A27050:137
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.
26. The chief thing in which a special power was given to the Bishops above their fellow Presbyters was in Ordination, that none should be Ordained without them; It being a matter of exceeding great consequence to the Churches, what Ministers were set over them, and therefore put chiefly in the power of these chosen men. And the next part of their power was in having the chief disposal of all Church affairs, as our Parish Pastors have now among their Curates: so that nothing was to be done in the Church without and against their consent and pleasure.
27. This Episcopacy did so universally obtain, that I remember not to have read of any sort of Christians, Orthodox or Heretical, Catholic or Schismatical, who ever refused it, or spake against it, till Aerius's time. And even he spake not against it as flatly unlawful, but as unnecessary, as far as I can gather from Epiphanius. And after him all sorts and Sects of Christians still owned it: Even the Donatists and Novatians, who had their Bishops as well as others.
27. This Episcopacy did so universally obtain, that I remember not to have read of any sort of Christians, Orthodox or Heretical, Catholick or Schismatical, who ever refused it, or spake against it, till Aerius's time. And even he spake not against it as flatly unlawful, but as unnecessary, as far as I can gather from Epiphanius. And after him all sorts and Sects of Christians still owned it: Even the Donatists and Novatians, who had their Bishops as well as others.
28. In Scripture times we read not of any mere fixed Bishops of particular Churches, who Ordained either Bishops or Presbyters; but only Apostles and their unfixed Assistants, who had an equal charge of many Churches. Not that the Office of the Indefinite unfixed Ministry was not the same with the Office of the fixed Bishops in specie: (For both had power to do all the Ministerial work, as they had a call and opportunity to exercise it.) But because it being the employment, of the Indefinite or unfixed Ministers to Gather and plant Churches, before they could be Governed, the Ordination of Elders over them, was part of the planting of them; and so fell to their lot, as part of their constituting work.