A26965:90
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.
Sect. IX. We never saw any satisfactory proof that ever Christ or his Apostles did institute any particular Church (taken in a Political sense as organized, and not merely for a Community) without a Bishop or Pastor, who had the power of Teaching them, Ruling them by the Word and Power of the Church-Keys, and leading them in public Worship.
Sect. IX. We never saw any satisfactory proof that ever Christ or his Apostles did institute any particular Church (taken in a Political sense as organized, and not meerly for a Community) without a Bishop or Pastor, who had the power of Teaching them, Ruling them by the Word and Power of the Church-Keys, and leading them in publick Worship.
Sect. X. Nor did we ever see it proved, that any one Church of this first Rank (which was not an Association of Churches) consisted in Scripture times of many (much less many score or hundred) such fixed Churches or Congregations: Or that any one Bishop of the first Rank (that was not an Apostle, or a Bishop of Bishops) of whom we now speak not, had more than one of such fixed Societies or Churches under him: Or might have more stated members of his Church, than were capable of Personal Communion, and mutual assistance at due seasons, in holy Doctrine, Discipline and Worship: Though we doubt not but as now, there are many Chapels in some Parishes, where the aged, weak, children, and all in soul weather, or by other hinderances may hear, and pray, and occasionally communicate, ⟨p. 14⟩whose proximity and relation to the Parish-Churches do make them capable of Personal Communion in due seasons with the whole Parish (at least per vices) in those Churches, and in their conversation: And as a single Congregation may prudently in persecution, or foul weather, meet oft-times in several houses; so the great Church of Jerusalem (though it cannot be proved a quarter so big as some of our Parishes) might in those times when they had no Temples, hold their public Meetings oft at the same time in divers houses; and yet be capable of Personal Communion, as it is before described.