A26965:770
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…
The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacify such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things in which they are misunderstood written to reconcile and pacifie such as by mistaking them hinder love and concord / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benj. Alsop, 1679
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.
§ 22. II. It is certain that Christ chose twelve Apostles (besides Paul) who had a preeminence before other Ministers; and that he joined with them some Prophets and Evangelists, appointing them all to gather Churches through the world, ⟨p. 259⟩discipling and baptizing Nations, and teaching them all things that he commanded (a work to be still done, and to which he promised his presence to the end of the world:) And that these having gathered Converts, set over them fixed Bishops (or Pastors or Elders) to be their constant Guides, in Teaching, Public Worship, and Discipline, under Christ the great Prophet, Priest and King of the Church. And that to the Apostles first, and by them to others, he gave them the Keys (that is, the Judging Power of reception, and rejection, and the Official Power of pronouncing God's reception or rejection of them according to his Word.)
§ 22. II. It is certain that Christ chose twelve Apostles (besides Paul) who had a preeminence before other Ministers; and that he joyned with them some Prophets and Evangelists, appointing them all to gather Churches through the world, ⟨p. 259⟩discipling and baptizing Nations, and teaching them all things that he commanded (a work to be still done, and to which he promised his presence to the end of the world:) And that these having gathered Converts, set over them fixed Bishops (or Pastors or Elders) to be their constant Guides, in Teaching, Publick Worship, and Discipline, under Christ the great Prophet, Priest and King of the Church. And that to the Apostles first, and by them to others, he gave them the Keys (that is, the Judging Power of reception, and rejection, and the Official Power of pronouncing God's reception or rejection of them according to his Word.)
§ 23. There is not the least evidence that these Apostles did affix a Superior Power over the other Churches to any particular seats, Patriarchal or Metropolitan, much less National; or that any of them exercised Government over the rest; or that they themselves did fix themselves as Bishops to any twelve or thirteen Cities in the world; much less to twelve Kingdoms.