A27050:1439
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.
But then we will agree with Dr. Stillingfleet or any man, that God hath left all these things following without a particular determination to be determined according to his General Laws. 1. Whether this Parochial or Congregational Church shall always meet in one and the same place; or in case of persecution or want of room, or by reason of the Age, Weakness, and distance of some Members, may have several houses or Chapels of ease, where some parcels may sometimes meet, who yet (at least per vices) may have personal present ⟨p. 99⟩Communion with the rest. 2. Whether a Church shall be great or small, that is, of what number it shall consist, supposing that it be not so great or so small as to be inconsistent with the end. 3. How many Pastors each Church shall have. 4. Whether among many One shall be a Chief, and upon supposition of his preeminence in Parts, Grace, Age, and Experience, shall voluntarily be so far submitted to by the rest, as may give him a Negative voice. 5. Whether such officers of many Churches, shall consociate so as to join in Classes or Synods stated for number, time and place. And whether their meetings shall be constant, or occasional pro re nata. 6. Whether One in these meetings shall be a stated Moderator, or only pro tempore, and shall have a Negative voice or not, in the circumstantials of their Synodical work. 7. Whether certain Agreements called Canons, shall be made voluntarily to bind up the several Members of the Synods to one and the same way in undetermined circumstances of their callings; or as an agreement and secondary obligation to their certain duties. 8. Whether these Associations or Synods shall by their Delegates constitute other provincial or larger associations for the same Ends: Who those Delegates shall be. Whether one in those larger Synods also shall have such a Negative as aforesaid. All these and such like we grant to be undetermined: And if they will call only such Humane modes and circumstances by the name of Forms of Government, we quarrel not de nomine, but de re do grant that such kind of Forms or Formalities are not particularly determined of in Gods word.
But then we will agree with Dr. Stillingfleet or any man, that God hath left all these things following without a particular determination to be determined according to his General Laws. 1. Whether this Parochial or Congregational Church shall always meet in one and the same place; or in case of persecution or want of room, or by reason of the Age, Weakness, and distance of some Members, may have several houses or Chappels of ease, where some parcels may sometimes meet, who yet (at least per vices) may have personal present