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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A27034 A second sheet for the ministry iustifying our calling against Quakers, seekers, and papists and all that deny us to be the ministers of Christ by Richard Baxter. Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. 1657 (1657) Wing B1404; ESTC R17263 18,288 16

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bent against the Ministers Argument 6. If besides all this God own us by such a blessing on our labours that he maketh us the means of propogating and continuing his Gospel and Church and brings most of his chosen to Vnion with Christ Reconciliation Holiness and to Heaven by our Ministry then certainly we are his true Ministers But experience assureth us of the former therefore so much for Argument Proposition 9. If a Minister be in quiet possession of the place and fit for it the people are bound to obey him as a Minister wi●hout knowing that he was justly ordained or called Argum. 1. We must obey a Magistrate without assurance of his call and title Rom. 13. therefore a Minister 2. Christ commanded hearing and obeying them that were not called as God appointed because they were Priests or sat in Moses Chair and taught the truth Luke 16.29 Matth. 23.2 Luke 5.14 Matth. 8.4 Mark 1.44 3. Else the people are put upon Impossibilities Can all the poor people tell before they submit to Minister what is essential to his call and whether he have all that is so and whether his Orders be true or forged and whether they that ordained him were truly ordained or chosen themselves Not one of twenty thousand knows all this by their Pastors Proposition 10. The Ordinances are valid to the people when the Minister is uncalled and unordained if they know it not He that hath no just call shall answer for what he doth as an Intruder but the people shall have for all that the fruit of his ministration and Preaching and Baptism and other acts shall not be Null to them 1. The Papists themselves confess this 2. Else scarce a man could tell whether he be baptized or may use any Ordinance because he cannot have an exact account of the Ministers call no nor know that he is indeed a Christian I knew divers in the Bishops daies that forged themselves Orders and acted long before it was discovered 3. It is the Office which is Gods Ordinance that is blest and valid to the people and not his call only 4. It is he that sinneth that must suffer and not the Innocent therefore his sin depriveth them not of their due 5. As an usurping Magistrate oweth us protection though he shall answer for his usurpation so an usurping Minister oweth us his labour so that the people are bound to hear and obey men when they are uncertain of their due call if they possess the place and shall have the blessing of such Administrations For we are sure the Office and work is of God Proposition 11. The truth of our doctrine depends not on our calling Were we no Ministers we can prove the Gospel true which we deliver And any man must be believed that brings a truth that concerneth our peace Therefore let Quakers and Seekers and Papists first disprove our Doctrine if they can and not cheat the people by perswading them that our calling must first be proved as a Prophets must be Object But you have your learning only from Books and Vniversities and so have not true Ministers Answ We have it from God in the Use of his means even by Prayer Reading study learning his works word of our Teachers whether at Universities or elswhere And we are commanded to study and meditate on these things and give our selves wholly to them and to meditate on Gods Law day and night Psal. 1.2 2 Tim 2.15 1 Tim. 4.13 15. Christs Ministers must be Teachers or Tutors to others and commit the things which they have heard to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also 2 Tim. 2.2 Good Ministers of Christ are nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine and so attain to it 1 Tim. 4.6 All should learn according to their time of teaching Heb. 5.11 12 14. We study nothing but the Word and works of God and is not that a wretch and not a man that will reproach us as no Ministers for doing that which we have our Reason for and which must be the work of our lives Poor Christians as you love God and your souls and would not cast off Christ and Heaven let not Deceivers draw you to cast off the Ministry Scripture or the Ordinances of God Octob. 23. 1657. FINIS