Mr. Richard Baxter's last legacy in select admonitions and directions to all sober dissenters

Mr. Baxter dislikes our Species of Diocesan Bishops, because of their Chancellors, which is very groundless for the power of Legislation, the Foundation and Form of Government, which being wholly in the Bishops and Clergy, who in Convocation have the sole Power of making Canons for the Government of the Church; and there being no Censure to be inflicted but according to those Canons, the Lay-Chancellor are but inferior Officers, entrusted by their Bishops with some part of the Executive Power; the Bishops themselves, as well as their Chancellors, having the Canons to direct and overrule them in the Execution; and if there be any extra-judicial Process, there lye Appeals from them both. Moreover, the Chancellors being bred up to the Study and Practice of the Canon and Civil Laws, are most fit for Executing the Canons, being acquainted with the Nature of Evidences, Probations, and judicial Process, which mere Presbyters cannot be presused ⟨p. 49⟩to understand so well; and this Office of Chancellors being allowed by the Laws of the Land, they may be submitted to as they are the King's Officers, by Mr. Baxter's own Concessions. This may satisfy the impartial Reader against those bitter Invectives of Mr. Baxter, against the Species of Diocesan Bishops, as being Anti-Christian, and the Military Instruments of the Devil.

Mr. Baxter dislikes our Species of Diocesan Bishops, because of their Chancellors, which is very groundless for the power of Legislation, the Foundation and Form of Government, which being wholly in the Bishops and Clergy, who in Convocation have the sole Power of making Canons for the Government of the Church; and there being no Censure to be inflicted but according to those Canons, the Lay-Chancellor are but inferior Officers, intrusted by their Bishops with some part of the Executive Power; the Bishops themselves, as well as their Chancellors, having the Canons to direct and overrule them in the Execution; and if there be any extra-judicial Process, there lye Appeals from them both. Moreover, the Chancellors being bred up to the Study and Practice of the Canon and Civil Laws, are most fit for Executing the Canons, being acquainted with the Nature of Evidences, Probations, and judicial Process, which meer Presbyters cannot be presused ⟨p. 49⟩to understand so well; and this Office of Chancellors being allowed by the Laws of the Land, they may be submitted to as they are the King's Officers, by Mr. Baxter's own Concessions. This may satisfie the impartial Reader against those bitter Invectives of Mr. Baxter, against the Species of Diocesan Bishops, as being Anti-Christian, and the Military Instruments of the Devil.