A69533:540

Five disputations of church-government and worship

Name: Five disputations of church-government and worship
Author: Richard Baxter

Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659

[10], 38, [10], 24, 492 p. · 215k words · Wing B1267 · ESTC R13446

Title page: Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy, digitized by the Internet Archive (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

Assert. Those who nullify our present Ministry and Churches, which… › Chapter 2: Of the Nature and Ends of Ordination.Assert. Those who nullifie our present Ministry and Churches, which… › Chapter 2: Of the Nature and Ends of Ordination.

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.

[ Earlier:537–552 of 1,637

:537p. 146

Sect. 18. Its thus in the case of Magistrates Power, in which mens interest hath ever been more discernible to the world and beyond controversy then in the power of Ministers. Though here there be a certain specification that dependeth on the will of man, yet the Power it self is immediately from God, and men do but choose the person that shall receive it, and present him to God, and solemnly inaugurate him. And for my part, I think I shall never consent to any side that will needs give more to men (whether Presbyters, Prelates, or people) in making a Minister, then in making a King. All power is of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.

Sect. 18. Its thus in the case of Magistrates Power, in which mens interest hath ever been more discernable to the world and beyond controversie then in the power of Ministers. Though here there be a certain specification that dependeth on the will of man, yet the Power it self is immediately from God, and men do but choose the person that shall receive it, and present him to God, and solemnly inaugurate him. And for my part, I think I shall never consent to any side that will needs give more to men (whether Presbyters, Prelates, or people) in making a Minister, then in making a King. All power is of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.

:538p. 147

Sect. 19. If any doubt of this (as I perceive by many writings, they do) I shall, to spare the labour of a Digression, refer them to the copious unanswerable labours of abundance of Protestants that have written in England for the Royal Power: But instead of more, let them but read Spalatensis, and Saravia and Bilson, and rest satisfied, or confute them before they expect any more from me.

:539p. 147

Sect. 20. As in the making of Bailiffs for our Corporations, either the people, or the Burgesses, have the power of choosing, and the Steward or Recorder hath the power of swearing him, and performing the Ceremonies: and yet none of these confer the power, but only design the person, who receives the power from the Prince alone, by the Charter of the Cities or Towns, as his Instrument: so is it in the ordaining of Ministers. The People may choose, and the Pastors may invest, but its God only by the Gospel Charter that confers the power from himself.

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Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

CHAP. III. Ordination is not of Necessity to the being of the Ministry.