A76157:440
A76157:440
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.
Object. 13. But by this means you will unchristen the people, and then they will be exasperated, and turn Heathens, or hearken to any seducers that will mislead them
Answ. 1. No: we will unchristen no man: but do that honour to Christianity, and that right to the Church and the Souls of men, as to make a difference between Christians and Infidels, and that somewhat wider then the bare Names. He that is a Christian shall be more encouraged by this course, and he that is not, cannot be unchristened by us. If men will not unchristen ⟨p. 255⟩themselves, they need not fear lest the just trying and approving of their Christianity should unchristen them. 2. How little honour it is to Christ and the Church, to have the number made up, by such as we would disallow; I have showed you before, and also what a mischief that is to themselves, which some would give them as a benefit. 3. If Magistrates and Ministers do their duty, (yea or but Ministers alone) they will better be kept from Heathenism, or other evils in the state of Expectants and Catechumens, then in the state of Church-members, where Discipline will make them mad.
Answ. 1. No: we will unchristen no man: but do that honour to Christianity, and that right to the Church and the Soules of men, as to make a difference between Christians and Infidels, and that somewhat wider then the bare Names. He that is a Christian shall be more encouraged by this course, and he that is not, cannot be unchristened by us. If men will not unchristen ⟨p. 255⟩themselves, they need not fear lest the just trying and approving of their Christianity should unchristen them. 2. How little honour it is to Christ and the Church, to have the number made up, by such as we would disallow; I have shewed you before, and also what a mischief that is to themselves, which some would give them as a benefit. 3. If Magistrates and Ministers do their duty, (yea or but Ministers alone) they will better be kept from Heathenism, or other evils in the state of Expectants and Catechumens, then in the state of Church-members, where Discipline will make them mad.
Object. 14. But at least your design looks as if you would keep the Children of all such unchristened; and what work would that make?
Object. 14. But at least your designe lookes as if you would keep the Children of all such unchristened; and what work would that make?
Answ. I meddle not with that Question, but leave every man to his own Judgment. And if I did my self keep off such children, I think it would prove but very few. For 1. I would refuse none of the Parents that had aliquid Christi, that made but a Credible Profession of Christianity. 2. I am persuaded that this Practise would bring almost all the people to a tolerable Profession, when they know it is expected, and what lieth on it. 3. Upon experience now I find, that ⟨p. 256⟩both the Parents are seldom so bad as to be uncapable of offering their child to God, (in the Judgment of the Church) Nay commonly here the more one of the persons is in scandalous sin, the more the other hates it: And they are seldom both grossly ignorant. And those that were delayed on these terms, would receive no wrong by it. Gods way is the best. The Children of unbelievers must not be inchurched in ways of our devising, nor respected before the honour of Christ, and the common good of the Church of God. But of this I say again, I interpose not my Judgment, but leave each man to his own.
Answ. I medle not with that Question, but leave every man to his own Judgment. And if I did my self keep off such children, I think it would prove but very few. For 1. I would refuse none of the Parents that had aliquid Christi, that made but a Credible Profession of Christianity. 2. I am perswaded that this Practise would bring almost all the people to a tollerable Profession, when they know it is expected, and what lieth on it. 3. Upon experience now I find, that ⟨p. 256⟩both the Parents are seldom so bad as to be uncapable of offering their child to God, (in the Judgment of the Church) Nay commonly here the more one of the persons is in scandalous sinne, the more the other hates it: And they are seldom both grosly ignorant. And those that were delayed on these terms, would receive no wrong by it. Gods way is the best. The Children of unbelievers must not be inchurched in waies of our devising, nor respected before the honour of Christ, and the common good of the Church of God. But of this I say againe, I interpose not my Judgment, but leave each man to his own.
Object. 15. But though Confirmation be a duty, yet none but Bishops have power to do it: and therefore it is not a lawful thing for Presbyters to attempt it.
Object. 15. But though Confirmation be a duty, yet none but Bishops have power to do it: and therefore it is not a lawfull thing for Presbyters to attempt it.
Answ. 11. What mean you by Bishops? It is a word that hath, by mens application, got so many significations, that we may well expect that you give us the Definition of a Bishop, before you make him the matter of your Dispute. And yet I have read so many Books that Dispute for Episcopy, and so few that tells us what they ⟨p. 257⟩mean by it; that I must needs say, that most of them lose their labour, with such as I. If by a Bishop you mean, such as our English Bishops were, or any fixed Pastor of many particular Churches, I deny that such were ever Instituted by Christ, much less have they the sole Power of such administrations.
Answ. 11. What mean you by Bishops? It is a word that hath, by mens application, got so many significations, that we may well expect that you give us the Definition of a Bishop, before you make him the matter of your Dispute. And yet I have read so many Bookes that Dispute for Episcopy, and so few that tels us what they ⟨p. 257⟩mean by it; that I must needs say, that most of them lose their labour, with such as I. If by a Bishop you mean, such as our English Bishops were, or any fixed Pastour of many particular Churches, I deny that such were ever Instituted by Christ, much less have they the sole Power of such administrations.
2. Do you mean that it is by Gods Law, or the Laws of men, that Diocesan Bishops only may Confirm?1 If by Gods Laws, prove it, and we shall quickly yield. But that it's very unlikely you should do. If you say that only the Apostles had this Power, I Answer, 1. That then fixed Diocesan Bishops had none of it: For the Apostles were none such. 2. Then Timothy, Titus, •paphroditus, &c. when they pretend to have been Bishops, had it not. 3. Ananias was no Apostle, that laid hands on Paul, that he might receive the Holy Ghost: of this more anon. But if you say, that this Power is ⟨p. 258⟩given to the Bishops merely by the Laws of men; then either by the Laws of Magistrates, or of Bishops. For the former, we know of none in force with us, to that purpose; and if they were, it is a work without their line, which Christ hath done before them, and not left to them, to describe the Offices of his Church. And for Bishops Canons, we know no Power that any Bishops ever had, to make standing Laws for the Universal Church; nor of any such Laws that are obligatory to us: And the Opponents themselves do violate the Canons of General Councils without scruple (as the 20th of 1. Con. Nic. and abundance more) and how can they oblige us more then them?
2. Do you meane that it is by Gods Law, or the Laws of men, that Diocesan Bishops only may Confirm?1 If by Gods Laws, prove it, and we shall quickly yield. But that it's very unlikely you should do. If you say that only the Apostles had this Power, I Answer, 1. That then fixed Diocesan Bishops had none of it: For the Apostles were none such. 2. Then Timothy, Titus, •paphroditus, &c. when they pretend to have been Bishops, had it not. 3. Ananias was no Apostle, that laid hands on Paul, that he might receive the Holy Ghost: of this more anon. But if you say, that this Power is ⟨p. 258⟩given to the Bishops meerly by the Laws of men; then either by the Laws of Magistrates, or of Bishops. For the former, we know of none in force with us, to that purpose; and if they were, it is a work without their line, which Christ hath done before them, and not left to them, to describe the Offices of his Church. And for Bishops Canons, we know no Power that any Bishops ever had, to make standing Laws for the Universal Church; nor of any such Laws that are obligatory to us: And the Opponents themselves do violate the Canons of General Councils without scruple (as the 20th of 1. Con. Nic. and abundance more) and how can they oblige us more then them?
3. Presbyters have the Keys of the Kingdom: Therefore they may take in, and Confirm thereby.
3. Presbyters have the Keys of the Kingdom: Therefore they may takein, and Confirm thereby.
4. Presbyters may by Baptism take in members into the Universal Church, and judge of their fitness in order thereto: therefore much more may they Confirm them, and judge of their fitness in order thereto.
4. Presbyters may by Baptism take in members into the Ʋniversal Church, and judge of their fitness in order thereto: therefore much more may they Confirm them, and judge of their fitness in order thereto.
5. Its granted, that Presbyters may Absolve, (which was ordinarily by Imposition of hands) yea, saith Bishop Usher, the Deacons were sometime allowed it: therefore Presbyters may Confirm: Or if you ⟨p. 259⟩yielded but Absolution, you would yield much of what we contend for, seeing so many violate their Baptismal Covenant, that Absolution for Restoring of them will be as necessary as Confirmation.
5. Its granted, that Presbyters may Absolve, (which was ordinarily by Imposition of hands) yea, saith Bishop Ʋsher, the Deacons were sometime allowed it: therefore Presbyters may Confirm: Or if you ⟨p. 259⟩yielded but Absolution, you would yield much of what we contend for, seeing so many violate their Baptismal Covenant, that Absolution for Restoring of them will be as necessary as Confirmation.
6. Hierome, that makes Presbyters and Bishops by Gods Law to be the same, doth yet according to the custom of the Church say, that What doth the Bishop except Ordination, which the Presbyter doth not: therefore he supposed that Presbyters might Confirm.
7. The same Hierome expressly saith, that Imposition of hands was reserved to the Bishop, for the honour of Priesthood, rather then by Divine Ordination: *Therefore it is but a humane institution.
7. The same Hierome expresly saith, thatImposition of hands was reserved to the Bishop, for the honour of Priesthood, rather then by Divine Ordinatlon: *Therefore it is but a humane institution.
8. The Episcopal Divines, and other Writers of their side, do commonly maintain the validity of Presbyters Ordination, viz. that in case of Necessity it is lawful, and where there is no flat Necessity, it is not a nullity ⟨p. 260⟩where it is irregular.1 I cited (Christian Concord, pag. 53, 54, &c.) many Bishops and their defenders,2 that thus justify the Protestant Churches, that have no Bishops; as Dr. Field, Bishop D•wname, Bishop Jewel, Saravia, Bishop Alley, Bishop Pilkington, Bishop Bridges, Bishop Bilson, Grotius, Lord Digby, Mr. Chisenhal, Bishop Davenant, Bishop Prideaux, Nowel, Bishop Andrews, Mr. Chillingworth; to whom I add (to make up twenty) 17. Bishop Bramhal, of Schism. 18. And Dr. Steward. in his Answer to Fountains Letter. 19. Dr. Ferne, 20. And Bishop Usher, in his Judgment lately published. Abundance more might easily be added: but Mr. Mason's Book in vindication ⟨p. 261⟩of the Ordination of the foreign Reformed Churches, may serve instead of more.
8. The Episcopal Divines, and other Writers of their side, do commonly maintaine the validity of Presbyters Ordination, viz. that in case of Necessity it is lawfull, and where there is no flat Necessity, it is not a nullity ⟨p. 260⟩where it is irregular.1 I cited (Christian Concord, pag. 53, 54, &c.) many Bishops and their defenders,2 that thus justifie the Protestant Churches, that have no Bishops; as Dr. Field, Bishop D•wname, Bishop Jewel, Saravia, Bishop Alley, Bishop Pilkington, Bishop Bridges, Bishop Bilson, Grotius, Lord Digby, Mr. Chisenhal, Bishop Davenant, Bishop Prideaux, Nowel, Bishop Andrews, Mr. Chillingworth; to whom I adde (to make up twenty) 17. Bishop Bramhal, of Schism. 18. And Dr. Steward. in his Answer to Fountaines Letter. 19. Dr. Ferne, 20. And Bishop Ʋsher, in his Judgment lately published. Abundance more might easily be added: but Mr. Mason's Book in vindicacation
9 We have no Bishop to do it: and therefore it must be done by Presbyters: Or we have none that we know of, and non esse, & non apparere; are to us all one.
10. Presbyters may Impose hands in Ordination, and ever did here in England: Therefore much more in Absolution and Confirmation.
11. King Charles, by the advice of his Doctors in the Isle of Wight, reserved only Ordination, and not Confirmation and Absolution to the Bishops.
11. King Charles, by the advice of his Doctours in the Isle of Wight, reserved only Ordination, and not Confirmation and Absolution to the Bishops.