Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A26980
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One sheet for the ministry against the malignants of all sorts by Richard Baxter.
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Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
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1657
(1657)
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Wing B1335; ESTC R13471
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14,605
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17
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One Sheet for the MINISTRY Against the MALIGNANTS Of all sorts By Richard Baxter LONDON Printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons Book-seller in Kederminster Anno Dom. 1657. One Sheet for the Ministry Against the Malignants of all sorts AS mans first felicity was attended with the malice of the Serpent so is the wonderful work of his Restauration The promise of Reconciliation by the seed of the woman is joyned with a proclamation of open war with the Serpent and his seed The enmity was hottest in the Devil and his seed against Christ himself who bare and overcame it and is become the Captain of our salvation that his Church may overcome by his Cross and Strength and Conduct The next degree of malice is against his Officers the most eminent the General Officers had the hottest assault and his ordinary Officers bear the next That we shall be hated of all men for the Name of Christ Mat. 10. 22. is still verified to our experience Not only the openly prophane abâ—oâ—â—â— for our work-sake but fals-hearted professors that turn from the truth do presently turn Malignants against the Ministry and many weak ones that are better minded are dangerously seduced into a guilt of the sedition To all these I here proclaim in the name and word of the Lord Numb. 16. 26. Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their sins Which I shall now open to you 1. The office of the Ministry is an undoubted Ordinance of God to continue in the Church to the end of the world No man can pretend that they ceased with the Apostles for it is Gods will that ordinary fixed Presbyters shall be ordained in every Church Acts 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 1. 2 Tim. 2. 2. And Pastors and Teachers are appointed for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to a perfect man Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. A Ministry authorized to Disciple the Nations baptize and teach them is instituted by Christ as King and Saviour and have his Promise to be with them alway to the end of the world Matth. 28. 18 19 20. The same necessity and work continueth still souls are born and bred in darkness and how shall they be saved without believing or believe without hearing or hear without preaching or we preach without sending Rom. 10. 13 14 15. There is a clearer word in the Gospel for the Ministry then the Magistracy though enough for both Our own call I shall speak of anon 2. These Malignants set themselves against the Principal members of the Body of Christ that are in it as the eyes and hands to the natural body 1. Cor. 12. 16 19 27 29. Ephes. 4. 11 15. The Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1. The Over seers of the flock that is purchased with Christs blood Acts 20. 28. They are the chief members 1. in Office 2. Ordinarily in gifts for edification of the body 3. And in Grace Now a wound in the stomack or liver is more mortal to the body then in the hand and the loss of an eye or hand is worse then the loss of an ear 3. These Malignants are therefore principally enemies to the Church it self They take on them to be only against the Ministers but it will prove most against the people and whole Church If they sinite the Shepherds the sheep will be scattered How can they more surely ruin Christs Family then by casting out the Stewards that must Rule and give the children their meat in due season even milk to the babes and stronger meat to them of full age Heb. 5. 12 13 14. Luke 12. 42. Mat. 24. 45. What readier way to ruine the Schools of Christ then by casting out the Teachers that he hath appointed under him Or to ruine his Kingdom then to reject his Officers Or to wrong the body then to cut off the hands and pull out the eyes or to destroy the principal parts Was it not Ministers that planted the Churches and converted the world and have ever born off the assaults of enemies where was there ever Church on earth that continued without a Minister The great Kingdom of Nubia fell from Christianity for want of Preachers The Nations that have the weakest and fewest Ministers have the least of Christianity and those that have the most and ablest Ministers have the most flourishing state of Religion All over the world the Church doth rise or fall with the Ministry Cut down the Pillars and the building falls He is blind that sees not what would become of the Church were it not for the Ministry Who should teach the ignorant or rebuke the obstinate explain the word of truth and stop the mouthes of proud gain-sayers What work would heresies and division and prophanness make if these banks were cut down when all that can be done is still too little It must needs therefore be meet enmity against the Church that makes men malignant against the Ministry 4. The design of the maligners of the Ministry is plainly against the Gospel and Christianity it self They take the readiest way in the world to bring in Heathenism Infidelity and Atheism which Christianity hath so far banished For it is the Ministry that Christ useth to bring in light and drive and keep out this damnable darkness Acts 26. 17 18. I send thee to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light c. Why are so many Nations Infidels Mahometans and Idolaters but for want of Ministers to preach the Gospel to them These Malignants therefore would take down the Sun and banish Christianity out of the world 5. And they hinder the conversion of particular souls and so are the cruellest wretches on earth Though an Angel must be sent to Cornelius it is not to be instead of a Preacher but to send him to a Preacher Acts 10. Though Christ would wonderfully appear to Saul it is to send him to Ananias for instruction Acts 9. Though the Jaylor must feel an Earth-quake and see miracles it is but to prepare him for the Ministers words Acts 16. Philip must be carried by an Angel to expound to an Eunuch the word that must convert him The Ministry is Gods instituted setled way by which he will convert and save the world as truly as the light is the natural way by which he will corporally enlighten them Acts 2. 18. 1 Tim. 4. 16. Matth. 5. 14. Rom 10. 14. Do you think so many souls would be converted if the Ministry were down Do you not see that the very contempt of them that the scorns of the ungodly and opposition of Malignant Apostates have occasioned doth hinder most of the ignorant and prophane from receiving the saving benefit of the Gospel How many millions of souls would these wretches sweep away to hell if
but our selves Answ Who doth not desire that all the Lords people were Prophets But yet we know all are not Prophets 1 Cor. 12. 29. nor Teachers We would have none of Gods gifts in our people huried but all improved to the uttermost for his glory But we would not have men turn Ordinary Teachers that are neither sound nor able nor sent nor every self-conceited ignorant man have leave to abuse the Name and Word of God and the souâ—s of men What would you have more then is granted you When any unordained man that is judged competent by the Commissioners of Approbation of whom some are Souldiers may be a constant Preacher and have fullest maintenance as well as Presbyters 6. Another charge is that we are some weak and some scandalous Answ We do all that we are able to cast out such and I think never more was done The Magistrate sets his guard at the door and lets in none but whom he please and sure if he knew where to have better then those that are in he would put them in or else he is too blame If he do not know will you blame him for using the best that he can get But if you will come and help us to cast out any that are vitious and unworthy we will give you thanks 7. Another accusation is that we differ among our selves and one saith one thing and another another thing Answ 1. And are all these sects that oppose us better agreed among themselves Enquire and judge 2. Do not all preach one Gospel and the same Essentials of the Christian Faith And we expect not perfect unity till we have perfect Knowledge and Holiness which we dare not boast of what ever Quakers do 8. Another accusation is that we are not true Ministers And why so Because we have not an uninterrupted succession of lawful Ordination Answ. This Objection is the Papists who have little reason to use it while it is so easie a matter to prove so many interruptions of their Papal succession At large and often have we answered them and are still ready to deal with any of them herein and to prove 1. That an uninterrupted succession of right Ordination is not of necessity to the being of the Ministry 2. And if it were we have more to shew for it then they If others stick on this let me tell them that Magistracy is as truly from God as the Ministry And let ever a King on earth shew me an uninterrupted succession giving him title to his Crown and I will shew him a more undoubted succession or title to my Ministry But here 's no room to discuss this Question 9. Object But you are Parish Priests and no true Ministers because you have not true Churches Answ All the Christians in our Parishes that consent are our flock And we undertake to prove the truth of such Churches not only against scorn but against all the Arguments that can be brought 10. Object But you have not the Spirit and therefore are no true Ministers Answ And how prove you that we have not the Spirit The approvers admit none but such as they think have the Spirit He that is sanctified hath the Spirit Prove us unsanctified and we will resign our Office Object You read your Sermons out of a Paper therefore you have not the Spirit Answ A strong Argument I pray you take seven years time to prove the consequence As wisely do the Quakers argue that because we use spectacles or hour-glasses and Pulpits we have not the Spirit It is not want of your abilities that makes Ministers use Notes but it 's a regard to the work and good of the hearers I use notes as much as any man when I take pains and as little as any man when I am lazy or busie and have not leisure to prepare It 's easier to us to preach three Sermons without Notes then one with them He is a simple preacher that is not able to preach all day without preparation if his strength would serve especially if he preach at your rates 11. Object But the true Ministry is persecuted but so are not you but are persecutors of others Answ 1. For our pesecuring others be so merciful as to prove it to us that we may lament it If punishing wicked men and seducers be persecuting not only Paul was such that wished they were cut off that troubled the Galatians but God himself would be the greatest of all persecutors that will lay you in hell without repentance and then you will wish your old persecution again And if we be not persecuted What means the reproaches of you and all the Drunkards and Malignants about us But I pray you envy us not our lives and liberties and a little breathing time Do you not read that The Churches had rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied Act. 9. 31. Envy not a little prosperity to the Church Doth not Paul pray that the Gospel may run and be glorified and that we may be delivered from unreasonable wicked men 2 Thes. 3. 1. Sometimes you can say that more glorious dayes are promised and that the Saints shall Rule the world Unmerciful men It is but a while ago since we had our share of sufferings Since that the sword hath hunted after us Many of our Brethren are yet in America that were driven thither at this time in Spain and Italy and Germany and Savoy Alas what do our Brethren suffer in the same cause and calling that we are in And do you reproach us with our mercies if we be out of the Furnace but a little while in one corner of the world Object 12. You work no miracles to confirm your Doctrine Answ It is true nor do we need It is confirmed by miracles long ago If we brought a new Gospel or as the Papists gave you not our Doctrine on the credit of Scripture but Scripture and all on our own credit then you might justly call for miracles to prove it But not when we have nothing to do but expound and apply a Doctrine sealed by miracles already Again I say Let any Prince on earth that questions our calling shâ—w his Title to his Crown or any Judge or Magistrate to his Office and if I shew not as good a Title to mine let me be taken for a deceiver and not a Minister Christian Reader as ever thou wouldest be sanctified confirmed and saved hold fast to Christ Scripture Ministry and Spirit and that in the Church and Communion of Saints and abhor the thoughts of separating them from each other August 15. 1657. FINIS