A27050:1403
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.
2. But yet when they had several Churches and Presbyters, the people were not at all tied to their own Parishes, but might come to hear and join with the Bishop as oft as they pleased: which though they could not do all at once, they might do by turns, some one day and some another: And so they did. So that still they had personal Communion with him, though not every day. 3. And they lived in Vicinity, where they were capable of Converse, and personal notice, and private help from one another. 4. And the Presbyters all joined in personal oversight or Government of the whole flock, and were each one capable of personal admonition and exhortation to any member. 5. And those that attended the Bishop and did not frequently officiate in the chief actions, yet were present with the Church, and assisted him in officiating, and were ready to do the rest when ever he appointed them or there was need: so that though quoad exercitium they did not the chief parts of the work every day, or usually, yet, 1. it was all the three parts of the Pastoral office which they did, and undertook to do, in season: 2. And that to the same Church in person by themselves. So that though Churches that swell to a disordered bulk, are not in that perfect order as more capable Societies may be; yet whilst their Communion is personal, present, as aforesaid, the Church species is not altered as in our Dioceses it is.
2. But yet when they had several Churches and Presbyters, the people were not at all tyed to their own Parishes, but might come to hear and joyn with the Bishop as oft as they pleased: which though they could not do all at once, they might do by turns, some one day and some another: And so they did. So that still they had personal Communion with him, though not every day. 3. And they lived in Vicinity, where they were capable of Converse, and personal notice, and private help from one another. 4. And the Presbyters all joyned in personal oversight or Government of the whole flock, and were each one capable of personal admonition and exhortation to any member. 5. And those that attended the Bishop and did not frequently officiate in the chief actions, yet were present with the Church, and assisted him in officiating, and were ready to do the rest when ever he appointed them or there was need: so that though quoad exercitium they did not the chief parts of the work every day, or usually, yet, 1. it was all the three parts of the Pastoral office which they did, and undertook to do, in season: 2. And that to the same Church in person by themselves. So that though Churches that swell to a disordered bulk, are not in that perfect order as more capable Societies may be; yet whilest their Communion is personal, present, as aforesaid, the Church species is not altered as in our Dioceses it is.