A76157:192
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the sovereign powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and welfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the soveraigne powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and wellfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons book-seller, 1658
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.
Prop. 9. It is most evident that Ministers, People, and Magistrates, have each a Power of Judging; but different, as they have different works.
2. When the Question is, To whom the Sacraments, and other Ordinances, and Church-Relations, and Privileges are to be Ministerially delivered as from Christ, and to whom not? Here the Ministers of Christ are the Judges. And so are they, when the Question is, Whom must we teach, direct, and persuade, and in Christs Name command the people to avoid, or to hold Communion ⟨p. 81⟩with? For those two are our own work in the Execution. And if either Magistrate, people, or any other must be Judge, where Ministers must Execute and work; Then 1. We have not that common Judicium Discretionis to guide our own actions, which is allowed, and Necessary to every Christian. 2. Then the Rulers of the Church, are not only degraded, and made no Rulers, but are put into that slavery, and subjection to them, that are commanded to obey them, which no Pastor must desire the People, or any one of them to be in. For we must not deny them a Judgment of Discretion, about their own actions. 3. And by this course, Ministers that are the Eyes of the Body, must not only be guided by other parts, but they must execute against their own Knowledge, and Conscience, when other men miss-judge. 4. And if so, either God commandeth us to sin, when ever people, or Magistrates bid us, (which none dare say) or else it is no sin, when it doth but get their Vote: and so we may warrantably do what the Magistrate bids us, (as Hobbs thinks) or what the people bids us, (as others as unreasonably think) As if it would be a sufficient excuse for me, to say, Lord I did what the Magistrate, or the Major Vote of the people