A26912:612
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and concord of Christians and are delivered in a book called The cure of church-divisions ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
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.
To this do but add what Bishop Bilson of subjection largely showeth, and other Bishops as well as he, that Metropolitans and Patriarchs are not of Divine but humane institution, ad accidental to the Divine constitution of Churches; And also what Ignatius saith, of the Unity of Churches, and description of a Bishop, that [To every Church there was one Altar, and one Bishop with the Presbyters and Deacons,] and so every communicating body, or Congregation that had an Altar, had a Bishop, (as Mr. M•de on this of Ignatius showeth;) and then you will see how far Independency is owned by others as well as by me.
To this do but adde what Bishop Bilson of subjection largely sheweth, and other Bishops as well as he, that Metropolitanes and Patriarks are not of Divine but humane institution, ad accidental to the Divine constitution of Churches; And also what Ignatius saith, of the Unity of Churches, and description of a Bishop, that [To every Church there was one Altar, and one Bishop with the Presbyters and Deacons,] and so every communicating body, or Congregation that had an Altar, had a Bishop, (as Mr. M•de on this of Ignatius sheweth;) and then you will see how far Independency is owned by others as well as by me.
And for further silencing the calumny, ⟨p. 154⟩let it be noted, that the Churches in New-England are commonly called, Independent, or Congregational, and yet they are against Separation, and do find by experience that Separation is as perilous a thing to Independent free Churches, as it is to Diocesan Churches, and somewhat more, Because they use not outward force to preserve their Unity, and because one single Congregation is sooner dissolved by division than such a thing as a Diocesan Church is. And therefore no men should be more willing to suppress Dividing Principles and Passions than the Independents, both because they are most charged with them, and with all our Sects and Confusio••, and because they are not the least in danger of them.