A26965:96
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. XV. And whereas it is said that the Bishops made in Scripture-times had authority given them to make afterward that second Office or Order of Presbyters: 1. We cannot but marvel then that in such great Churches, as that at Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, &c. they should never use their Power in all the Scripture times. And when they had so many Elders at Jerusalem, so many Prophets and Teachers at Antioch and Corinth, that Paul was fain to restrain their exercises, and bid them prophesy but One by One; and one said, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollo, &c. there should yet in that age be none found meet for Bishops to ordain to this second sort of Presbyters, as well as men to make Deacons of.
Sect. XV. And whereas it is said that the Bishops made in Scripture-times had authority given them to make afterward that second Office or Order of Presbyters: 1. We cannot but marvel then that in such great Churches, as that at Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, &c. they should never use their Power in all the Scripturetimes. And when they had so many Elders at Jerusalem, so many Prophets and Teachers at Antioch and Corinth, that Paul was fain to restrain their exercises, and bid them prophesie but One by One; and one said, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollo, &c. there should yet in that age be none found meet for Bishops to ordain to this second sort of Presbyters, as well asmen to make Deacons of.
2. But we never yet saw the proof produced, that indeed the Bishops had power given them to institute this other Species of Elders. Sure it belonged to the Founders of the Churches (Christ and his Apostles) to institute the Species of Ecclesiastical Officers, though the Bishops ⟨p. 17⟩might make the Individuals afterwards. And where is the proof that the Apostles did institute it? If Ecclesiastical generation imitate natural, the Bishops would beget but their like: men beget men; so Physicians make Physicians, and so Bishops may beget Bishops: But he that saith they could morally first beget this other Species, must prove it.