A69533:922

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:919–934 of 1,637

:919p. 267

Sect 46. And 5. The Church of Christ is a Chain of many links: a Society united in Christ the Head, consisting as a Republic of many Corporations, or as an Academy of many Colleges: and a greater Union and Communion is requisite among them, then among the parts of any other Society in the world. And therefore seeing it is the duty of Neighbour Pastors and Churches, according to their Capacity to hold Communion with that particular Church and its Pastors, it seems reasonable, that they have some antecedent Cognisance and Approbation of the persons that they are to hold Communion with.

Sect 46. And 5. The Church of Christ is a Chain of many links: a Society united in Christ the Head, consisting as a Republike of many Corporations, or as an Ac•demy of many Colledges: and a greater Union and Communion is requisite among them, then among the parts of any other Society in the world. And therefore seeing it is the duty of Neighbour Pastors and Churches, according to their Capacity to hold Communion with that particular Church and its Pastors, it seems reasonable, that they have some antecedent Cognisance and Approbation of the persons that they are to hold Communion with.

:920p. 267–268

Sect. 47. And 6. It is considerable also, that whoever is according to Christs institution Ordained a Minister of a particular Church, is withal (if not before) Ordained a Minister simply; that is, one that may as a separated Messenger of Christ, both preach for the Conversion of those without, and gather Churches where there are none, and pro tempore do the Office ⟨p. 268⟩of a Minister, to any part of the Catholic Church, where he cometh and hath a Call. And therefore as he is simply a Minister, and the Unconverted world, or the Universal Church are the Objects of his Ministry, the Pastors or Members of that particular Church where he is settled, have no more to do in Ordaining him then any other. As a Corporation may choose their own Physician▪ Schoolmaster, &c. but cannot do any more then other men, in Licensing a man to be in general a Physician, Schoolmaster, &c. So may a Church choose who shall be their Teacher, but not who shall be simply a Teacher or Minister of Christ, any more then an other Church may do, that's further from him.

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