A27050:1131
A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort…
A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort of diocesan churches, prelacy and government, which casteth out the primitive church-species, episcopacy, ministry and discipline and confoundeth the Christian world by corruption, usurpation, schism and persecution : meditated in the year 1640, when the et cætera oath was imposed : written 1671 and cast by : published 1680 by the importunity of our superiors, who demand the reasons of our nonconformity / by Richard Baxter.A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort of diocesan churches, prelacy and government, which casteth out the primitive church-species, episcopacy, ministry and discipline and confoundeth the Christian world by corruption, usurpation, schism and persecution : meditated in the year 1640, when the et cætera oath was imposed : written 1671 and cast by : published 1680 by the importunity of our superiours, who demand the reasons of our nonconformity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1681
Part 2 › Chapter 5: The same proved by the full Testimony of Antiquity.
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.
Can. 23. The Goods of the Church are faithfully to be kept: which also are to be dispensed by the Judgment and Power of the Bishop, to whom is committed the people, and the souls that are congregated in the Church: and it's manifest what things belong to the Church, with the knowledge of the Presbyters and Deacons that are about him, who cannot but know what are the Church Goods, &c. Here 1. The Church contained only the souls that were congregated in it, and not many Congregations. 2. All the Church Goods were known to the Presbyters and Deacons, so that the Bishop did dispose of them while he lived, but could alienate none at his death: which showeth that it was but one Church or Congregation, where the Bishop and Presbyters joined in the Ministry.
Can. 23. The Goods of the Church are faithfully to be kept: which also are to be dispensed by the Judgment and Power of the Bishop, to whom is committed the people, and the souls that are congregated in the Church: and it's manifest what things belong to the Church, with the knowledge of the Presbyters and Deacons that are about him, who cannot but know what are the Church Goods, &c. Here 1. The Church contained only the souls that were congregated in it, and not many Congregations. 2. All the Church Goods were known to the Presbyters and Deacons, so that the Bishop did dispose of them while he lived, but could alienate none at his death: which sheweth that it was but one Church or Congregation, where the Bishop and Presbyters joyned in the Ministry.
Cap. 25. hath the same Evidence: The Bishop dispenseth all the Goods and Lands of the Church, to all that need, but must not appropriate them to his Kindred, &c. but use them by the consent of his Presbyters and Deacons.
XX. Concil. Carthag. 4. cap. 14. The Bishop's dwelling was to be near the Church. (But if he had many Churches, they would have told which.) Can. 17. The Bishop was to exercise the care of Government of Widows, Orphans, and Strangers by his Arch-Presbyter and Arch-Deacon (which showeth that they had not many Churches; where each appropriate Presbyter and Deacons did it.)