A69533:945
Five disputations of church-government and worship
Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
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.
§. 4. That the world and Church should still have such a General Itinerant unfixed Ministry, as that was of the Apostles, Evangelists and others, having there already proved, I have nothing to do more but to show the use of it, and to answer the objections that some very learned Reverend Divines have used against it.
§. 4. That the world and Church should still have such a General Itinerant unfixed Ministry, as that was of the Apostles, Evangelists and others, having there already proved, I have nothing to do more but to shew the use of it, and to answer the objections that some very learned Reverend Divines have used against it.
§. 5. The principal use of a general Ministry, is for the converting of the unconverted world, and Baptizing them when converted, and Congregating their Converts into Church order, and settling them under a fixed Government. And the next use of them is, to have a Care, according to the extent of their capacity and opportunities, of the Churches which they have thus Congregated and settled, and which are settled by other Ministers.
§. 5. The principal use of a general Ministry, is for the converting of the unconverted world, and Baptizing them when converted, and Congregating their Converts into Church order, and setling them under a fixed Government. And the next use of them is, to have a Care, according to the extent of their capacity and opporunities, of the Churches which they have thus Congregated and setled, and which are setled by other Ministers.
§. 6. Let it be remembered that we are not now disputing of the Name, but of the Thing: It is not whether such an Officer of Christ be to be called an Apostle or an Evangelist, or a Prophet, or a Bishop, or a Presbyter: But whether unfixed general Ministers, to gather Churches and settle them, and take the care of many, without a special Pastoral charge of any one above the rest, were appointed by Christ for continuance in his Church: This is it that I affirm, and have already proved.