A69533:634

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 4: An uninterrupted Succession of Regular Ordination, is not Necessary.Assert. Those who nullifie our present Ministry and Churches, which… › Chapter 4: An uninterrupted Succession of Regular Ordination, is not Necessary.

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:631–646 of 1,637

:631p. 175

Sect. 29. If the foresaid uninterrupted succession be necessary to the being of our Ministry, or Churches or Ordinances, then is it incumbent on all that will prove the truth of their Ministry, Churches or Ordinances, to prove the said succession. But that is not true; for then none (as is aforesaid) could prove any of them. Either it is meet that we be able to Prove the truth of our Ministry, Churches and administrations, or not. If not, then why do the adversaries call us to it? If yea: then no man among the Churches in Europe (on their grounds) hath any proof; and therefore must not pretend to the Ministry, Churches or Ordinances, but we must all turn Seekers to day, and Infidels to morrow, by this device.

Sect. 29. If the foresaid uninterrupted succession be necessary to the being of our Ministry, or Churches or Ordinances, then is it incumbent on all that will prove the truth of their Ministery, Churches or Ordinances, to prove the said succession. But that is not true; for then none (as is aforesaid) could prove any of them. Either it is meet that we be able to Prove the truth of our Ministry, Churches and administrations, or not. If not, then why do the adversaries call us to it? If yea: then no man among the Churches in Europe (on their grounds) hath any proof; and therefore must not pretend to the Ministry, Churches or Ordinances, but we must all turn Seekers to day, and Infidels to morrow, by this device.

:632p. 175–176

Sect. 30. Argument 8. The Ministry of the Priests and Levites before the incarnation of Christ, and in his time, was not Null, though they wanted as much or more then such a succession of right Ordination: therefore it is so still with the Gospel Ministry. The Antecedent I shall more fully manifest nearer to the end: Only now observe, that when Abiathar was put out by Solomon; and when such as were not of the line or Genealogy of the Priests, were put as polluted persons from the Priesthood (Neh. 7.64, 65. and 13 29, 30. Ezra 2.62.) ⟨p. 176⟩

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

CHAP. V. Ordination by such as the English Prelates, not Necessary to the Being of the Ministry.