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

What abundance of Work the Bishop will have besides: Constant preaching will require time for preparation: Visiting the several Churches: Confirming all the Souls in so many hundred Parishes: (which alone is more than any one Man can do aright, if he had nothing else to do): Ordaining, Instituting, and Examining the Persons, so far as to satisfy a tender Conscience (that takes not all on trust from others, and is but the Executor of their Judgments). These, and much more, with the care of Church-buildings, Lands, and his own Affairs and Family, and Sicknesses, and necessary absence sometimes, will make this great additional Work, which must be constantly performed for so many hundred Parishes, to be impossible. 6. Reproofs and Suspension would so exasperate the Scandalous, that they would vex the Pastors with numerous Appeals. 7. The Pastors will be undone by travelling, and waiting, and maintaining such a multitude of Witnesses as is necessary for the prosecuting of Presentments, and answering so many Appeals. 8. The Business will be so odious, chargeable and troublesome, that Witnesses will not come in. 9. The Minister by these Prosecutions and Attendances, will be taken off the rest of his Ministerial Work. 10. Bishops (being but Men) will be tempted by this intolerable Burden to be weary of the Work, and slubber it over, and cast it upon others, and to discountenance the most conscionable Ministers that most trouble them with Presentments: which when the Offenders perceive, they will the more insult and vex us with Appeals. So that the Discouragements of Ministers, and the utter Incapacity of the Bishops to perform a quarter of this Work, will nullify Discipline, as leaving it impossible. Experience hath told us this too long. And then when our Communion is thus polluted with all that are most incapable through utter Ignorance, Scandal, and Contempt of Piety, 1. Ministers will be deterred from their Administrations to Subjects so uncapable. 2. Bishops that are tender Conscienced, will be de•erred from undertaking so impossible a Work, and of so ill Success. 3. And Men that have least tenderness of Conscience, and Care of Souls, and Fear of God's Displeasure, will seek for and intrude into both places. 4. And the tender conscienced People will be tempted to speak hardly of such undisciplined Churches, and of the Officers; and to withdraw from them. 5.

What abundance of Work the Bishop will have besides: Constant preaching will require time for preparation: Visiting the several Churches: Confirming all the Souls in so many hundred Parishes: (which alone is more than any one Man can do aright, if he had nothing else to do): Ordaining, Instituting, and Examining the Persons, so far as to satisfie a tender Conscience (that takes not all on trust from others, and is but the Executor of their Judgments). These, and much more, with the care of Church-buildings, Lands, and his own Affairs and Family, and Sicknesses, and necessary absence sometimes, will make this great additional Work, which must be constantly performed for so many hundred Parishes, to be impossible. 6. Reproofs and Suspension would so exasperate the Scandalous, that they would vex the Pastors with numerous Appeals. 7. The Pastors will be undone by travelling, and waiting, and maintaining such a multitude of Witnesses as is necessary for the prosecuting of Presentments, and answering so many Appeals. 8. The Business will be so odious, chargeable and troublesom, that Witnesses will not come in. 9. The Minister by these Prosecutions and Attendances, will be taken off the rest of his Ministerial Work. 10. Bishops (being but Men) will be tempted by this intolerable Burden to be weary of the Work, and slubber it over, and cast it upon others, and to discountenance the most conscionable Ministers that most trouble them with Presentments: which when the Offenders perceive, they will the more insult and vex us with Appeals. So that the Discouragements of Ministers, and the utter Incapacity of the Bishops to perform a quarter of this Work, will nullifie Discipline, as leaving it impossible. Experience hath told us this too long. And then when our Communion is thus polluted with all that are most incapable through utter Ignorance, Scandal, and Contempt of Piety, 1. Ministers will be deterred from their Administrations to Subjects so uncapable. 2. Bishops that are tender Conscienced, will be deerred from undertaking so impossible a Work, and of so ill Success. 3. And Men that have least tenderness of Conscience, and Care of Souls, and Fear of God's Displeasure, will seek for and intrude into both places. 4. And the tender conscienced People will be tempted to speak hardly of such undisciplined Churches, and of the Officers; and to withdraw from them. 5.