A27050:1150
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 › More Testimonies of Councils added to the former Chap. 5.
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.
And Cap. 57. It is ordained that thenceforth [Bishops should not be ordained in small Villages and Hamlets, but Visitors should be appointed them: But such (Bishops) as had heretofore been there ordained should do nothing without the Conscience of the City Bishop.] Which implieth, 1. That every big Town had a Bishop. 2. And Villages before.
And Cap. 57. It is ordained that thenceforth [Bishops should not be ordained in small Villages and Hamlets, but Visiters should be appointed them: But such (Bishops) as had heretofore been there ordained should do nothing without the Conscience of the City Bishop.] Which implieth, 1. That every big Town had a Bishop. 2. And Villages before.
5. Epiphanius, Haer. 68. pag. 717. &c. saith, That Peter separated from Meletius in the same room, and as Meletius went to the Mines, he made new Bishops, and gathered new Churches; so that in several Cities there were two (Bishops and Churches:) Which implieth that they were Congregations for Personal Communion.
6. The Nicene Council, cap. 8. alloweth Rural Bishops then in use, (whom Petavius proveth to have been true Bishops.)