A27050:126
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.
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.
15. While they kept only to the exercise of the meer Pastoral work of Teaching, and Worshiping, and that Government which belongeth hereunto, they had little temptation (comparatively) to strive for a preeminence in Rule, or for a Negative Voice; But aliene or accidental work, did further that as followeth.
16. The Apostles did reprove those Worldly contentious and uncharitable Christians, who went to Law before Heathen Judges: And the thing showed so little of the Christian Spirit of Love, and was also of so ill consequence, by scandals and dissentions, that it was worthy to be reproved, especially in Christians that were persecuted by those Magistrates. Therefore almost all the differences of Christians were necessarily decided by Arbitration: And none were thought so fit to be the Arbitrators, as the Elders or Pastors of the Churches. By which it came to pass, that where Churches were great, and the ceasing of persecution (which came but as storms that passed away) did restore that peace which cherished dissentions, the work of the Elders in these Arbitrations, was not small; especially as added to their greater proper Office-work.
16. The Apostles did reprove those Worldly contentious and uncharitable Christians, who went to Law before Heathen Judges: And the thing shewed so little of the Christian Spirit of Love, and was also of so ill consequence, by scandals and dissentions, that it was worthy to be reproved, especially in Christians that were persecuted by those Magistrates. Therefore almost all the differences of Christians were necessarily decided by Arbitration: And none were thought so fit to be the Arbitrators, as the Elders or Pastors of the Churches. By which it came to pass, that where Churches were great, and the ceasing of persecution (which came but as storms that passed away) did restore that peace which cherished dissentions, the work of the Elders in these Arbitrations, was not small; especially as added to their greater proper Office-work.