necessity of forbarance. But this is not so: For, 1. The Church had larger gifts of the Spirit then, then now, and therefore proportionable to the flocks they might have had competent men, then as well as now. 2. They had men enough to make Deacons of, even sven in a : And who will believe then that they could find none to make such Elders of? Was not Stephen or Philip sufficiently qualified to have been a subject Elder? 3. They had many that prophesied, and interpreted, and spake with tongues in one Assembly, as appears,