A69533:524
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.
Sect. 2. As all that deserve the name of men, are agreed that there is no Power in the world but from God the Absolute Sovereign, and first Cause of Power: so all that deserve the name of Christians are agreed that there is no Church Power but what is from Christ the head and Sovereign King of the Church.
Sect. 2. As all that deserve the name of men, are agreed that there is no Power in the world but from God the Absolute Soveraign, and first Cause of Power: so all that deserve the name of Christians are agreed that there is no Church Power but what is from Christ the head and Soveraign King of the Church.
Sect. 3. As the will of God is the Cause of all things; And no thing but the Signification of it is necessary to the conveying of mere Rights: So in the making a man a Minister of the Gospel, ⟨p. 142⟩there needeth no other principal efficient cause then the Will of Jesus Christ; nor any other Instrumental Efficient, but what is of use to the signifying of his Will: So that it is but in the nature of signs that they are Necessary. No more therefore is of Absolute Necessity, but what is so necessary to signify his will. If Christs will may be signified without Ordination, a man may be a Minister without it: (Though in other respects he may be culpable in his entrance, by crossing the will of Christ concerning his duty in the manner of his proceedings.)
Sect. 3. As the will of God is the Cause of all things; And no thing but the Signification of it is necessary to the conveying of meer Rights: So in the making a man a Minister of the Gopel, ⟨p. 142⟩there needeth no other principal efficient cause then the Will of Jesus Christ; nor any other Instrumental Efficient, but what is of use to the signifying of his Will: So that it is but in the nature of signs that they are Necessary. No more therefore is of Absolute Necessity, but what is so necessary to signifie his will. If Christs will may be signified without Ordination, a man may be a Minister without it: (Though in other respects he may be culpable in his entrance, by crossing the will of Christ concerning his duty in the manner of his proceedings.)