Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

Church-Government, Liturgy and Ceremonies, we most humbly represent unto your Majesty. 1. First For Church-Government; that although upon just Reasons we do dissent from that Ecclesiastical Hierarchy or Prelacy disclaimed in the Covenant, as it was stated and exercised in these Kingdoms; yet we do not, nor ever did renounce the true Ancient and Primitive Presidency as it was balanced and managed ⟨p. 234⟩by a due Commixtion of Presbyters therewith, as a fit means to avoid Corruptions, Partiality, Tyranny, and other Evils which may be incident to the Administration of one single Person: Which kind of attempered Presidency, if it shall be your Majesty's grave Wisdom and gracious Moderation, be in such a manner constituted as that the forementioned, and other like Evils may be certainly prevented, we shall humbly submit thereunto. And in Order to an happy Accommodation in this weighty Business, we desire humbly to offer unto your Majesty some of the Particulars which we conceive were amiss in the Episcopal Government, as it was practised before the Year 1640. 1. The great Extent of the Bishops Diocese, which was much too large for his own personal Inspection, wherein he undertook a Pastoral Charge over the Souls of all those within his Bishopric, which must needs be granted to be too heavy a Burden for any one Man's Shoulders: The Pastoral Office being a Work of Personal Ministration and Trust, and that of the highest Concernment to the Souls of the People, for which they are to give an Account to Christ. 2. That by Reason of this Disability to discharge their Duty and Trust personally, the Bishops did depute the Administration of much of their Trust, even in matters of spiritual Cognizance, to Commissaries, Chancellors and Officials, whereof some were Secular Persons, and could not administer that Power which originally appertaineth to the Pastors of the Church. 3. That those Bishops who affirm the Episcopal Office to be a distinct Order by Divine Right from that of the Presbyter, did assume the sole Power of Ordination and Jurisdiction to themselves. 4. That some of the Bishops exercised an Arbitrary Power, as by sending forth their Books of Articles in their Visitations, and therein unwarrantably enquiring into several things, and swearing the Church-Wardens to present accordingly.

Church-Government, Liturgy and Ceremonies, we most humbly represent unto your Majesty. 1. First For Church-Government; that although upon just Reasons we do dissent from that Ecclesiastical Hierarchy or Prelacy disclaimed in the Covenant, as it was stated and exercised in these Kingdoms; yet we do not, nor ever did renounce the true Ancient and Primitive Presidency as it was ballanced and managed