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

And as the late Primate of Ireland observeth in his Reduction, That they may the better understand what the Lord hath commanded, the Exhortation of St. Paul to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus is appointed to be read to them at the time of their Ordination, Take •eed to your selves and to all the Flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers, to (feed or) rule the Congregation of God which he hath purchased with his blood]. And it is apparent in this Acts 20. 17, 18, 28. and 15. 23, 25. and 16. 4. 1. Thess. 5. 12, 13. 1 Tim, 3. 4, 5. and 5. 17. Heb. 13. 7, 17, 24. and other places, that it is the Office of a Presbyter to Oversee, Rule, and Guide the Flock (which the Ministerial Rule which consisteth in the Exercise of the Keys, or Management and Personal Application of God's Word to the Consciences and Cases of particular Persons, for their Salvation, and the Order of the Church; the Coercive Power belonging to the Magistrate). And this was the Practice in the Ancient Church, as appeareth undeniably in Ignatius, Tertullian, Cyprian, Hierom, Chrysostom, &c. Concil, Carthag. 4. Can. 22, 23, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37. as is confessed by the chiefest Defenders of Episcopacy. 2. If all Presentments and Appeals be made to the Bishop and his Consistory alone, it will take from us the Parish Discipline which is granted us, and cast almost all Discipline out of the Church. As is most apparent to them that by experience are acquainted with the quality of our Flocks, and with the true Nature of the Pastoral Work. Considering 1. How many hundred Churches are in a Diocese. 2. How many thousand Persons are in very many Parishes: and of those what a number are obstinate in wilful gross Ignorance or Scandal, refusing to be instructed, or admonished by their Pastors. 3. How long, and earnestly, and tenderly Sinners must be dealt with, before they are cut off by Solemn Excommunication. 4. How unsatisfactory it must be to the Conscience of a Bishop or Synod, to cut off a Man as impenitent upon the bare report of a Minister, before by full Admonition they have proved him impenitent themselves; especially when too many Ministers are (to say nothing of Passion that might cause partial Accusations) unable so to manage a Reproof and Exhortation, as is necessary to work on the Consciences of the People, and to convict Resisters of flat Impenitency. 5.