A27050:1449
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.
The office of Presbyters instituted by the Holy Ghost containeth an Obligation and Authority to Guide by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline the flocks committed to their care: But the office of a Diocesan, being one only Bishop over many score or hundred Congregations, is destructive of that office of Presbyters, which containeth an obligation and authority to Guide by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline, (or the exercise of the Church keys) the flocks committed to their care. Therefore the office of such a Diocesan is destructive of the office of Presbyters instituted by the Holy Ghost.
THe office of Presbyters instituted by the Holy Ghost containeth an Obligation and Authority to Guide by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline the flocks committed to their care: But the office of a Diocesane, being one only Bishop over many score or hundred Congregations, is destructive of that office of Presbyters, which containeth an obligation and authority to Guide by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline, (or the exercise of the Church keys) the flocks committed to their care. Therefore the office of such a Diocesane is destructive of the office of Presbyters instituted by the Holy Ghost.
The Major is thus proved by the Enumeration of the Acts which contain the general office, and by the proof of the General power extending to those Acts: viz.
1. They that had the Authority and Obligation to exercise the Church keys in the Scripture sense, had the authority and obligation to Guide their flocks by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline. But the Presbyters of the Holy Ghosts institution had the authority and obligation to exercise the Church keys, in the Scripture sense: Ergo they had authority and obligation to Guide their flocks by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline.
1. They that had the Authority and Obligation to exercise the Church keys in the Scripture sence, had the authority and obligation to Guide their flocks by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline. But the Presbyters of the Holy Ghosts institution had the authority and obligation to exercise the Church keys, in the Scripture sence: Ergo they had authority and obligation to Guide their flocks by Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline.