A27050:124
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
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.
13. At the first they had no Consecrated nor Separated places for their Church-Meetings, but Houses or Fields, as necessity and opportunity directed them. But as soon as they could, even nature taught them to observe the same appointed and stated places for such Assemblies: Which as soon as the Churches had peace and settlement, they appropriated to those sacred uses only, though they had not yet the shape or name of Temples.
14. Though the Pastors of the Church were all of one Office, now called Order, being all subordinate Ministers of Christ, in the Prophetical, Priestly and Regal parts of his Office, in the Power and Duty of Teaching, Worshipping and Government; yet was the disparity of Age, Grace and Gifts to be observed among them, and the younger Pastors (as well as people) owed a meet reverence and submission to the Elder, and the weaker to the stronger who had notoriously more of God's Grace and Gifts. So that in a Church where there were many Pastors it was not unlawful nor unnecessary, to acknowledge this disparity, and for the younger and weaker to submit much to the judgment of the elder and more able.
14. Though the Pastors of the Church were all of one Office, now called Order, being all subordinate Ministers of Christ, in the Prophetical, Priestly and Regal parts of his Office, in the Power and Duty of Teaching, Worshiping and Government; yet was the disparity of Age, Grace and Guifts to be observed among them, and the younger Pastors (as well as people) owed a meet reverence and submission to the Elder, and the weaker to the stronger who had notoriously more of God's Grace and Guifts. So that in a Church where there were many Pastors it was not unlawful nor unnecessary, to acknowledge this disparity, and for the younger and weaker to submit much to the judgment of the elder and more able.
15. While they kept only to the exercise of the mere Pastoral work of Teaching, and Worshipping, and that Government which belongeth hereunto, they had little temptation (comparatively) to strive for a preeminence in Rule, or for a Negative Voice; But alien or accidental work, did further that as followeth.