Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5151 .B3 1659

C r9 ) the fame duty, and both by Authority, yet poffibly not both by equal Authority, but an Apoflle Majore authoritate, and fo may lay a fironger obligationonmen to the fame duty ; but the refl I determine not, but leave to enquiry. Prop. 20. In making. Laws or Canons to bind the Church which are now laid down in Scripture, the Apoflles acted as Apoflles, that is, as men extraordinarily Commiffioned, illu- urinated and enabled infallibly to deliver Gods will to the world. And therefore herein they have noSucceffors. In Conclufion therefore feeing that mattersof meer Order and Decency depending on Circum[lances fometime rationally muta- ble, fometime yearly, daily, hourly mutable, are not to be deter- mined :lniverjally alike to all the Church,nor toall a Nation,nor by thofe that are at toogreat a diflance,but by the prefent Pallor, who is tomanage the work, and ,being intrufled therewith, is the fittefl Judgeof fuch variable Circumflances : and feeing for handing Ordinances that equally belong to all ages and places, Godsword is perfe& and fufficient without the Bithops Ca- nons ; and teeing that Scripture is a perfe& Law of God, and Rule of Chriflian faith and feeing that in the expounding of the Scripture, they that bring the heft Evidence will beget the moll Knowledge, and they that produce the cleareft Divine Teftimony , will beget moll effe&uaily a Divine belief , and thofe that are known to be of far greatefl abilities in learning, experience andgrace, and content with the moll of theChurch, will procure moreeffectually an humane belief, then a weak un- learned unexperiencedPastor of our own therefore the Jurif- di&ion of fupereminent Bithops, Metropolitans, Primates and Patriarchs, will appear to be reduced into fonarrow a room,and written in fo fmall a character , that he bath need of very quick fight that can read it, and humble men may be eafily drawn to think, that the Unity, Happinefs, and Safety of the Church lyethnot in it, and that if it had been only for Chrift and not their. own Greatnefs, there had not been fuch Con -. tension and Divifion made about it in the Church , as there bath been. , E.: 3,

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=