A26975:208
Of national churches their description, institution, use, preservation, danger, maladies and cure, partly applied…
Of national churches their description, institution, use, preservation, danger, maladies and cure, partly applied to England / written by Richard Baxter for promoting peace ... and for the fuller explication of the Treaty for Concord in 1660 and 1661, and of the Kings gracious declaration about ecclesiastical affairs ... and for further explication of his treatise of episcopacy ...
London: printed by T. Snowden for Thomas Parkhurst, 1691
Chapter 5: Of Pastors or the Bishops of National Churches, that they are to be of Three ranks.
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.
§ 17. Especially because I find Christ, Mat. 28. 19, 20. describing the General Office as well as the Particular, even going into all the World to Disciple whole Nations, as well as to teach them to observe Christs Commands, promising to be with them to the end of the World.
§ 18. And also because it is apparent that Preaching the Gospel to Heathen and Infidel Nations is a Work still to be done, ⟨p. 20⟩and for want of men purposely appointed to do it, the progress of the Gospel hath been woefully stopped; Few doing any thing in it but Mr. Eliots and a few honest men in New England, and they say some of the Dutch, and the Jesuits and Fryers that do it corruptly. Particular Church Work is below this.
§ 18. And also because it is apparent that Preaching the Gospel to Heathen and Infidel Nations is a Work still to be done, ⟨p. 20⟩and for want of men purposely appointed to do it, the progress of the Gospel hath been wofully stopt; Few doing any thing in it but Mr. Eliots and a few honest men in New England, and they say some of the Dutch, and the Jesuits and Fryers that do it corruptly. Particular Church Work is below this.
§ 19. And I am fully confirmed when I find that the Apostles themselves settled a General sort of Ministers in Superiority and General Work to succeed them. As Christ himself by his Spirit made Barnabas an Apostle, so he gave to his Church also Evangelists who were General helpers of the Apostles, and were put in a state of Disparity and Superiority. Sill as and Mark, and Luke, and Apollos, and many more are named. The texts that mention the General Office and Superior power of Timothy and Titus are so well known and oft cited, that it's needless to repeat them. The charge of settling and overseeing many Churches (as in Crete) and of caution in Imposition of Hands, receiving accusations, rebuking sharply, ruling them well, ordaining Bishops and Deacons: and much more the like.