A27050:1257
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 6: The same further confirmed by the Ancients.
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 that you may again see what Congregation or Church that was, In vita Fulgentii, cap. 17. pag. 8. it is said, that the Plebs sought and chose him (and that in despite of Felix the ambitious Deacon, who sought the place, and sought the life of Fulgentius.) Populus super suam Cathedram eum collocavit: Celebrata sunt eodem die Divina solenniter Sacramenta, & de manibus Fulgentii Communicans omnis populus laetus discessit.] And if in the noble City of Ruspe, so late as the days of Fulgentius, the Bishop's Church-members were no more than could choose him, set him on his seat, and all communicate that day at his hands, it is easy by this to judge of most other Churches.
And that you may again see what Congregation or Church that was, In vita Fulgentii, cap. 17. pag. 8. it is said, that the Plebs sought and chose him (and that in despight of Foelix the ambitious Deacon, who sought the place, and sought the life of Fulgentius.) Populus super suam Cathedram eum collocavit: Celebrata sunt eodem die Divina solenniter Sacramenta, & de manibus Fulgentii Communicans omnis populus laetus discessit.] And if in the noble City of Ruspe, so late as the days of Fulgentius, the Bishop's Church-members were no more than could chuse him, set him on his seat, and all communicate that day at his hands, it is easie by this to judge of most other Churches.
XXXV. Concil. Parisiens. 1. (in Caranz. pag. 244. Can. 5.) saith, [Nullus1 civibus invitis ordinetur Episcopus, nisi quem Populi & Clericorum Electio plenissima quaesierit voluntate; Non principis imperio, neque per quamlibet conditionem Metropolis voluntate Episcoporum Comprovincialium ingeratur. Quod si per ordinationem Regiam honoris sui culmen pervadere aliquis nimia temeritate praesumpserit, a Comprovincialibus loci ipsius Episcopis recipi nullatenus mereatur, quem indebite assumptum agnoscunt. Siquis de Comprovincialibus recipere eum contra indicta praesumpserit, sit a fratribus omnibus segregatus, & ab ipsorum omnium Charitate remotus.] Here again you see how late all the Church was to choose every Bishop; plenissima voluntate; and consequently how great the Church was. And were this Canon obeyed, all the people must separate from all the Bishops of England, as here all are commanded to do from all those Bishops that do but receive one that is put in by the King, and not by the free choice of all the Clergy and People of his Church. Note that Crab (Vol. 2. pag. 144.) hath it, [contra Metropolis voluntatem:] But both that, and Caranza's Reading, who omitteth [contra] seem contrary to the scope; and it's most likely that it should be read [Metropolis voluntate, contra Episcoporum comprov.] scilicet voluntatem.