A69533:889

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 9: The sinfulness of despising or neglecting Ordination.Assert. Those who nullifie our present Ministry and Churches, which… › Chapter 9: The sinfulness of despising or neglecting 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:886–901 of 1,637

:886p. 258–259

Sect. 13. Reas. 2. If there be not a standing regular way for Trying a•d Approving such as enter into the Ministry, then men will be left to be their own judges, and if they can but get the ⟨p. 259⟩consent of any Congregation, will presently be Pastors. But this course would tend to the ruin or confusion of the Church, as I shall manifest by evidence.

Sect. 13. Reas. 2. If there be not a standing regular way for Trying a•d Approving such as enter into the Ministry, then men will be left to be their own judges, and if they can but get the ⟨p. 259⟩consent of any Congregation, will presenty be Pastors. But this course would tend to the ruine or confusion of the Church, as I shall manifest by evidence.

:887p. 259

Sect. 14. 1. If all men may enter into the Ministry that will, upon their own persuasion that they are fit, the most proud, self-conceited, worthless men will be the readiest to go, and if they can get hearers, will most abound in the Church; and the people will quickly have heaps of Teachers. For we all know that many of the Ignorant are least acquainted with their ignorance: and commonly the Proud have the highest thoughts of themselves, and think none so fit to Teach and Rule as they. And what could be more to the shame and hazard of the Church, then to have it taught and guided by such ignorant unworthy men?

Sect. 14. 1. If all men may enter into the Ministry that will, upon their own perswasion that they are fit, the most proud, self-conceited, worthless men will be the readiest to go, and if they can get hearers, will most abound in the Church; and the people will quickly have heaps of Teachers. For we all know that many of the Ignorant are least acquainted with their ignorance: and commonly the Proud have the highest thoughts of themselves, and think none so fit to Teach and Rule as they. And what could be more to the shame and hazzard of the Church, then to have it taught and guided by such ignorant unworthy men?

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