A69533:591

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 3: Ordination is not of Necessity to the being of the Ministry.Assert. Those who nullifie our present Ministry and Churches, which… › Chapter 3: Ordination is not of Necessity to the being of the Ministry.

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:588–603 of 1,637

:588p. 161–162

Sect. 43. If this were not so, a lazy person that is Able for the Ministry, might by pleasing or bribing the Ordainers, be exempted from abundance of duty, and escape the danger of Guilt and Judgement upon his Omission. And truly the burden is so great to flesh and blood, if men be faithful in their Office, ⟨p. 162⟩the labour so unceasing, the people so unconstant, ungrateful and discouraging; the worldly honours and riches so tempting which may b• had in a secular life, with the study and cost that fits men for the Ministry, and the enemies of our work and us a•e so many and malicious, and times of persecution so frequent and unwelcome, that if it were but in the Prelates power to exempt all men at their pleasure, from all the trouble and care and danger and sufferings of the Ministry, they would have abundance of Solicitors and Suitors for a dispensation? especially where the Love of God and his Church were not very strong to prevail against temptations (for this would free them from all fear.)

Sect. 43. If this were not so, a lazy person that is Able for the Ministry, might by pleasing or bribing the Ordainers, be exempted from abundance of duty, and escape the danger of Guilt and Judgement upon his Omission. And truly the burden is so great to flesh and blood, if men be faithful in their Office, ⟨p. 162⟩the labour so uncessant, the people so unconstant, ungrateful and discouraging; the worldly honours and riches so tempting which may b• had in a secular life, with the study and cost that fits men for the Ministry, and the ene•ies of our work and us a•e so many and malicious, and times of persecution so frequent and unwelcome, that if it were but in the Prelates power to exempt all men at their pleasure, from all the trouble and care and danger and sufferings of the Ministery, they would have abundance of Solicitors and Suitors for a dispensation? especially where the Love of God and his Church were not very strong to prevail against temptations (for this would free them from all fear.)

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Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

CHAP. IV. An uninterrupted Succession of Regular Ordination, is not Necessary.